Twenty-First Century Skills

{This is a challenge from Tuesday Scribes, run by Mike Jackson,  to write a story with nothing but dialogue.   Thank you Mike for the prompt and hope you all enjoy eavesdropping!}

 

“Look at that!  All children love bubbles, don’t they!”

“Of course, they do.”

“Even Jason, my oldest.  He’s the intellectual one.   Even though he was old enough to go to school, he still enjoyed blowing bubbles, when he got back home.”

“Well, he sure seems to enjoy them!  He’s trying to burst every single one!”

“Oh, yes.  Sam is very much an explorer.  He’s an ENTJ, if I were to hazard a guess.  They call that ‘The Commander.’   Most CEO’s are that type, so they say.  He senses a new experience, and he charges at it, full throttle. ”

“My Megan…Not so much.”

“Yes…I see what you mean.  You know, now that you mention it, I’ve been meaning to talk to you, about her.”

“About my Megan?”

“Well, yes.  It’s just, she seems so—you know—shy.”

“She’s only two and a half!”

“That may be true, but, compared to Sam, well…she hardly talks.  And she’s always kinda fading into the background.”

“Well, she is a girl, you know.”

“Keep up with the times, dear!  You can’t box them in, like that, pre-defining their gender!  Not these days.  She may be, well…”

“Hang on.  She’s only two.  Give her a minute to grow up.”

“Well.  For all you know, she might have a complex, a mental illness, even a learning disability.  It would explain the shyness.  I mean, look at her!  You’d think that bubble was going to bite her!”

“Hmmm.”

“Wait—what did I say?  Don’t be so sensitive!  This is a dog-eat-dog world, you know.  These kids won’t be kids forever.  We’ve got to prepare them, give them the tools they need, to compete in a Twenty-First Century World Economy!”

“Couldn’t we just…let them play?”

“Oh, dear.  Look at the time.  This has been great, but I’ve got Mommy and Me yoga in an hour.  C’mon, Sam.  Tell you what.  I’ll give you the bubbles.  For Megan, I mean.  So she can practice.”

“Sure…thanks?  Have fun!  Bye!”

“Just remember:  preschool’s right around the corner.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

“Right.  No pressure.”

“Mommy?”

“What, hon?”

“Bubbles.”

“There you go, sweetie.  Ohhh, that’s a big one!”

“Bigger than Sam’s?”

“Oh, yes, honey. Much bigger than Sam’s.”