Nights like this I’m in love with life.
Okay, I promise I’ll keep it short, and after this post I’ll stay away from my blog for a week — but I just met a kid who deserves to be immortalized in shiny cyber-history, so here I am again, dammit.
I’m working my four-hour-a-week gig at the local independent bookshop. This kid stumbles through the heavy old sticky door after no fewer than five tries, laughs at himself, and starts in on me right away. Do I have this book, that book. He’s about ten years old, cloaked in a Green Bay Packers Jersey, quick and well-spoken, he definitely knows his stuff — and I have none of what he’s looking for. He finally sighs and asks if I will “kindly” direct him toward the children’s section. I take him in back and quickly figure out that he didn’t trust me or my computer, and wants to see the missing books for himself. Satisfied but disappointed, he chooses three slim volumes of Captain Underpants and follows me to the register, waving the $20 bill his dad gave him because he was having a “book emergency.”
The books total $15.79. I hand him his $4.21 in change. He pockets the bills, considers the coins in his palm, then asks, “Do you have a donation bucket?” I shake my head sadly, letting him down yet again. He tosses the 21 cents on the counter anyway, tells me I can keep it.
As he walks away, he stops halfway to the door, swivels around, walks back over and scoops up one of the dimes.
“Do you mind if I take back ten cents for my college fund?” He asks. “My parents are really worried about that.”
I grin, nod, and hold back my laughter until the old bell on the closing door disguises the sound.
Debbie says:
I love this kid. What an incredible story. I hope somehow that kid’s parents read your blog and see what a great person they are raising.
Debbie´s last blog post..A post in which I demonstrate the depths of my patience
October 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Candance says:
What a cool freaking kid!! He sounds like an old soul and I dig that in a kid!
Candance´s last blog post..Suddenly Words Like Anti-Aging and Wrinkle Reducing Mean a Little More
October 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
emmysuh says:
Thanks for sharing. I love that kid.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Margaret (Nanny Goats) says:
From the You-Can’t-Make-This-Stuff-Up department. What a Riot!
Margaret (Nanny Goats)´s last blog post..That Elusive Red Orb
October 13th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
we_be_toys says:
I am inordinately fond of ten year old boys – their delicate balancing act between childhood and manhood is one of my favorite things to see.
He sounds like my kind of kid.
(Not like THAT, dammit!)
we_be_toys´s last blog post..And Now For Something Completely Different
October 13th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
imommy says:
Wow — that’s a rare one. What an interesting, great-sounding kid.
If only mine would grow up to be so sweet
It would make all those sleepless nights worthwhile.
imommy´s last blog post..The one in which I make an ass of myself…
October 13th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Nicole says:
Had fate allowed me a chance to screw up parenthood, I can only hope that I might have ended up with a kid like that.
And don’t wait a week to post. It’s a happy day when I see that you’ve updated the blog!
Nicole´s last blog post..Just Call Me Snap
October 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Sherendipity says:
wow. what a fantastically interesting kid.
Sherendipity´s last blog post..Why? Because I’m a comment whore and require communication like oxygen.
October 13th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Tina says:
Oh, Maggie, I love that kid! Thanks for telling us about him. It’s stories like this one that get me through all the hair raising stuff going on in the world right now…
Tina´s last blog post..They’ve finally learned something…
October 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
But Why Mommy says:
That is a great story. I love the book emergency. I hope Bunny grows up like that too. Thanks for sharing.
But Why Mommy´s last blog post..BFL Week Six
October 13th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
3boys1mommy says:
Are you sure they weren’t video game titles
October 13th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Dory says:
Oh, man, I want a Book Emergency Fund.
Dory´s last blog post..The Photoshop Edition, Vol. 2
October 13th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Erika Jean says:
haha that is great!!
Erika Jean´s last blog post..Shoot Up. All the Cool Kids are Doing it!
October 13th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
gin says:
That child is an absolute hoot! I love the story. If only his parents were flies on the wall, they would be toasting their parenting over a lovely glass of red wine!
gin´s last blog post..Turkey
October 13th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
For Myself says:
He’ll be president one day. Only he’ll be good at it! Here’s why:he’s well-read, he knows just what he wants, he needs to see things for himself, he cares about the economy, and he’s not afraid to publicly support his country/sports team. See? President. You heard it here first!
For Myself´s last blog post..Canada Geese
October 13th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Natalie says:
HA! I bet he made your night!
October 13th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
catnip says:
I love kids that love to read. He sounds adorable!
catnip´s last blog post..here’s what I learned at BlogHer
October 13th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
bejewell says:
I will be dreaming tonight of the Bean growing up to the ripe old age of eleven (because it’s one louder) and acting exactly like this kid. So thanks for that.
bejewell´s last blog post..I Am Really Someone’s Parent
October 13th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
manager mom says:
I would like to arrange a marriage between this boy and my daughter. Can you please get his number if he ever comes back? In a way that doesn’t get you arrested?
manager mom´s last blog post..Come Smell The Magic!
October 13th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
pgoodness says:
I hope his parents know how awesome he is! A “book emergency” awesome!!!
pgoodness´s last blog post..True Love
October 13th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
PsychMamma says:
What a great story. There’s hope for the future yet! Thanks for sharing a smile and giggle.
PsychMamma´s last blog post..It’s a Virtual Baby Shower!!
October 13th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
steenky bee says:
Smart kid. I shudder at how much a college fund will cost for my little ones. Yikes.
steenky bee´s last blog post..Memed…Like a Lot, You Guys
October 13th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Pamela says:
You know a kid has great parenting going on when Daddy-o pops out a $20 for a book emergency. They’s got them some REAL priorities in that house, I tell ya!
*Note to self: Put aside a 20-spot for kids’ book emergencies.*
Pamela´s last blog post..housekeeping saturday
October 13th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
stacy di says:
and how great that Captain Underpants took care of that book emergency!!
October 13th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
jen @ blissfully caffeinated says:
I pray that someday my own kids will have “book emergencies.” What a great kid! Thanks for sharing.
jen @ blissfully caffeinated´s last blog post..In Which American Columbus Day Meets Canadian Thanksgiving Day And A Fiery Explosion Occurs
October 13th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Auds at Barking Mad! says:
Thanks for sharing this. I’m having a “OMG the sky is falling the sky is falling and we’re all going to hell in hand-basket, and I’m out of Valium” kind of night and this is just what I needed!
Auds at Barking Mad!´s last blog post..Saturday Sugar
October 13th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Jules says:
I hope you took a good look at him. Something tells me you’ll see this kid one day in the public arena. I can feel his “it” from across the internet.
Jules´s last blog post..Feeling Good
October 13th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
muskrat says:
he was probably lying, thinking “i’ll tell that chick a cute story so that i can be immortalized via her blog. too bad i’m full of shit.”
muskrat´s last blog post..how my 17′ 8” buick lesabre became “the digger”
October 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Jim says:
Those book emergencies can be life or death. I’ve been there.
That dime should get him a share of something right now.
Jim´s last blog post..Dust Bunnies
October 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Kim says:
OMG, he should have his own show on TV. A whole episode could be devoted to getting a donation cup in the local bookstore. Love him.
Kim´s last blog post..:: Frothy Coffee
October 13th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
flutter says:
What a doll that kid is.
flutter´s last blog post..
October 13th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Jennifer says:
What a cool kid!! Great story!
Jennifer´s last blog post..The Big Surprise!
October 13th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Jett says:
HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DISSUADE YOURSELF FROM SQUISHING HIS SWEET FACE AND KISSING IT?
October 13th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
chanda says:
Oh my God, that kid was priceless. I’d want to take him home in my pocket.
ps.. I am pea freekin’ green – to work in a book store. My paycheck would never be my own, and I’d totally OD on the smell of old books.
chanda´s last blog post..I went all the way to Rhode Island …..
October 13th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
anymommy says:
I love the way you tell a story. It’s like I know him. Also, I want to fly in once a week and work with you at the bookstore. Can I?
anymommy´s last blog post..First Born
October 13th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Lesley says:
Who is this boy? I WANT TO HUG HIS PARENTS (!!) and congratulate them on an excellent work in progress.
Lesley´s last blog post..First I Met A Dog And Then I Met A Snake Wrangler And Then I Had Really Bad Hair But Not Necessarily In That Order
October 13th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Tasses says:
Smiles:-) Left you a little love over at my place HERE
Tasses´s last blog post..Banning Rednecks From All Media
October 13th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Petunia says:
Oh my goodness that made my morning!! Book emergencies. Fantastic.
Petunia´s last blog post..Gotta love the rainy season
October 13th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Rachie says:
Some children nowadays make me worry about our generations to come. They do say that our children are our future but kids like this restore my faith.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
A Free Man says:
That kid was me at that age, that absolute enthusiasm for life mixed with a complete inability to cope with the basics. I used to pester the shit out of the librarians at our piddly little local library. It’s gratifying to know that maybe they were more amused than irritated!
A Free Man´s last blog post..And for a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself
October 14th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Carolyn Online says:
That dime is going to make all the difference.
Carolyn Online´s last blog post..And I survived the camping trip.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:52 am
chasingjoy says:
Wow! What an incredible memory. That one will stick with you and perhaps with us for a lifetime. Thanks so much for sharing and please don’t stay away from your blog.
chasingjoy´s last blog post..Hormones are Fun and Just a Little Bit Scary!
October 14th, 2008 at 5:29 am
The Cubicle's Backporch says:
That is too funny!!
The Cubicle’s Backporch´s last blog post..It’s not the money, it’s the secrecy.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Sammanthia says:
What a great kid… and a rarity.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Katie says:
So so cute! See… that’s why I want to own the bookstore
(one of the reasons anyway!)
Katie´s last blog post..What do you see when you look at me…
October 14th, 2008 at 6:54 am
JD at I Do Things says:
So there is some hope for the future. Now how do I contribute to that kid’s college fund?
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I AM SICK so you don’t have to be
October 14th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Missy @ Marketing Mama says:
Wow – smart kid… he know’s what he wants out of life! I hope my kiddo is that smart when he’s 10. Love the line about the college fund.
Missy @ Marketing Mama´s last blog post..you’re not hired
October 14th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Rock and Roll Mama says:
How did my kid get to Wisconsin? J/K, mine is 12.:) But every day is a book emergency for him: he reads them at an alarming rate, and I’ve only just gotten him used to the library- he used to say the books “smelled funny.” Oy. Every day when I pick him up from school, he says, “Can we go to Borders?” (We have no good indy booksellers here in the burbs.) He doesn’t always want to buy something, sometimes he wants to sit there and read for hours while I try to corral the two little ones. And I bitch and moan about it- Get Up! Do aomething! Go outside! (He does those things, too) but secretly I am so pleased that he got my obsessive reading gene.
Love the above kid’s thoughtfulness about money.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:13 am
JES says:
Stupendous.
I mean, that kid is wonderful — if we don’t get to read something written by him within the next 20 years, I think we’ll all be poorer. (And (sorry, betraying bias here) I sincerely hope the 21 cents isn’t going into a college fund so he can enroll in a creative-writing/MFA program.) You oughta print out this post in a fancy format, tape it shut, and stow it beneath the counter; next time he comes in, hand it to him and ask him to be sure whoever’s waiting in the car gets to see it.
Will pretend I didn’t read the phrase “for a week” in your first sentence.
JES´s last blog post..The Travels of Mickey Tom (1)
October 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Bennie says:
This kind of blog post is probably my favorite flavor. Mighty tasty!
Bennie´s last blog post..
October 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Bluestreak says:
that is aweeeeeeeesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This kid deserves everything.
Bluestreak´s last blog post..Drum roll please…
October 14th, 2008 at 10:57 am
ali says:
my kind of kid…especially since he was wearing a packers jersey
October 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
HeatherPride says:
Now that is an awesome story!!
HeatherPride´s last blog post..Are You Amazing?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:28 am
mamatulip says:
THANK YOU for posting this, dammit, and please don’t stay away for a week.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Gypsy says:
Kids like that make me rethink my whole “four-legged children only” stance.
Gypsy´s last blog post..Edward Cullen is a pretty boy jerkface stalker. There. I said it.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:48 am
paige says:
That is precious–so sweet that he wanted to donate it all.
I used to grit my teeth until allowance day so I could buy a book.
I totally get this kid.
I am giving away books on my blog right now as I am overrun with them
October 14th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Zak says:
So awesome.
What a cool kid.
My husband gives me money for “book emergencies”, but I just buy wine.
Zak´s last blog post..11
October 14th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
vodkamom says:
that was so damn cute. It just gives you hope, doesn’t it?
vodkamom´s last blog post..Mastur…what???
October 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
vodkamom says:
p.s. I buy vodka with my book money. IS that a surprise?
vodkamom´s last blog post..Mastur…what???
October 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I don’t sell bullets and I don’t sell crack | A Free Man says:
[...] Maggie at Okay, Fine, Dammit on her encounter with a 10 year old me. [...]
October 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
foradifferentkindofgirl (fadkog) says:
What a spirit! I wish a few more kids like this one would wander back to the children’s department in the big name bookstore I work at!
foradifferentkindofgirl (fadkog)´s last blog post..‘a fool could see just how much i adore you…’
October 15th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Olive S. Oyl says:
Love the kid and even his book choices (used to teach junior high).
Olive S. Oyl´s last blog post..Lowdown on Toxins in Toys
October 15th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Ry says:
I might have a kid if someone promised me they’d be like this. Ha!
Ry´s last blog post..Etsy Wednesday – Shadow Puppets!
October 16th, 2008 at 9:35 am
raino says:
this just gave me goose bumps! how nice is that.
raino´s last blog post..Day in a Nutshell
October 16th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Anissa@Hope4Peyton says:
Well, you’ve pretty much just met my 10 yo son…same kid, same attitude, same crappy book selection.
They’re fun aren’t they?
Anissa@Hope4Peyton´s last blog post..Am I dead yet?
October 17th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Emerald says:
Awww, what an adorable kid! And I secretly love those books…
Emerald´s last blog post..A Pot Smoking Vegetarian Hippie Votes Conservative. What Gives?
October 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Karen MEG says:
What a cool, cool kid.
We have a Captain underpants fan in this house too. Funny stuff.
Karen MEG´s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – What a f?????
October 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Debbie says:
Whew. You reinforced my hopes and prayers that we will all come out of this okay. Our children are not harmed. Thank God.
Debbie´s last blog post..Doing A Slow Burn…
October 18th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Kat says:
I love him. I understand why you posted.
Kat´s last blog post..Need Your Bad Date Stories
October 18th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Okay, Fine, Dammit » A few orders of business, and an announcement says:
[...] My favorite book-buying kid just stopped into the shop again tonight. He bought another Captain Underpants, explaining that his [...]
October 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
kellypea says:
Exactly the reason I enjoyed teaching 6th grade English for so many years. Hilarious — and great writing by you to relate the story so perfectly. Loved it.
kellypea´s last blog post..Crickets. I hear crickets…
October 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
Megan {Velveteen Mind} says:
I’ve got to say that I have little stories like this to share occasionally and never blog them. I note them and then forget about them. The eternal “I’ll write about it later.”
I always think I have to write more, add photos, make a freaking novel out of it for it to count.
Posts like this are what make a good blog great.
I’m having a bout of “Maggie fever” tonight. Bear with me. Totally mad for you.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
arizaphale says:
Every kid is like a book unto themselves. I guess that’s why I teach, even through the incredible frustration………
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 am