|
3/3/1999 Free DrinkAfter all his protest last night, Matthew was perfectly agreeable about going to story time today, as long as I allowed him take his grey stuffed rabbit, Dusty Bunny, with him. I'm starting to recognize some of the regulars there, including the annoying little girl from last week, who, I learned today, is named Molly. Her dad must have a flexible work schedule, or else he's a stay at home father, because he is always the one bringing her in. Once again, she roamed around the front of the room. This time, she and a few younger boys were climbing up and down the pile of mats. I watched them slip and slide and kept expecting one of them to fall onto the hard floor. Fortunately, no one did. The theme today was "lions," in honor of March coming in like a lion. Sharon, the story lady, read Snow Lion, which is one of Daniel's favorite books. It may have been a little too advanced for her audience, though, many of whom lost interest in the book about half way through. Most of the kids there are two or younger. The craft project afterward was to make a lion mask. Seated at our table were three blond siblings: a girl, almost 5, her 3-year-old sister, and their 18-month-old brother. I struck up a conversation with their mother, Karen, who said she came to story time to try to meet some people since they had just moved here from Toronto. It turns out they are living in Glendale, not far from where I grew up on Concord Circle. She was very nice, albeit understandably distracted by the need to keep track of her three kids. I hope to see her again there next week. Stephen and Matthew loved making the lion masks. When the masks were done, Sharon punched holes in them, and I tied the masks on their heads with strands of brown yarn. They roared at Sharon, who pretended to be frightened. "Oh, no! There are lions here!" Then they removed the masks, and she exclaimed, "Oh, it's just Stephen and Matthew!" They loved this game. 9:16 p.m. Tonight is my weekly mental health night out. I didn't get away until almost 7:30 because we needed to stop at Sam's on our way home from Tab's office. I decided to go to Borders to browse and get caught up on my journal. A few nights ago I had a dream that I was at a bookstore and buying a bunch of books, including paperback copies of Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog and Mary Doria Russell's Children of God, along with the hardcover Cordwainer Smith novel, Norstrilia. All of these are books I covet. I don't buy books much these days. I can't afford them, and we don't have the space. I tend to cruise bookstores to see what is new, and then go find the books I want to read at the library. So here I am sitting in Borders cafe, sipping an orange juice mixed with peach soda. A half hour ago, while I was having some tea, the cafe manager loudly announced that he was offering free drinks at 9:00 to anyone who was here and thus not home watching the Monica Lewinsky interview. I thought he was kidding, but sure enough, at 9 p.m. sharp he came over to my table and asked if I wanted a free drink. I thought something cold would be nice, and he suggested this orange-peach concoction. Not bad, especially for free. In truth, I have no desire to see the interview. I am sick of the whole scandal, and don't care to know any more of the lurid details.
|