Friday, November 6, 2009

Actual Conversation

Stryker: "Mom, how much do you and Dad usually spend on Christmas?"

Matron: "Hmmm . . usually about $500 or $600. Maybe less this year."

Stryker: "Wow! That's terrific! I was worried there for awhile!"

The joy in his face gives the Matron slight pause.

Matron: "Stryker? That's not $500 or $600 per kid. That's for everything."

Beat of incorporation

Stryker: "That's still $166 to $200 per kid. Not bad."

Matron: "Everything includes neighbors, cousins, grandparents, friends and teachers. Everything is actually EVERYTHING."

Stryker: "Uh oh."

Matron (prepared to take the hit): "Spill it. What's the potential tally on your list?"

Stryker: "$487.63, plus shipping."

Matron: "Where did the magic of Santa go?!"

Stryker: "We're Buddhists, Mom. This holiday has always been pragmatism, commerce and negotiation."

Matron: "Please don't pick this very moment to tell me why you joined the debate team."

Stryker: "Because I plan to hone those skills in this very kitchen?"

Matron: "Okay, fellow Buddhists. Let's work on honing our loving kindness practice and worry about what we're going to get for the holiday we don't celebrate anyway, later."

Stryker: "I am a capitalist. The loving kindness thing will cost you."

And if she had an extra $487.63 laying around, she just might have written that check--while banging her head against the counter.




6 comments:

Daisy said...

Yes, he earns points for creativity and perseverance.

Wenderina said...

Did Stryker steal all of Merrick's reading desire to hone these skills? That was a unique discussion. (on and the word verification for this post is flunks...)

smalltownme said...

So curious...what is it that costs $487.63 plus shipping?

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

You teach them how to think and they use it against you!

Anonymous said...

His wit and intellect are so sharp I feel it over here.

Sue said...

I clicked on to this post from your more recent post about Stryker, and I wanted to write...
one thing, is that I ended up feeling very generous with my own son, and bought him the same game - and he was just as thrilled as your son - (that was before I read your post.)

And the second thing. I'm kinda interested in the whole "Buddhism" thing. I've been kinda going in that direction myself. And I was wondering if you'll ever think about writing a bit about that?

Just wonderin' -