rm | kids are freaky

On the bus today a woman is talking to her 5 or 6 year-old-child with glasses. I feel impelled to note that both the woman and child are dressed in bright, summery clothes. There is nothing about them that says, "OMG, third cousins to Snape and/or the Addams Family." Wow, I can't believe I just typed that sentence.

Anyway, mom is speaking to the child who has just declared that she hates someone.

"Hate is too strong a word. You mustn't hate people."

"But I do hate her!"

"Well, you can deplore her, instead."

"De-plore?" the kid asks, trying it out.

The mother nods frantically, in some sort of bizarre relief. "Or detest. You can even deride."

"De-plore. De-test! and de-ride?"

"Yes!" the mother chirps, triumphant. "Deplore is when, well you don't like the way someone is being, you can deplore them."

"Deplore," the child repeates more confidently.

"And detest is like when you really really don't like a food."

"You mean I hate it!"

"Well, yes, you detest it."

"Okay. Deplore. Detest."

"Deride, that's what you do when you deplore and detest."

"How?"

"You could say, "I deride your ideas,"" the mother offers.

"I deride you!" the child exclaims. "Deplore. Detest. Deride."

IT WAS THE AWESOME.