thedarkfields | [Text]

[There are a few drafts to this message that mostly amount to outrage at someone abandoning a kid, before he decides that's not what's important right now.]

I have experience with children. I could help.

What kinds of things does a kid need at this age? I've got a couple of changes of clothes for her, but that's it.

Also, do they ever get tired? I feel like all I'm doing is pulling her out of the trees.

Well, toothbrush and toothpaste, that's important. Hairbrush and general cleanliness stuff. She probably needs a little bit of help with that stuff - at minimum, you making sure she does it, cause she ain't gonna know to do it on her own.

Healthy meals at least three times a day, and lots of sleep, cause she's growing a lot. A few hours of physical activity might help her get some of that energy out. Tree climbing is great, if you go to the park or something, but make sure she knows that's only for that time, not for while you're out walking, buzzing up every tree you pass like a squirrel.

Kids actually respond well to structure, and mild responsibility like cleaning up after themselves. It's a need for reliability, which she probably desperately needs, from the sounds of it.

It's also an age great for creative stuff, like drawing and building.

How's she doing emotionally? She sounds like she's gone through a lot.

She didn't even know how to eat with a fork when she got here; we’re starting from scratch.

Like a squirrel is right! I'm getting worried I'm going to go outside and find her on the roof. We’ve been to the park a few times, but we’re still working on the "interacting with other people" thing.

It's like you said, she's not used to any kind of stability. We’re calming down a little now but I've definitely been bitten a few times. She doesn't know a lot about wherever she was before, but it doesn't seem like anyone’s looking for her.

I might be able to help. I'm still a technically a kid myself and my sisters certainly weren't shy in telling me what to do.

Terrible that they would skip town and leave a kid behind.

He was working on ironing some things out with her living situation, but I guess something came up.

I don't know anything about kids. What is she supposed to eat? What kinds of stuff does she need to know how to do? I don't want her to fall behind.

Sounds like it if he just didn't show up.

I guess it depends on if she's picky or not. Some kids are. Fruits and vegetables are good. Three healthy meals a day. I don't know that a few days will cause her to fall behind, but she might like to read, play outside if its warm enough, or draw.

Might be more than a few days. I went by his place and someone else is living there.

There's special food for babies, there could be food for kids too, I don't know. I think I'm probably pickier than her, though! She's not great with cutlery yet, but we're working on it.

She loves playing outside, but she keeps getting in the trees and it's hard to get her down.

Really? He just left her behind like that. Unbelievable.

I have really looked myself. Usually it just seems like what adults eat, just smaller portions. Though it seems to be simpler than adult cuisine. I guess they are assuming kids won't eat fancier options. Maybe something she can pick up?

I'm not surprised about that. It's fun to get as high as you can. I tried when I was younger.

I'm not going to say I'm not worried, but if he could have waited one more week before disappearing it would have been really convenient for me.

She's helping me with the cooking a bit and it seems okay so far. Stains everywhere but I can live with that.

Oh, I love climbing but not in a dress in thirty-degree weather, you know?

Unbelievable that he didn't even ask.

Yeah, probably not the neatest of activities, but at least then it will probably be something she likes or is at least willing to try it.

Yeah, that might be a little cold.

Yeah, if I ever see him again and it turns out the reason he left wasn't a big deal I might hit him with a hammer.

She likes eating, so it's at least a place where we can find some common ground.

It's very cold, and if it's windy it's a bit indecent.

Well... I guess that is one way to get your point across.

That's good then. It is definitely a good way to bond.

That might be why my sisters never really chased after me much when it was cold out...

I don't want to do too much damage! I just want to make sure he's too afraid to do this to me again.

Poor kid hasn't had a lot of support so I guess anything that gives her a few skills she can use is good.

You ran your sisters around like this, huh? Let me tell you, the whole thing’s different in trousers and good shoes.

That's good at least. He does need to know it is not acceptable.

Art and music are also good. Of course, I play a music instrument so I might be a bit biased.

I did when I was younger. Not so much anymore. I imagine it is. I didn't think of that when I was younger though.

[She will feel bad if it turns out that the Italians took Crowley out, but he did still leave her in the lurch with a kid, and if a guy’s going to do that he should at least show her a good time first.]

I can't play much aside from the phonograph, myself. I can get her some art supplies, though. Maybe she can draw trees instead of climbing them.

I climbed halfway up a pyramid once! Probably my minder from the magazine felt like I do now doing this.

That would be a good idea. It's a good creative thing to do and I think most kids like to draw.

Really? That's so cool! I'd love to just be able to see it!

It'll help with her motor skills, too. That's important, isn't it?

I just got back from a dig over there and we had to do a publicity bit for the sponsor so we did all the tourist stuff. I highly recommend it if you get the chance.

The Sphinx too. To see, not to climb.

Very important. The more she practices drawing, the better she would do I imagine.

That sounds amazing. I will have to do that if the chance ever comes up. I've read about so many things in books or heard people talk about them... it would be nice to actually see them.

I certainly wouldn't try climbing it.

She still struggles with things like using a fork and brushing her teeth. I hope this can help.

It's completely different in person. Somehow the structures are larger than you'd think from a photograph, and to know that people just like us built them, so long ago... It's amazing.

Ah, well that can be difficult at a younger age, but not sure where it starts to become easier or should be easier. My older sisters would probably know.

It sounds like it would be amazing. Yeah, it always looks so small in pictures. I’m sure even trying to get a person into the picture, it still loses its scale and looks less impressive than it is.

[He’s not going to type it because it would probably give away his family’s financial state, but he is wondering if he can talk his father into letting him go on a trip like that]

[She’s already decided that the tablet is the latest toy for rich people, so the assumption’s been made]

Yeah, as you can tell I don't know much about it. My neighbours have kids and I was thinking about asking them, but it's kind of embarrassing.

You can't capture the feeling in a picture. Like you're standing in the presence of something sacred.

[Well, then she wouldn't really be wrong...]

Might be a strange thing to ask them out of nowhere yes. I might be able to ask my sisters. Some of the older ones have young children so it might not be so weird for me to ask the ones who still live at home.

That would be hard to capture too. It really doesn't have the majesty.

Lots of people think women naturally know these things, but I've never been around kids before. Not even relatives. At least your sisters had you!

I hope you get a chance to go someday. The world would be a better place if everyone got to have these opportunities.

Well, I certainly don't think so. Some of my sisters are much better with kids than others. I think mainly the older ones. The youngest besides me really doesn't know much since she's maybe a few years older than me.

Thanks. I think that would be amazing to see. I would really like to.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject