Wrapped Around Erin's Finger
I was driving Erin home one evening, and I asked her what happened in school that day.
She hesitated, and admitted that she hadn't been a good girl.
"What did you do?" I asked. When she didn't elaborate, I pressed her for an answer.
"If I tell the truth, you mustn't be angry." She's trying the old George Washington And A Cherry Tree trick again.
When I agreed, she revealed she was chided by her teacher for talking when she wasn't supposed to.
"Erin, although I'm not angry at you, I will remove a heart from your sticker book."
(Back story: Erin has a sticker book, and she earns a sticker (in the shape of a heart) for good behaviour. Conversely, a sticker is removed if she misbehaves.)
Erin's voice dropped an octave, "I'm going to cry."
Two seconds pass. I remained silent.
Erin's lower lip trembled, and she warned me again, "I'm going to cry."
Another two seconds pass. I was unmoved.
Big, fat tears began rolling out of her limpid black eyes. Her shoulders shook and she started to bawl.
"Why are you crying?" I asked.
Her reply was instantaneous, "I told you the truth, and you were still angry." She turned reproachful, "You wanted to take away my heart!" I began to waver, and when Erin saw the indecision in my eyes, she delivered the clincher, "I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!"
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She hesitated, and admitted that she hadn't been a good girl.
"What did you do?" I asked. When she didn't elaborate, I pressed her for an answer.
"If I tell the truth, you mustn't be angry." She's trying the old George Washington And A Cherry Tree trick again.
When I agreed, she revealed she was chided by her teacher for talking when she wasn't supposed to.
"Erin, although I'm not angry at you, I will remove a heart from your sticker book."
(Back story: Erin has a sticker book, and she earns a sticker (in the shape of a heart) for good behaviour. Conversely, a sticker is removed if she misbehaves.)
Erin's voice dropped an octave, "I'm going to cry."
Two seconds pass. I remained silent.
Erin's lower lip trembled, and she warned me again, "I'm going to cry."
Another two seconds pass. I was unmoved.
Big, fat tears began rolling out of her limpid black eyes. Her shoulders shook and she started to bawl.
"Why are you crying?" I asked.
Her reply was instantaneous, "I told you the truth, and you were still angry." She turned reproachful, "You wanted to take away my heart!" I began to waver, and when Erin saw the indecision in my eyes, she delivered the clincher, "I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!"
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.