Can I Have That

Can I have that? No. Why? Because it’s mine. Can I have this? No. Why? Because it is mine. I paid for it. Can I have this? I recognize this weird pattern. I have seen it before. Usually in children who feel like they do not have anything. This child is eleven. Old enough to know this behavior is rude. “It is rude to ask someone to give you their things,” I tell her. “Can I have this?” she says. I stare at her. She turns, sees my face and laughs. I have no glare face. Stare face is all I have. She obviously has missed some valuable character lessons. I watch her try to slip my ten dollar spinning owl into her pocket. She turns, sees me looking and grins. “I was just kidding,” she said. She puts it back, giving it an extra pat. The owl, which is solar powered and spins from the sun Is gone the next day. Shocker.