The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn's Sister

There are days when Mr. and I relate Little Miss to a street urchin.  Just yesterday the idea of "Huck Finn" entered my mind.  At least one loved by everyone in the village.

There is a new jewelry store in town.  And although Little Miss is hardly dressed to match the sparkly, "do not touch" beauties in the glass display cases, her eyes glaze over as she looks over them.  But what is the ultimate reason for going in?

Her big blues and red freckles peeking out from under her stained sunhat has charmed the shop owner, and she often receives an enormous sucker for her and her brother because of it.

Charming shop owners and business people in our village is not a new endeavour.  Years ago as an unruly two-year old, the local librarians would laugh at the screaming redhead running up and down the aisles of books while her red-faced mother called for her from the children's section (which was one floor down).  Once she even jumped onto the elevator by herself and rode up to the adult section.  I could hear her gasp during the split second it took for the doors to open as she arrived at her destination.  It was one of the rare moments of fear in her I have witnessed.

And of course she charmed them into oodles of stickers for her and her brother.

She loves to stop in at the book store everyday after school.  She picks items off the shelves, and confidently asks the owner to "hold" it for her until she has money. She flips through all of the books, and unfortunately sets them on the floor to delve into the pictures.  She "straightens up" the books and when a page gets ripped she receives a compassionate pat on the head and a big box of toys to entertain her.

And of course, dutch crackers and candies for her and her brother.

Earlier this week, a friendly gentleman was gracious enough to gather the plastic baby, hat and bottle which had been strung along the sidewalk where Little Miss had previously been.  He looked down at her with a smile.  He was happy to oblige.

I won't bother writing about the Insurance Office, the Dog Groomers, or the Carpet Store (that, she says, needs another goldfish), because you get the idea.  She's even charmed the crossing guard to let her cross the road by herself (which is SO not allowed).

Huck Finn's sister perhaps.

She dresses in bright, girly colours which are stained with lunch, both down her front and wiped on the back of her sleeves.  Her mane of red, curly hair has a life of it's own, and busts out of any elastic or barrette that struggles to contain it.  I have walked home after dropping her off at kindergarten and found several things along our route that had been in her hair.  Crazy hair day involved a quarter bottle of gel to straighten and braid it.  The local ice cream shop opened yesterday, and I had to teach her to face into the wind so the bright blue bubble gum dessert (the same flavour her brother had) would stop getting into her hair.  It got on her forehead, eyebrows, Mr. Man's shorts, and the ends of her hair, but miraculously not around her mouth or chin.

And, as she climbs the backyard crabapple tree, toad in hand, I think, somebody should write a story about her and her brother (who is not so Huck Finn-ish) that she looks after.

*****

For Holly, who reminded me of my favourite Stella and Sam books.


Above painting found at http://s75owzo.edu.glogster.com/zac-and-ashleys-huck/