Forgetfulness and/or denial

20 February 2010

I went shopping with Suzy today and we had a marvellously successful day, coming away with half the stock of H&M. In a funky shop called Apricot, where I found myself a long overdue new winter coat, I was perusing the clothes when a little boy appeared next to me. “Hello,” I said. He looked at me with big eyes and then returned my hello when prompted by his Mum. Indicating Suzy, who was standing next to me, he asked, “Is that your Mummy?”
“No, she’s my friend,” I said.
“Where’s your Mummy?”
“She’s at home – it’s ok,” I reassured him.

A little later I met him again in the changing room, where he stuck his head under the curtains to find Suzy an empty cubicle.

“Your Mummy’s at home?” he asked me.
“Yes, she is. How old do you think I am?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have a guess,” I said, playing for time as I tried to remember the answer myself.
“4?”
“No, higher,” I said, still somewhat unsure of my own age.

He was stumped, unable to imagine any age other than his own, and so I told him, “I’m 27″. Suzy promptly poked her head out of her cubicle and corrected me, “No, you’re not, you’re 28!”.

Damn it.

Posted in: being me, encounters, friends

Comments

3 Responses to “Forgetfulness and/or denial”

Thursday
20th February 2010 @ 9:06 pm

Just wait til you get to my age, remembering how old you are becomes seriously difficult.

[Reply]
kirsty
20th February 2010 @ 10:54 pm

The year that I was 35 I spent the WHOLE year thinking I was 36. So the next year I decided to be 35 instead of 37. Worked quite well.

[Reply]
bonnie
21st February 2010 @ 12:14 am

Can you remind me what denial is? But I refuse to say I’m forgetful.

[Reply]