Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A thin line...

I love my job. Well, most of the time.

But conversations like this, they make me smile.

Petunia: Miss. You like my nails?

Me: They are black.

Petunia: Yes they are. Do you like their shape?

Me: They are long and pointy. Very interesting Petunia.

Petunia: I always had them done square shaped and wanted something different. I really like these. They're fun.

Me: They almost look like little weapons. Did you get them done at _________?

Petunia: No. Some other place. But I'm not going back. I don't like the people that work there.

Me: Why? I thought you asked for your nails to be black and long and pointed like daggers.

Petunia: It's not that. The guy who did my nails is racist.

Me: ??? How do you know he's a racist?

Petunia: He said he hates gays.

Me: That's a little different than racist. Why do you think he hates gays?

Petunia: The TV was on and they had the story of Ricky Martin coming out that he was gay. And the guy says to me, "Gay men aren't real men." You know what I said to him Miss?

Me: What did you say Petunia?

Petunia: I said to him, "yeah, says the man doing my nails."

You can still enter the contest until Thursday afternoon...

42 comments:

Christy said...

sometimes you want to hug the little boogers....=)

Ginny Marie said...

Oh, stories like this almost make me miss teaching! That was an awesome conversation.

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

that is a funny story! thanks for sharing.

Jack said...

Ha!... and a big "Touché" to him.

ds said...

Petunia rocks (and so do you)! Thanks for sharing.

gretchen said...

Ha! I love it! How old is this Petunia anyway? I'd love to have seen that manicurists face!

Stacy Hackenberg said...

And I have a new favorite post. Can I change my vote for the contest?

Kristan said...

HAHAHA she's fabulous!

Joanie said...

Good point, Petunia!!

anymommy said...

Kids are awesome. That made me laugh out loud.

Anonymous said...

They can tell you such things and come up with the funniest things ever!

Just Words On A Page said...

Now that was awesome and so is your blog. I will be back:)

mo.stoneskin said...

Petunia is a brilliant girl. I just hope she doesn't trip and kill someone with those nails.

mo.stoneskin said...

Maybe you should wear Kevlar to work?

Shadow said...

i like her quick retort. however that racism comment... used way too much by too many people in the wrong context these days.

Beth said...

Well, she has a point (11 of them, if you include the nails).

cheatymoon said...

Awesome. :-) There's something about that age group that is still cute.

Irish Gumbo said...

Touche, Petunia!

Christy said...

Priceless! What a smart cookie!

Anonymous said...

very funny!!!

Anonymous said...

very funny!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, that says it all doesn't it!

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

Good for her!
I love how she needs to share her nails with you. You're obviously one of the cool fave teachers!

Cristin said...

That's the best thing I've ever heard. Petunia is a freaking genius.

And Ricky is one hot gay man. So happy for him.

Susan R. Mills said...

Ha! Good for Petunia.

Tessa said...

Petunia's heart is in the right place, even if her vocabulary needs a little work! And, btw, was anybody surprised when Ricky Martin "came out?" As the Vice President might say, big effing deal!

Linda said...

LOL! I so would have THOUGHT that but doubt I would have said it out loud. 2 points for Petunia for the snappy come back!

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

Ha! That's very funny.

CiCi said...

Old enough to know her own mind and accept others as they are.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I LOVE PETUNIA!!!!!!! She's off to a fine start!!!!!

Mike said...

That was funny as hell! LMAO!!!

Sprite's Keeper said...

Oh, tell me you're going to slip her some extra credit! She's awesome!

Nubian said...

I second the "extra credit" remark ~ Petunia is priceless!

creative kerfuffle said...

yeah for petunia : ) though, those nails, ugh.

Heather said...

What an awesome comeback. It really says something about her character. Love it!

Onedia said...

Children have a way of zinging to the heart of things

Mrsbear said...

Bwahahaha. I like Petunia and her lethal finger tips.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I just snorted soda up my nose.
Good for Petunia!
xo

Jan said...

This made ME smile, too. I think I like Petunia...

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

Haa! True. True.

Anonymous said...

That is AWESOME! What a great response :-D Just found you through RTT, love your writing, yay finding new people to follow! :-D

shaunna said...

it must be worth going to work just to have that type of conversation. i miss being around teenagers.

is she a glambert (translation: fan of adam lambert)? since my mind is such a endless trough of of useless info i'm aware that having black - or some type of blue & even glittery - nails has become a badge of identity among them. he has this rabid female base that ranges in age from tweens to grannies, which i find fascinating and a social anomaly.

of course, she may simply be embracing her inner mellificent.