Chapter 29 Eleanor & Charlotte

Chapter 29 Eleanor and Charlotte

The Sunday before school started, the girls went up front of the church for Children's Church, as did other children. The pastor mentioned school starting in a few days and asked if they were excited about it.

Eleanor said no and explained the reasons why. She had gone to the same daycare since she was born as did all her friends. (Andrew works at Barnes Jewish Christian Hospital in St. Louis, and they have a daycare as part of it.) Her friends won't be going to kindergarten with her. They'll all go to different schools. By the time she finished, the congregation was laughing. The more they laughed the more she continued.

Andrew and Katie are introverts. They rarely talk. Katie's comment to me was, "I'm glad little old church ladies like children."

Andrew and Katie were sharing this story with me by FaceTime. I said, "I'm positive the little old church ladies love little ones and enjoyed Eleanor's story. I'm also sure you talk with the ladies, too."

"Mom, I talk to no one. You know that."

"I'm sure you talk with your girls during dinner."

Katie and Andrew glanced at each other. Katie laughed, "Barbara, with those two girls Andrew and I sit quietly and listen. Rarely do we get a chance to speak. Andrew asks a question about their day and they're off."

*****

Since this is so short, I'll add another Eleanor and Charlotte story. When we were visiting them this summer and were sitting at the table for dinner, Eleanor smiled at me and said, "Grandma, I didn't know you're a nun."

Taken back by her comment, I asked, "Sweetheart, why do you think I'm a nun?"

Charlotte joined the conversation, "Because Maria has short hair and she's a nun. You have short hair, so you're a nun."

I had no clue what they were talking about. "Who's Maria?"

Katie laughed. "I get it. The girls get thirty minutes of TV time after dinner, and we've been watching 'Sound of Music' the past few nights. Maria has short hair and she's a nun."

"Grandma, do you like 'Sound of Music'?" asked Eleanor.

"I do. It's one of my favorite musicals."

Eleanor continued, "Great! Daddy, is it time for the movie?"

Andrew shook his head. "Yes. Mom, we're in the middle, is that okay?"

"It is. I know the story by heart. But first shouldn't we explain that not all women with short hair are nuns."

Andrew chuckled and said, "You can try, but I doubt it'll work."

It didn't work, but we enjoyed watching the next thirty minutes of 'Sound of Music', before bath time. The girls sat on my lap and often touched my short hair. No, I'm not a nun.