Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Didn't See it Coming

Being in theater and being a kid means the annual head shot.

This would be the artistic view of the HEAD. All actors do it. You hand over the head shot-- a big close up the jaw line, teeth, eye and profile -- with your resume at each audition.

When you're a grown-up -- and good lord, aging well--your head shot can last five years and continue to be somewhat representative. Somewhat. There is wiggle room and the Matron has seen it. Wiggle room has wrinkles and age, honey.

But a kid? You're someone new in like four weeks so you need that annual head shot. Ten years old? You look different at ten and a half--or ten and twelve winks of sleep.

Scarlett's has been long overdue.

Some readers-girlfriends-voodoo operators (she's open to that this week) might remember that Scarlett has a fan in a famous local photographer who has VOLUNTEERED to do these incredibly expensive head shot endeavors without ever once mentioning money.

Okay, today the Matron slipped her some of those green bills. Another story.

But the end game is that last week Scarlett was preparing for her head shots, which was basically a scheduling Super Bowl between other family engagements.

The Matron could not help but notice Merrick's keen attention to conversations about the head shots. Your truly and the husband would be discussing things like "who's driving to the head shot and who is doing hockey and maybe book club and who will drive tea cakes to Grandma?"

Merrick listens with a pale face, full body poised.

Tea cakes? Book club? Head shot?

The day of the head shot session Scarlett appeared post-shower looking mostly acceptable. As they were walking out the door, Merrick HURLED himself in front of them and screamed:

"WAIT A MINUTE DO I NEED A HEAD SHOT TOO?"

After much gut level heaving, it turns out that the poor guy has been anticipating a shot (as in vaccination) IN THE HEAD for four months. And was watching his sister head out the door for that terrible fate, fearing his own.

The relief in this household, knowing there was no needle in the head in store for everyone in the family? Oceanic.



9 comments:

MJ said...

That was an unpredictable end to the post! Poor Merrick! But he is so brave! And to have wrestled with this fear for so long!

Irene said...

Poor little guy, he was so brave! I feel for him very much, it's something I would have concluded as a little kid.

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

I love it!! He's got to be a character, growing up as the little brother to Scarlett and S...

unmitigated me said...

When my son was 4, he needed an ultrasound on his bladder. We did our best to explain how the "magic" machine would be able to look inside him. Apparently, we didn't do well enough, because on the way there, he began to cry, and said, "Awe they going to take off my bwown?" By which he mean his lily-white, WASP-pale skin. Poor kid was terrified because I did a crap job of explaining.

Anonymous said...

POOR Merrick! He must have been in a panic.

Anonymous said...

Your family is a national treasure.

jenn said...

You've got to admit, it does sound pretty horrifying.

Daisy said...

Oh, hugs to Merrick!! The way he adores his big sister, he must be just as relieved for her!

Suburban Correspondent said...

Poor guy! I remember my little one asking big brother Brian (then all of 4 years old) what happened at his doctor's appointment. "Rachel," he said, "I was shot."