Uh oh

The Dad called last night, wondering if I’d heard from the lad.

“No,” I said. “Not since Tuesday.”

“He must be having a good time, then,” he said. “I sent him a few bucks and wondered if he got it. I thought he’d like to buy a couple of things at the camp store before he comes home. I tried calling him last night, but his phone was turned off.”

Oh my. In the course of our conversation, Tuesday night, the lad made me promise that I wouldn’t send him anything. Nothing. Nada. Cross my heart, no crossed fingers, spit, spit. PROMISE!

“Why?” I asked.

“Because we have to sing for our mail. And if the group doesn’t like your singing, then you have to crab walk around the entire auditorium in front of them. Please don’t send me anything!”

“I promise!”

So, I sat here thinking it was really nice of the Dad to send the lad some extra cash. But I couldn’t quite frame the words to tell him the lad probably wanted to strangle whichever one of us it was who sent him something. So I decided not to say anything at all. Just, “Oh, that’s nice. I’m sure he appreciated it. He mentioned that he’d like a tee shirt.” And I’m sure he did appreciate it, after he got done singing and crab walking for it.

I’ll let the lad handle it in his own inimitable way when he talks with his Dad tonight. He’ll probably spin a good yarn and his Dad will laugh and all will be fine.

I’m sure glad I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t get why adults find it amusing to embarrass teenagers to death in front of their peers. It seems to be a common ice breaker sort of activity (I’ve seen it a number of times)...that everyone spends a lot of time dreading and that no one likes. Except the adults. I think this sort of activity should be routinely incorporated into coachs’/counselors’ training sessions until they catch a clue.