The Gemini: Emancipation

24 - Princess

October 11, 1998

Butter knife slices through peanut butter chunk cookie dough. From a downturned mouth sounds a bored sigh. Another slice. Another exhale that's a touch more grumbly this time. Hungrily eying Tollhouse, Jody unhappily resists a mouthful of salmonella. Her attention goes to Brie instead.

Here in the kitchen the three-year-old sits at the marble island. Crayon in hand she fills in the homework in front of her. Having followed all directions read off by Jody, she's over it.

"What's the matter?"

"Mommy I know dis a'ready."

"Yes but you still have to do your practice work."

"Why? I know ev'ryding all the time," she complains with every ounce of Nelson arrogance.

"And how did you get that way? Because you practiced," Jody reasoned.

Coloring the final red apple, "Done! I wanna draw now."

Laying the last cookie round onto the baking sheet, knife aside, Jody checks Brie's progress. Sure enough she's completed it all correctly. Not a mislabel in sight.

Yes missy does know it all.

"Can I, Mom?"

"Put your worksheet in your folder first." Seeing Brie's excited rushing, Jody cautions, "Neatly please. We're not giving Ms. Sarah anything wrinkled."

Climbing down from the tall chair, Brie hops to the other end of the island where her backpack sat. She slides out a blank sheet of paper and a pack of washable markers before sticking the folder inside. Back to her chair, skipping this time. Jody just shakes her head at the habitual antics of the little jumping bean. It's as if she's got springs for joints.

Is it extra? Of course. But however Brie wants to express herself is fine with Jody. Sure it's cute, but expression equals energy. Energy expels which then leads to the all glorious naptime.

Hopefully.

It's been a rather elusive thing recently, thanks to Brie's new preschool life. One would think such a thing would contribute wonders to sleepy time. It does the complete opposite for this girl. The stimulation of learning only hypes her up more. Once she's back home she's bouncing off the walls and talking everyones heads off.

They always say be careful what you ask for. Jody and Prince prayed for a special child and God certainly gave. A gifted busy bee times two. It's the reason why they decided to put Brie in school now at three instead of waiting until four like most parents.

An education beyond the house would give her the upper edge. That's what a friend told them. Prince was all for it. Especially since "beyond the house" is less than 10 minutes away. At Paisley. A thing Jody still feels odd about.

It was a decision made in the middle of a movie theater that only they two occupied. Because they were on a date. Because, yes, they've become those parents. The ones that spend the duration of previews talking about matters that could be handled at later times. Yeah. Those.

"I called the school this morning. The one I told you about."

"You told them nevermind, I hope."

"Why would I? We're already pushing last minute on enrollment."

Crunching on a mouthful of candy, "Brie's not going," Prince says.

"Don't go changing your mind. We already decided she would."

"Yeah but we never said where and I don't want it to be there. No public schools. We'll homeschool."