This is why the kids like me ...

[blamebrampton]

One of my friends left her 15-year-old daughter in the combined care of me and Mr B and another nice couple from Newcastle over the Easter Weekend.

This kid is actually a friend of mine, too, not just the daughter of friends. She's got a really good head on her shoulders and is pretty damn funny as well as bright, and not at all afraid to mock us back when we give her affectionate grief. We did some fun stuff, like trying out eye make-up and trying on hats -- one of which was more of a Head Chicken than a hat (seriously -- if I could train a red Silkie hen to sit on the side of my head, it would have looked EXACTLY the same!) and then we took her up to the Hawkesbury and left her camping with hundreds of mad mediaevalists, including the Novocastrians.

Of course, despite the fact that we were totally not camping, Mr B and I ended up spending a ridiculous amount of time there, too. Which led to the situation where Ms 15 and I were visiting a boofy friend's cook tent after dark for a quick chat and gossip. A nice random chick walked in and offered us homemade cider.

'Oh, good one,' said Mr Boofy. 'Offer the 15-year-old alcohol!'

I don't really drink much, but I wanted to see if it was good cider, so I asked if I could smell it.

'OK,' said Nice Random. 'But if you're 15, don't get drunk on the fumes.'

'I'm 45,' I muttered, while Young Lass and Mr Boofy died of laughter.

I assured Nice Random that she was my fave, because, seriously, I can maybe pass for 33 on a good day in dim light, then turned to Young Lass to waggle my finger at her immoderate laughter.

'Yeah, apparently you're 15,' she teased me.

'There's a really ugly portrait in my attic,' I replied, poking my tongue out at her. 'Anyway, you should be offended, when she had to pick a teenager out of the two of us, she went with me!'

'Yeah, she was totally going on height there ...'

Friends, I let her live. And this is why you can trust me with your children.

Comments

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

Great! I'll be sending my twins to you ASAP.

Ta!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

You're the anti-Easter-bunny, you collect kids in your basket.

[ecosopher.livejournal.com]

Haha, this is so brilliant. See what happens when you wear your hair in pigtails and wear your Wiggles party dress in public?

I've been mistaken for a student when I was teaching... since then I've gone rather more grey and sleep deprivation has probably aged me. I did have a new friend express surprise at my age last year so there's possibly hope for me yet.

[nenne.livejournal.com]

That is quite the compliment. :D It's even better than the one I go at the doctor's office when he read my file and said: "I see you were born in 1986" and thereby taking 18 years off my age. I loved it!

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

I am laughing at everything. :)

For some reason, the fact that this happened at a medieval camping gives this story weird rock'n'roll Snow White visuals. You are the fairest of them all, Brammers!

[shu-shu-sleeps.livejournal.com]

Hon - seriously you don't look ANYTHING like your age, never have in fact.... and I can totally see someone assuming you are a teenager :)

[sirius-luva.livejournal.com]

In my teen years (which aren't technically over yet! I only turn 20 in July!) I was forever being mistaken for someone older; once I was with my Eng Lit classmates at a seminar thing on the book we were studying and the guy giving the talk asked me if I was the teacher. I was 15 or 16 at the time (and, admittedly, dressed in a formal black suit-coat thing over a white blouse and had my books and paper stuffed in a laptop bag which I'd gotten for free somewhere despite not owning a laptop at the time).

Also, medieval camp? I never get to do such fun things when I get packed off to stay with my uncle and gran. XD (Admittedly, I am happy enough about raiding my uncle's study as he's a historian.)

[symetric.livejournal.com]

this is hilarious. kids love you because you look about twelve. bless your little cotton socks. *ducks from your flying wellies*

:D

[illereyn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're an awesome baby-sitter (well, not so baby in this case)

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Were you wearing your braids, you girlish thing?

Just dropped by to see what you were up to. I miss chatting with you. Nothing new with me, just losing the battle to have a clean house and organized life. Kids are doing great though!