We spent our day today in Covington at a volleyball tournament for our daughter Anna. Won 1, Lost 2. I'm still proud as we lost to teams older than our girls. Interesting Sunday it has been. The lovely, to many infamous, mayor of New Orleans daughter happens to be on Anna's team. It was just strange to hear him cheer my daughter's name as she served. I'm only accustomed to hearing him on TV defending himself or his great city; I enjoyed seeing a different side. So, now on to Jake...the little mischievious 6-year-old. He played with a few other kids for a while. Next thing ya know, he's running to his dad with 3 other little boys chasing him. I knew, instantly, that this meant trouble.
Oh yeah....Little Boy #1 (actually about 2-3 years Jake's senior): Your son was outside saying a curse word over and over again. Little boys #2 and #3 in agreement, shaking their heads up and down, but not saying a word.
Me: Okay, I'll take care of it. You can go away. Jake, were you cursing?
Jake: It was an accident. I didn't know it was a bad word. (Everything is an accident, according to Jake).
Me: What word were you using?
Jake: It was the F word. (I sigh, maybe gasp).
Me: Where did you hear that word?
Jake: On that medium sized boy's cell phone (gasp again...this is not the first time Jake describes someone as medium sized...and why does this kid have a cell). He pinky promised and
sweared that if I said the word, he wouldn't tell on me. I can't believe he told on me....I mean he
PINKY PROMISED and SWORE. He is not my friend. Can I go back outside momma?
Me: No. No. No. (He begged and begged and begged, relentlessly). ABSOLUTELY NOT! You will sit here with mom and dad and stay out of TROUBLE.
This, my friends, is nothing that a mom wants to hear. My son seems to be easily persuaded to do wrong. I need to work on that.
Thirty minutes later: A tournament official approaches us. Jake has been in Cory's lap this entire time, writhing to go back outside.
Official to Jake: "Have you been on a cell phone outside?"
Jake smiling: No, I was not talking on that cell phone.
Official: Did you call 911?
Jake: No, I did not call 911. It wasn't me. (Official looks at me for some kind of answer).
Me: He's been with us for the last 30 minutes, but yes, he was outside earlier. (She gives me a look of disapproval. At this point, I know the blame is being placed on Jake. She leaves with that all so dreaded "watch your kid lady" look. WHATEVER.) Jake, did you call 911?
Jake: No, it wasn't me. I did NOT call 911. I know that you go to jail if you call 911 and there is not an emergency. That boy is going to be in so much trouble. He might go to jail.
I believe him as it is extremely easy to catch Jake in a lie. Mostly, he doesn't deny when he has done something wrong; he just uses the "it was an accident" defense. I also came to the conclusion that he was the scapegoat for the other kid. I'm not in denial. I just know. I know Jake. I know his lies. I know his truths. I'm his momma! Oh what a day! Thank God this was the last tournament of the season.
