Butterflies
She is a beautiful girl. I shouldn’t have noticed that first, but I did. With her shining black hair and her huge brown eyes, she smiled at me when I walked around the corner.
And I melted in the power of her. Dimpled little-girl hands. No understanding of the “inside voice”. Laughter that pealed across the quiet and pulled out the tiny specks of gold in her eyes. Entertaining herself as little girls are wont to do, with a doll. This one had pink hair and fairy wings. She was whirring it around like an airplane.
“HI!” she chirped, none too delicately.
“Hiya, sweetpea.” I said through an undisguised smile.
“Do you like BUTTERFLIES?!?!” she dropped her doll and scooted closer to me, her chocolate eyes wide.
I looked over at her, scrunching my brow and doing my best former-d1sney-employee frown. “Well, I don’t know. Are they made of butter?”
Rolling her eyes, and shaking her head she replied “NOOOPE! They are bugs ‘cept they have pretty wings that are made of feathers and paints an stuff. So when they fly they look really pretty.”
I managed not to giggle and still look confused. “But why are they called butterflies if they aren’t made of butter? Shouldn’t they be called featherpaintedwingerflies?”
By this time she was convinced that I was daft. She looked me straight in the face, her mouth set into a firm line of annoyance. “You know, lady. You’ll understand someday that some stuff just doesn’t make sense!”
And you know? Someday I will understand.
February 10th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Jonniker called butterflies “Hairy fat men in pretty dresses.” I don’t know why that makes me laugh so hard.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:05 am
mmmmmm butterflies… made of butter…. mmmmmmm I like anything made of butter
February 11th, 2009 at 2:17 am
Such wisdom only comes in the tiniest of packages. Didn’t you know that?
February 11th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Gotta love a girl with some sass. I always wondered about why they are called “butterflies” too.
February 11th, 2009 at 4:51 am
that was some fast thinking flutter, i love your questions and i LOVE her precocious answer that something’s just don’t make sense. word.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:22 am
OMG! This one left me feeling so wonderful. Like nothing today could stop me. ‘Featherdpaintedwingerflies’, I think I like that best.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:25 am
I needed a smile this morning. Thanks.
February 11th, 2009 at 5:56 am
I’m pretty sure you already do, my friend. She sounds adorable.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Wonderful story!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:40 am
From the mouths of babes, right?
Also – the symbolism! Ack!
February 11th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Oh the adorable!!! How sweet.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am
What a cool kid. And sad that she’s had to figure out that life doesn’t always make sense so young . . .
February 11th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Sometimes kids say just the perfect thing.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:16 am
this story has put a permasmile on my face.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Kids are fun, huh?
Now you’ve got me thinking about butter. I think time for lunch.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Children are the most wise of all.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Aw, chitlins. And chitlins and butterflies. they just go together.
My 5-year-old nanababy told me last night, “Nana, I hope you have a great day in the morning.” Thanks, I said. And she added, “And I just HOPE you don’t do anything to hurt yourself.” I just had to say thanks again. Priceless.
KJ
February 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
I need to remember that some stuff just doesn’t make sense right now.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
so sweet
I KNOW it, but I’m not sure I’ll ever UNDERSTAND it
February 11th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
This post just makes me smile.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
That little one left me with the biggest smile! Thanks for sharing hon! (Hugs)Indigo
February 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
This makes me smile. A lot. Such honesty and wisdom, eh?
February 11th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I love it!
February 11th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
How true. Sweet and wise.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Oh my…
February 11th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
i love it when those little people show us up.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
What a cute kid!
February 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Well Played!
February 11th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
We’re parents but sometimes the teachers are really the kids.
February 12th, 2009 at 7:06 am
That was so DARLING!!! Also, I am glad to finally know what the heck butterflies are made of!
February 12th, 2009 at 7:33 am
it’s not the knowing so much that gets me, but the accepting.
February 12th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I love how they know everything…
I call them ‘flutter-bys”, seeing as that’s what they do!
February 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
I’m glad she didn’t then lecture you about how fairies aren’t made of “fairs” or even “air.” You’d have suggested she just call them “queers.”
February 12th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Ouch. So pretty it’s painful.
February 13th, 2009 at 2:51 am
the honesty and wisdom of children…. cracks me up and sobers me up in one breath…
lovely post
February 14th, 2009 at 8:21 am
How did she know she was talking to Flutter???? That’s just spooky.
(And adorable. And true.)
February 14th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
oh yeah.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Awesome! Just awesome.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
From the mouths of babes!
February 16th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
A classic example of what is fabulous about little kids – they exude the Tao of life.
February 16th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Loved this!
February 21st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I can see she and you, in my mind’s eye. And I’m smiling.