Oiling the wheels
I already know that the process will involve squeaks, so I pick my time. I hope to keeps the screams of agony to a minimum but you just can’t be too careful with this kind of thing. I wait until the boys are engrossed in electronics time and then coax her to the table. I don’t know how it got in there and neither does she, but some how or other, the bubble gum shall be removed from the tresses. Ice cubes have proved a failure so now it’s onto olive oil and picking. She doesn’t believe my promises after the previous debacle with ice and I’ve noticed that all the scissors from the kitchen drawer have disappeared. The offer of a new hair style was shunned. This is definitely one of those chores that I would prefer to delegate to her father.
I make soothing noises as I massage the sticky mess, messages of reassurance with few real words but still she whimpers in anticipation of pain or pending baldness. I hear the scrape of a chair in the hall, quickly followed by another clatter. Over her shoulder I see two boys move in slow motion. One adopts the marine on manovres approach, on his tummy, the hand over hand crawl. The other is in a sitting position, his back towards us as his feet propel him in our direction, very, very, slowly. They take up position under the table in silence. Their sister squeaks, shudders and snivels. The big brother takes the universal protective stance of flat fingers over eyes and thumbs in ears. The little brother takes the alternative protective stance of thumbs in eye balls and index fingers in ear holes. They wait in silence. Every few minutes one of them bends down to peck a kiss on her feet. Precious electronics time minutes ebb away, as they stick to their vigil of solidarity.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
that is sooooo sweet!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Their care for their sister is just heartwrenchingly sweet : )
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
That is so gorgeous!
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
So much for “lack of empathy.”
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 am
Awww. Gorgeous boys.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:48 am
Oh my, how completely adorable, BG x
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:02 am
Wonderful, sweet boys…any success removing the gum?
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 am
Aw, this made me smile…
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 am
Very well done.
I’ve been told peanut butter works as well.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:50 am
I love that. They’re good kids.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 am
Too funny, hope you got the bubble gum out! What sweet boys by the way!
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:08 am
Such sweet, sweet boys! Hope you got the gum out.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
How touching! Such a sacrifice for their sister!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
as someone else said, lack of empathy? pah!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
How sweet of them!
Never had to deal with gum in hair myself, but like farmwifetwo I’ve heard that peanut butter supposedly works well.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Awwww, that has to be one of the sweetest things I’ve ever read!
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I once got aviation permatex in my hair. It is a kind of dark gooey material used to make gaskets for automotive engines and presumably aeronautical equipment too. Supposedly it can be used as a gasket to seal pipes carrying any material because none of them will dissolve it. As I remember nothing did work.
If olive oil doesn’t work I would try baby oil or mineral oil (the laxative kind). Both of them are straight chain hydrocarbon oils. Baby oil is a little lighter and has perfume. I prefer mineral oil.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
such sweet boys! poor girl — i hope she remains intact!
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
What a great story. Will olive oil work on gum stuck to clothing too? (sad, sad story of the expensive Northface jacket put through the dryer with gum in the pocket….)
May 24th, 2008 at 9:32 am
What sweet little guys!
May 24th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Oh my. I believe I may have a new favorite post of Maddy’s. This is a perfect nugget.