Boogers

The following events occurred on October 23, 2007.  They are worth revisiting…

Today I was walking around Target, trying desperately to pick up a few things for supper, along with a couple outfits for Ella, since she has very little that is warm to wear.  We were running out of time, she was getting fussy as we had been perusing the food isles for about an hour and had finally made it over to the baby clothes section.  I had been prodding Henry along the entire time…”put the taco shells back,”  “we’re not buying candy,” “don’t touch the wine!!!”

As I’m zipping through the isles in the baby clothes section, I hear Henry rather loudly ask me

“Mom, can I eat this booger?” 

I begin to walk a little faster and ignore him, hoping he will either 1)wipe that booger off on something; or 2) just eat it and get it over with.  Again, I hear–only louder this time–

“MOM, CAN I EAT THIS BOOGER?”

Again, I ignore, and slip behind a rack to try to distance myself from this 3 year old boy, who at this point I am sure is just trying to get a rise out of me.  He knew very well that I would not want him to eat that booger.  I am now sure that all of the moms in the baby clothes section have heard the booger question, and are looking around trying to figure out which kid it is that wants to eat the booger.  Oh, it must be that one over there, the one with the bright red hair and the huge black booger on his fingertip. 

Henry asks AGAIN.  To add insult to injury, (as if I could have possibly NOT heard Henry ask his question 3 times), the previously silent William decides to make sure and asks,

“HEY MOM, HENRY WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN EAT THAT BOOGER.”

I now understand that this booger issue is not going to evaporate as I had hoped, so I rifled through my bag for a tissue, but there was nary a tissue to be found.  As quickly and as quietly as I could, I said “NO.  Just wipe it on the floor Henry.”  Of course, Henry can’t hear so well, so he says “What?”  and William says nice and loud so that Henry (and all of the other nice, clean, respectable moms who are now peering through the clothing racks to watch) can hear

“SHE SAID JUST WIPE IT ON THE FLOOR!”

So, with that, I gathered up the few shreds of dignity I had left, paid for my groceries and went home.  As for the booger, not sure where it ended up.