a crime against boy-dom

Yesterday, I unwittingly committed a crime against boy-dom. I threw out the Potato’s gummy bugs.

Let me back up.

In kindergarten, the kids get a sticker every day that they are ‘good.’ The stickers are redeemable for prizes from the teacher’s prize basket.

I’m not sure exactly how many stickers it takes to get a prize, but it took the Potato a good long while to earn them. And when he did earn them, he picked a tub of gummy beetles. It was a momentary thrill, two months ago when he brought it home and ate 2 or 3 of them.

And since then, it’s sat in our kitchen. And sat. And sat.

So last weekend, I threw it out.

Tonight, for dessert, what did he want?

Gummy beetles, of course.

I told him that I had thrown them out, and he was so verklempt, he threw himself on the floor, in one of those tantrums where you’re trying as hard as you can not to laugh at the kid, because it’s so overwrought.

He sobbed, “it’s not fair!” and “my bugs!” But it wasn’t until he said, “but it took me so long to earn them!” that my heart broke a little.

There may be nothing more sincere on earth than a truly wronged child.

So, what do you think the Potato wanted in recompense? Check out the poll on the side of the page, and vote. And if you want to have your stomach turned, see here.

Advertisement