Kenzo had his first dip into elementary school life today. Mama picked him and Osamu up early from kindergarten because Kenzo is starting first grade next April and it's time for the public school system to give him and all the soon-to-be 1st graders a look-see to assess what they're gonna be dealing with.
Basically he got an extended health check. Apparently he has no cavities, his vision is fine, his oral communication skills are good, and his physical fitness seems to have no problems.
Before he went Kenzo was just worried he was gonna get another shot. Last week he got picked up early from school for a "special" trip and he was sorely disappointed when it was because he had a doctor appointment for a regular inoculation for rubella and other stuff. The pediatrician is really good at administering shots to kids, which is great in the moment, but afterward Kenzo was pretty perturbed for a while. He did get some Legos as compensation so he really couldn't complain. Much.
Then there's this guy.
Osamu didn't get a chance to eat mama's lunch box at kindergarten today before getting picked up with his big brother, so he ate at home at the dining table after mama and Kenzo left for the elementary school. I adjusted my lunch break so I could make sure he ate and also just to have some Osamu & papa time. He talked my ear off as always with his random and joyful observations about his perspectives on life, without all the superfluous self-awareness that often gets in the way of adult conversations. Here's a little audio...
I read the boys a book every night before bed. Every once in a while they get mama, though. Tonight she read them Momo Taro. It's a classic Japanese folk tale about a boy who is born out of a giant peach and grows up to have adventures with his talking animal friends.
I miss it when I can't read to the boys. I offered to read them another story after Momo Taro but they were so tired. They just headed up to the bunk bed and Eri and I tucked them in and in a matter of minutes they were completely conked out.
Some nights when I go check on them to make sure they're sleeping (they often keep each other awake giggling and making flatulence noises) I stop to wonder what they might be dreaming about. Kenzo always tells me when I ask him that he didn't have any dreams. I'm sure he just doesn't remember.
Osamu told me recently that he saw a dream but he's out of his mind and had no idea what he was talking about.
Jesus. Hearing that boy speak is amazing. I'm pretty sure he's better at speaking English than I am. Also, at about the 4:02 mark, something made me remember the old dude from Big Trouble in Little China. You may be raising the next David Lo Pan...
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