for the fun of it?

It's that time of year again. That time of year where I put on a happy face. I brave the hot unbearable weather. I wear stupid costumes. I participate in dramas with such bad dialog that you might gag. I eat themed snacks. I donate a week's worth of nights to babysit other people's kids. That's right - Vacation Bible School.

This year, for the first time, I am leading games with my husband. Which... probably won't EVER happen EVER AGAIN. Aside from that... things are going pretty well. But, as always, there are stories to tell. There are some weird kids out there, let me tell you! Names have been changed to protect the... well, not innocent exactly... um... names have been changed so that no one will ever know it was them... and that I was writing about them... on the internets...

Monday: Um, nothing very noteworthy happens.

Tuesday: One of the cute preschoolers from last year has moved up into the older group. She was one of my favorites! Though, I don't remember her name. We are playing a dodgeball-type game involving newspaper snowballs. If a member of the opposing team catches the snowball, the player who threw it is out. An older girl is taunting the preschooler. I hear the older girl saying "Holly, throw it here! Throw it here Holly, I'll get you out!" I come to Holly's defense, finally knowing her name - and using it more than once or twice. "Holly, don't throw it to her, just throw it somewhere else!" I feel good about what I have done.

On Wednesday I listen closer to older girl. She has a speech impediment. She can't say her "R"'s. I also find out that the preschooler's name is Harley. So, that is why they were both looking at me so weirdly on Tuesday...

Wednesday: Amy decides she doesn't want to draw sidewalk-chalk sheep because she DOESN'T KNOW HOW. YOU DO IT! Uhh. OK. that is totally a different rant. But finally, I get her to participate (albeit with me drawing the thing). She tells me what to draw, I ask for description, and then I draw it. I think I have finally put her at ease. We finish the project and I ask her for a celebratory high-five, offering my hand out to her. She ponders the hand for a split second, grabs it, and licks it across the palm. That was gross. Finally, this session is over...

Also, I am the angel Gabriel in a short drama during story time. The kids have seen me previously in the week during game time, but most play along and are attentive during the drama. At the end of the drama, the leader says something like "Thanks for coming and talking to us Gabriel! Goodbye!" The kids play along with shouts of "Bye Gabriel!" or "Bye angel!". One little snottypants goes: "Bye Liz."

For the rest of the night kids come up to me and cock their heads. It takes them a second, but they finally figure it out. "You were the angel!" Uhh. Yeah. Thanks for the news... Funny kids.

Who knows what Thursday will bring?