some kids need their own radio show

on my subway commute this morning, a truckload of kids (looking to be between the ages of 6 and 9 years old) and their teachers piled onto the train. they were on their way to the zoo. so of course, they were excited (and loud), energized (and loud), and quite talkative from all their zoo excitement (did i mention how LOUD they were?).

i admit that i was not too happy to see all of them clamber onto the train. for one, i hate noise. seriously...most kinds of noise bother me. especially incessant chatter. second, i had just been stuck in hellish traffic for 30 mins (for what should only be a 12 minute drive to the station). i was cranky and irritable, tired and desperately wanting to close my eyes and rest in comfort for the 35 minute train ride to work.

so about 20 screaming kids on the train was not exactly what i was hoping to encounter. but nevertheless, there they were.

they were very interesting kids, i must say. i wondered what school they were from, as the teacher closest to me was speaking to them in French (though the kids would answer her back in English). it was a very culturally diverse group of kids, so to know that they were being spoken to in French (quite clearly not their native languages) was intriguing to me.

anyway, one little girl sat in the empty seat beside me while another little girl and boy sat nearby. the conversation that they had made me explode with laughter inside:

Girl 1: "Remember when she punched me and made me cry?" (i must have missed the beginning because i don't know who "she" is)

Girl 2: "Yeah...you shouldn't punch people. You should never punch girls. If you keep on doing that, you're going to go to the devil." (LOLOLOL)

Girl 1: "No...that's only when you die."

Girl 2: "Oh yeah! you go to jail for punching people."

Boy: "Kids can't go to jail!!"

Girl 2: "Yes they can - they go to kids' jail."

Boy: "No! They don't HAVE kids' jail!"

Girl 1: "Yuh-HUH! My sister went to jail for punching a girl and making her bleed." (LOL)

Boy: "You're a liar!!!!"

(Boy turns to teacher and asks:)

Boy: "Is there a kids' jail?"

(Teacher nods her head 'yes') - (LOL)

Boy: "NO THERE'S NOT! It's only for grownups in college!"


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. i was dying laughing inside! i love the innocence that children naturally possess. there is nothing like it on the planet. and the way that they converse with each other and exchange ideas is phenomenal to watch.

i can't wait to watch these kinds of shenanigans unfold with my own child.

what a way to melt away the irritation i was feeling. though they were initially adding TO my irritation (oh, the loudness), they did a wonderful job at calming me down and helping me get over myself.

thanks, kids. loudness and all, i guess i needed to be near you this morning.