I guessed from the pile of luggage in the hall that my landlords had come back from the other side of the world - it didn’t take long for audible confirmation.
The Child used to keep me under silent surveillance but now appears to be filled with helium. Bouncing off the walls with excitement she couldn’t decide whether to be a giraffe or a star as she tried to explain what she’s been doing for the last month.
The parents and The Child went to bed early but their body clocks weren’t going to let them get away with it that easily, I heard animated chatter around midnight and then all went quiet.
This morning I heard that The Child and her father were so wide awake they decided that they might as well go to the big 24-hour supermarket. A member of staff found their behaviour curious and they were taken in for questioning, the father being under suspicion of abduction.
Shuntaro Tanikawa.
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Another post about an interesting translator: Michael S. Rosenwald at the
NY Times reports that “Shuntaro Tanikawa, Popular Poet and Translator of
‘Peanuts...
6 hours ago
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What a wonderful dilemma to have: shall I be a giraffe or a star?
ReplyDeleteIt must have been particularly curious behavior to be noticed amongst the 24-hour denizens!
ReplyDeletei don't think i can add anything to eryl and xl's comments, sugar! i'm too busy laughing!! xoxoxo
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ReplyDeletei'm new-ish to your blog -- how old is The Child?
ReplyDeletei guess - at least they went out and stopped making noise in the house? still, very disturbing!
I'd be a giraffe. Stars are highly over-rated. Besides, I'm 5 ft. 4 in. and being a giraffe would mean I would reach all the stuff on the high shelves I usually get the man to take down for me.
ReplyDeleteCondolences on the return of the Child, even if she is a uber-cool giraffe.
What a shame! Out for a wee adventure and halted in their tracks by big scary dudes.
ReplyDeletewhat on earth were they doing...?
ReplyDeleteCan a chap be suspected for kidnapping these days simply by taking his child to a supermarket? And would abandoning it there then count as seeing the error of one's ways??
ReplyDeleteEryl - giraffe wins - every time
ReplyDeletexl - when did you last see a giraffe in the supermarket and not think it strange?
sav - hi Hon xxxxxx
Mrs Weight - I'm dying to respond with 48, but the child is actually just 3 years old - and very funny.
ReplyDeleteScribe - Giraffes win every time - actually although my peace is shattered I'm very pleased to see them.
Synchy -Out for a wee adventure and halted in their tracks by big scary dudes.
That's exactly what I thought - is there nowhere you can go and be a bit hyper these days?
Nursey - they may well have turned into dinosaurs - anything is possible
Gadjo would abandoning it there then count as seeing the error of one's ways??
I always thought the baby changing rooms were expressly for parents who had woken up to their madness.
jeez...come to think about it how would you prove in the middle of the night that it was your child? having randomly gone out in jogging pants and a tshirt..and knowing typical three year olds they're more than capable of disowning their parents in front of security guards..."I hate you!!!" type of stuff
ReplyDeleteMaybe they thought he had drugged her or something, as they both skipped merrily along the aisles at 2.47am
ReplyDeleteHow is Felicity these days?
...and it was reported in the news that a father was threatened with arrest for photgraphing his young son - evidently on suspicion of being a paedophile. Ouch. Giraffe for me
ReplyDeleteScreamish - I think we're playing the same scenario in our heads.
ReplyDeleteFrenchie - Felicity? Sssh daren't say (scary)
Welcome Mr Bene - so we all want to be giraffes - how nice - would the collective noun be 'a tower'
Your stories always are so surprising, how funny that going early to a shop would be suspicious.
ReplyDeleteperhaps because usually it takes around 5 hours for parents to get a kid ready for an outing...
'is there nowhere you can go and be a bit hyper these days?' Sure! My Place! But not when I finally get to sleep! :)
ReplyDeleteMrs Cow - I think 2am was considered a little too early and The Child did appear to be unnaturally high.
ReplyDeleteSynchy - I imagine you to be the kind of woman to have a trampoline in your living room
Ha ha! No room for a trampoline, but it's full of good stuff to play with and trip over. :)
ReplyDeletetoys and tripping huh?
ReplyDeleteHahaha I can just spitefully say that I'm pleased it happens to someone else too (not being harassed in 24h supermarkets I mean). Many have been the trips to Aussie with children saying to me at 4am, just as it's getting light, when I am finally getting them off to sleep, "LOOK MUMMY! THE SUN IS COMING UP!"
ReplyDeleteARGGGGGGHHHHHEEEEGGGGGHHH (cry of anguish for the parents there)
what on earth were they doing...?
ReplyDelete