Comico

October 22

So the sun has decided it likes us over here a whole lot. Like I’m pretty sure the rest of the world is frozen over because we are getting all the sun has to offer. Basically if I was a marshmellow I would be well over crispy and if I was an ice cube I wouldn’t be at all.

So yeah, to those of you wrapped up in your hoodies drinking hot chocolate and wishing you could walk outside without putting a coat on? Come join us over here.

And if you don’t mind, bring me some goldfish and Expo markers.

The kids have been cracking me up lately. I don’t know if it is the fact I am beginning to understand a lot more or they’ve been reading joke books in their free time, but somehow or another the amount of time I spend laughing at the things they say has greatly increased.

So I suppose I shall share a story for those of you who don’t have the beautiful privilege of knowing these little chicos.

Once upon the other day, a bunch of my boys (Fermin, Rodrigo, Luis Migel, and Gabriel) asked for permission to go to the Vegetables house. I told them no as it was almost time to eat and our house happens to work just fine. A few minutes later I walked outside to see the very same boys booking their way over to the Vegetables house.

Oh my goodness so cute I just love when I tell you not to do something and then you go do it. Please do that more often.

So yeah, I called them back over and said, “So what did I say when you asked me to go there?”

And low and behold, what do you know, they knew I said no.

So then I was like okay little darlings, grab a machete and have at it.

So then they macheted (that’s probably not a word) for a little while outside our house, but all too soon the lunch bell rang.

So I told them to get in the house so we could have a little talk.

And then I put my serious face on. Which might I just say has been improving. And I told them that when they ask for permission and I say no, that means no. They don’t just go do it and

blah blah blah listen to me blah blah blah don’t do that again blah blah blah I don’t know what I’m saying what is Spanish blah blah blah

But somehow, despite what I was saying and my oh so serious face (at least I thought), they found the whole situation rather funny.

So then I was all like, “Is this funny?”

Yeah. Such a typical line. I use it frequently.

And all the boys, in unison, said no.

Except Gabriel. Who very confidently said yes.

So then I’m like let’s try this again. Is this funny?

And all the boys, in unison, said no.

Except Gabriel. Who confidently said yes.

Okay. So let me introduce you to Gabriel.

Gabriel is the sweetest kid. He really is. He is precious. He is not disrespectful, he is more than willing to help if you ask him, and he’s got a sincere heart of gold. But this little darling sometimes doesn’t put things together. Like if you give him 1 and 1 he might get 17. Or pancakes.

So basically he didn’t catch on that if everyone else said no, he should probably say no too.

So after asking them one more time, and Gabriel sticking to his guns, I said, “Okay Gabriel. You’re not eating lunch.”

His eyes got so wide. He was in absolute shock. And totally not understanding that he not getting lunch was somehow related to the fact that he was the only one not saying no.

So then I looked him in the eyes, unsuccessfully trying my best to keep a straight face as all the other boys, including Gabriel, were rather amused by the situation.

And I said, Gabriel is this funny to you?

Yes.

This situation, right now, is funny to you?

Yes.

So then he starts to look around, confused.

Gabriel, is this funny to you?

I don’t know.

Okay. Gabriel. One more time. Is this funny to you?

No.

OH MY GOODNESS. AND THE HEAVEN BELLS RANG.

Very good, Gabriel. Thank you. Now you can eat.

So then we ate lunch. And at lunch the truth came out from Gabriel that he has no idea what the word “comico” (funny) means. Which I have a hard time believing, but it explains a lot of stuff and I’m gonna go with it for the sake of peace of mind.

Also my Spanish accent is about as good as a buffalo’s, so maybe that had something to do with it.

But yeah. That was a rather entertaining thirty minutes of my life. But let’s be real. Most of my life over here is entertaining.

Like the other day when the truck didn’t come back to the river to pick us up (we went there for work hour so we didn’t crisp up in the sun) so we walked the hour and a half back home (like the entire orphanage) in sopping wet clothes. And I almost got run over by a motorcycle.

Last Sunday when Dani and I got back from town there were two mangos hanging from our doorframe on wires. That was interesting.

Oh I shared my bed with multiple bugs the other night. I found one in my hair, one crawling up my neck, and one crawling up my leg. That was probably the most wonderful night of my life. Oh dear little bugs please sleep with me more often.

So yeah. Life here keeps me on my toes. I’m always excited to see what comes next.

I love the moments that make me stop and think.

I love the moments that make me feel so happy and full with the beauty of people and life that I just might cry.

And I love the moments that are comico, whatever that means.