Love Among the Bruins

Mummy, is that what you looked like when you were little?

I think so.

What do you mean, isn't that a picture of you?

Yes, but I'm not sure if that's what I looked like.

We don't get it.

No, I suspected you wouldn't. You know how Daddy said the pictures Mummy took of herself last night didn't really look like her?

No...

Well she did and he did.

Oh.

Yes, his actual words were "It looks like someone who bears a passing resemblance to you. I guess it could be you if you thrust your head back and stuck a bunch of marbles in your mouth."

And did you?

Did I what?

Thrust your head back and stick...

No Children.

You interrupted us!

But I knew what you were going to say.

You did not.

{Sigh} Okay, what were you going to say?

Mummy, did you thrust your head back and stick a bunch of marbles in your mouth?

{Double Sigh} No Children, I did not thrust nor stick anything.

But what about when you were little?

Did I thrust and stick then? Well I suppose I...

NO Mummy, did you look like you then or just someone a bit like you?

Well that's what I don't know - that is a photo was taken when I was about 10 I think, but I don't remember if that's what I really looked like.

You're silly Mummy.

Undoubtedly, but why this time?

Well, you were standing on the netball court in your uniform and someone pointed a camera at you and took a photo, right?

Right.

And that's the picture they took, so that's a picture of you when you were little...

Yes, but...

[Surprisingly loud sound of several little stuffed feet being stamped simultaneously.]

So that's you, Mummy!

Okay, that's me.

And what about this one?

That's me too.

But there's two people in it.

Yes but they're both me.

Wow, you're clever Mummy.

Thank you Children, but not really in this case. This was when Mummy was at University in about 1992. It's from when I was editing a short film I'd made for a class.

When was 1992?

A long time ago.

Which of us was already bornded?

None of you, and don't use baby talk when Mummy's writing in her blog.

Why not?

It'll make people think Mummy's odd.

But you are odd Mummy, even Daddy says. Like when you...

Oh look, here's another photo Children!

Was that in 1992 as well?

No, that was only about five years ago, not long before I met Daddy.

And was that what you looked like then?

I'm not going through this again Children.

But what were you doing?

What does it look like, shaving my head of course.

But your hair is long...and it's not that funny orange colour either.

No, now it's much longer and I haven't dyed it for a very long time.

Why not?

I don't know...Uncle R said I used to do it because I wasn't happy.

He is a bit mean though.

Well only sometimes, and I think he was a bit right about this.

So does that mean you're happy now Mummy?

Of course I'm happy, how could I be sad when I live with Daddy and all of you?

We knew you were going to say that Mummy.

I know you did Children, you're very smart.