Sisterly Love, Part Deux

Tonight at suppertime, we were sitting around the table, chatting about the day's events, when the resident seven-year-old piped up:

Child Number Two: Timmy cried today at school. Some of the girls were being mean to him.

Timmy is a delightful little boy... I took an immediate shine to him on the very first day that he and Child Number Two started junior kindergarten together, three years ago. All you have to do is say the word "Timmy!", and his entire face breaks into an enormous grin-- the effect is like turning on a lightbulb.

Mother: (grimly) That's terrible. Poor Timmy! He's such a nice little guy. Did he find a teacher to help him?

Child Number Two: (delicately balancing a chicken nugget on her fingertip) Oh, no. I went over and said I'd play with him. Then he felt better.

Father: Good for you, sweetie. I'm proud of you for sticking up for your friend. And did the other kids join in, when they saw you having fun?

Child Number Two: Nope. They kept right on being mean. They said I should come and play with them, and stay away from Timmy, because he's "odd". I told them that Timmy's fun, he's not odd, at all.

Mother: (smiling) Oh, all the best people are a bit odd in our own little ways...

Father: If we weren't, we'd all be as dull as dishwater, just like those mean girls.

Child Number One: (putting in her "oar" as Older, Wiser Sister) Being a little bit odd is a good thing-- it's what makes people interesting!

Child Number Two: (pinning her sibling with a glance, and arching one eyebrow) Well, Timmy is sure a LOT less "interesting" than YOU are, that's for sure...