We Will All Wear Khaki Pants

We are all going to wear khaki pants to the parade. What’s khaki? I ask, knowing, but wanting to see his reaction. He is new, and I love to toy with the new guy. “You know,” he says, “Um, tan, plain, dull, plain, tan.” “I don’t have any pants like that,” I tell him, “But I can do purple.” I read his face, his cheeks pink up fast. I am going to have fun with this one. “Oh, I am sure you have something khaki,” he says confidently. “No, she doesn’t!” all three of the others in the lunchroom shout nearly simultaneously. His nose is pink now. He looks down, and I realize the minute it registers that I am wearing my red, orange, black, gray and purple owl pants. “Do you have PLAIN?” he asks hopefully. They are all shaking their heads ‘no’. I am so proud as I leave the lunchroom, They know me here!