Mr. Smarty Pants

I went as a chaperone on a field trip to the zoo with Colin & his class this week. Wanted to share this little story:

They had a 20 minute Live Animal Show at the outdoor amphitheater thingy, and the zookeeper brought out 4 animals to share with the kids. First was a porcupine, then a parrot, then a lizard thing, then a really cool monkey. After each presentation, she would stop and do a Q & A with the kids RE: what they had just seen. As Colin is rarely fully "present" during long drawnout instruction, I knew I was in the clear as far as that went.

Well, she had told the kids at the beginning that the porcupine was nocturnal, and informed them that it meant that those little guys played all night and slept all day. The show was coming to a close, and Colin raised his hand. Crap. I had a mini-stroke, then just chanted please don't ask something stupid or weird please don't ask something stupid or weird please don't ask something stupid or weird a few times in my head.

"Yes, little man?" says the zookeeper. Colin, head tilted and looking a little confused, "ummmm....why's the porcupine awake right now?".

Colin had clearly been wondering that very thing since 20 minutes before, and it took his little self that whole time to get up the nerve to ask a question. Out loud. In front of people. To a stranger. So, as the whole place erupted in a round of "wow--good question!'s", I just beamed with pride. You're the man, C.