Skateland

The urchins have discovered the joy that is rollerskating.

Ohhelpmeplease.

The first experience (which I oh-so-wrongly thought was no big deal) was in June, at the kickoff party for Vacation Bible School. It was a private party, and even at that the drama began. Some girl (he didn't know her) had a friend tell him that she "liked him." It was a short-lived romance, as he hasn't seen her since.

Oh lawzy.

I should have known then. Perhaps I did, and I chose to ignore it.

The urchins decided that skating was a fantastic time, and we've been twice since that fateful first. Last time we invited friends along, and the children mostly stayed in their own little group. We invited friends this time, but they had relatives stop in at the last minute, so the urchins were on their own for this trip.

Spyder is a friendly little cuss. Sass is too, but Spyder is fearless. He can (and will) talk to just about anyone. (Shhhh ... I think he gets that from his mama.) Anyway, he somehow managed to play a game of air hockey with a girl, probably a little younger than he is. They had a fun game, and at the end of the game the little girl skated over to him and said

You'recuteandIthinkyou'rethefunnestboyever.

At least, I'm pretty sure that's what she said. She didn't put any spaces between her words either. And then she skated off. I'm pretty sure he had no clue what she said, since he called after her, "Good game, but I won!"

Doesn't that kind of sportsmanship make you just swell with pride?

Let me tell you, that little exchange created a little time warp for me. All of those long-forgotten skating memories of my youth came rushing back. And it absolutely cemented my decision never to just drop them off at the skating rink.