For a long time I will remember the day we went for a walk with my son, who was very young. He was six years old. Before going to bed every day we went for a walk with him. And that evening we were going for a walk, too.
I was ironing his pants before we went for a walk, and he came up and hugged me and suddenly asked:
– Do you know why women have skirts and boys have pants?
– No, I have no idea,” I answered.
– How could you not know? Such simple things! – My son Richard continued seriously. – It’s just that skirts are very beautiful, they can get dirty and pants can’t. And boys really like to get everything dirty and play soccer.
Suddenly Richard left the room and a minute later came back with a big stain on his pants. Apparently, they were left from breakfast or lunch.
– See, they got dirty. But that’s all right. They’re pants. If I had a skirt, it would be different. You’ll give me other pants.
– I will, but next time be more careful. Otherwise soon there’ll only be my skirts left, you’ll have to wear them.
Richard took the last of my pants and quickly pulled them on and waited for me. I was just about to leave the room, when I heard strange remarks of my son. Without waiting for me, he went into the kitchen and unwrapped the melted chocolate bar. All of his hands were now covered with it. I could barely save my newly ironed pants. A little more, and would have had to stay home. And my son said:
– No, I have not had time to get dirty yet! Nothing you can not do, you skirt.
And then I suddenly remembered the evening when we were with Richard watching a movie in which a man wears a skirt. I guess Richard remembered it like that, in his own way. And he didn’t want to try on a skirt, too. Or else he saw something on TV.
– But just now for sure look carefully around you! If you don’t want to wear a skirt.
And after that we went for a walk. Everything was fine at first, but suddenly Richard ran skipping toward the playground, saw something, and fell on the wet grass. He got up, walked on the grass and stepped right into a puddle. In general, he now had a very frightened look, when he turned sharply to me and almost in a whisper said:
– I do not want a skirt, I do not want!
And I felt so funny. And pity. So scared that he would be forced to wear a skirt.
– Do not get upset. You do not want to fall, so it does not count.
Richard was very happy and we went straight home. We couldn’t walk around in dirty clothes. I still remember this story with my son. How much time has passed, and I can still see that frightened look and the cry that he doesn’t want to wear a skirt.
