[Text]

[desperate_times_right]

Good morning! Is there anyone on this thing who knows anything about kids and wants to help me out?

Some jackass asked me to take care of a kid for a few days and then skipped town! I don't know what to do with her. If it helps, she's five, I think.

Comments

[desperate_times_right]

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.

[gundamofthedesert]

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.

[desperate_times_right]

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.

[gundamofthedesert]

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]

[desperate_times_right]

[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.

[gundamofthedesert]

[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.

[desperate_times_right]

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.

[gundamofthedesert]

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.

[desperate_times_right]

Right, I'm sure growing up with all those sisters has destroyed the illusion of the perfect woman! Must be exhausting, so many relatives.

[gundamofthedesert]

It is true. All these advertisements talk about that, but not a single one of my sisters is 'perfect' according to them. But they are all perfect I think.

[Will probably make someone very happy someday]

Yeah, it is tiring sometimes, but my sisters mean well.

[desperate_times_right]

Oh, you're adorable. A true modern gentleman.

[Even most of the enlightened men she knows tend to have odd ideas about women in general, and her in particular.]

How many of you are there?

[gundamofthedesert]

Thank you. That is kind of you to say.

Seven kids. I am the only boy and the youngest.

[desperate_times_right]

Seven??? Christ.

It's a wonder your mother had time to get anything done.

[gundamofthedesert]

I think that is why my older sisters also learned how to care for the younger ones.

[desperate_times_right]

I can see why! Just the one is running me ragged.

I can't imagine as a kid having to share your parents’ attention with that many other people.

[gundamofthedesert]

I guess I was lucky. I was the youngest so I pretty much had most of the attention. My sisters probably had it much worse than I did.

[desperate_times_right]

Oh, good point, the only son! The little prince.

[gundamofthedesert]

I suppose so. My sisters did say I was special.

[desperate_times_right]

I imagine there were some family responsibilities they were more than happy to pass on to you.

[gundamofthedesert]

Yeah, I'm sure they are. My family wants me to inherit their business from my father so it was good for them.

[desperate_times_right]

Oh, real responsibilities then! Have fun while you're young.

[gundamofthedesert]

Yeah, real adult responsibilities. I'm definitely trying. I think my father is trying to get me to grow up sooner rather than later, but I'm trying to not let that happen.

[desperate_times_right]

Oh yeah, don't do that until you're ready, if you can avoid it. Hated it when I tried it out.

[gundamofthedesert]

I'll try not to. I certainly doesn't sound like much fun. Even my older sisters, though they were looking after younger children, they didn't have to start working otherwise.

[desperate_times_right]

If you had a younger brother it’d be easy - you just play around until your parents pass you over for the 'smarter' brother, even if he is younger. As it is, just hang onto your youth as long as you can.