Made Man

To reference Donnie Brasco, I seem to have made the crossover from being a friend of Harry's, to a friend of Our's (the Abracadabra boys). I think I must've gotten made.

When I arrived today to pick up Harry, he was playing at the other end of the room with a few other kids, making a huge well-balanced pile of plastic bears on a wooden toy flatbed truck. While I watched I was not only greeted by at least half of the class, but actually got a huge hug from one of Harry's buddies, and was immediately ingratiated into a game by 2 others.

Eventually Harry spotted me, and we cleaned up and headed home. During dinner, I brought up the big hug from his pal. Harry said "he thinks you're his daddy."

Wasn't quite sure what to make of that, but after further discussion, Harry seemed to be fine with it, and everything was very matter-of-fact. So much so that it seemed very reasonable, if not expected, that at some point that Harry would lend me out in much the same way as he would a toy car.

Speaking of matter-of-fact, I had a very candid conversation with one of my close friends at work yesterday, about the things kids say/do/talk about these days, as opposed to when we were younger. His kids are much older ('tweens), but it all started with the discussion from Harry's party last weekend about gun play, and all of the parents wondering where it was coming from, everyone assuming it was from someone else's kid, as we all seem to downplay as MUCH as possible (much credit to the Abra staff for doing so as well).

My friend noted that he's lately been floored by the things his son in particular, not only discusses freely, but has given serious consideration to. Extrapolating the conversations he's having now with his 14-year-old, to when Harry's 14. Somehow I imagine that things will continue to come faster and sooner, and boys will still be boys. I can only hope that Harry's head stays on target like his sons', and that his wits are as sensible.

So far so good.