2nd Grade Valentines Day Angst

(Conversation between Al and I while filling out Valentines for his class)

Al - "This ones for Stevie, I'm her 'Back-up Boyfriend'."
Mama Rose - (me) "What do you mean 'Back-up Boyfriend honey?"
Al - "Well, in case she breaks up with James, then I get to be her boyfriend, you know...back-up?"
Mama Rose - "Who's James?"
Al  - "Number 22" (pointing to the list of 2nd graders in front of us)
Mama Rose - "Your not too thrilled about #22 are you honey?"
Al - "He always finishes his work and takes it up to Mr. H's desk before anyone else...always! I don't even have my name written, and there goes James, flying past me.
Mama Rose - "So James is the smartest kid in your class?"
Al - "Uh huh."
Mama Rose - "And he's got your girl?"
Al - "Uh huh."
Mama Rose - "That's gotta suck honey."
Al - "It's so not fair mom, no matter what I do, I'll never be as smart as James."
Mama Rose - "Do you think that's why Stevie likes James, because he's so smart?"
Al - (voice on the upswing) "The only reason James is her boyfriend and not me, is because he did more gross stuff than me."
Mama Rose - "Break it down Al."
Al - "Stevie picked James because he sat in the mud longer than me. I was tired of being muddy and got out, then that's when Stevie said "OK, James, your my boyfriend, and Al, your my back-up boyfriend...if I'd just sat in the mud longer, Stevie would've picked me."
Mama Rose - "There's a difference between smart and intelligent, and from what you've told me, your much smarter than James."
Al - "Mom, I said he finishes his work first every time, every single time!"
Mama Rose - "You also said he sat in mud longer than you."
Al - "So?"
Mama Rose - "So... why did you get out of the mud?"
Al - "Because it was gross."
Mama Rose - "That's pretty smart Al."
Al - "So... James is intelligent, but not smart enough to get out of the mud.
Mama Rose - "Otherwise known as common sense."
Al - "So what does that make Stevie?"
Mama Rose - "Brilliant."

Comments

[S]

That's a cute story!

[Andy]

But one also has to wonder about being in the mud in the first place...

[Jonathan Beckett]

That story is fantastic... I am so looking forward to these kinds of conversations with our children one day...