Huck loves candy flavored lip balm (or any flavor really), thanks to a set he got from Santa with names like Watermelon Laffy Taffy and RazzApple Magic Fun Dip.  Each one is assigned a very specific use: Orange Nerds is best for sleep, while Grape PixyStix is preferable for regular old daytime.  For a while there he applied so much onto his dry lips that friends at school told him it looked like he was wearing lipstick, so he’s cut back.  He keeps his chapsticks in one of three places: his gigantic LORAX shopping bag, his first aid fanny pack, or his pants pocket.  We’ve talked a lot about the importance of always emptying his pockets at the end of the day so we don’t accidentally wash any of these beloved tubes of delicious lip care product.

Yeterday I was in the middle of my very well rehearsed morning routine that includes naggy phrases like “You’re going to be late for school if you don’t stop dilly-dallying!” when Huck finally put on his tight brown corduroys and made a very sad discovery.  As I walked in to shout some more on the theme of hurry-up, I found him holding an empty container of lip balm.  He looked up at me and said, “It got washed,”  and then dropped his head down and began that heartfelt weeping that will make even a hot-on-your-trails mother like me stop in her tracks and go into comfort overdrive.  I was afraid to ask but ask I did: “Which one is it?”  He moaned, “Rainbow Nerds.”  He tried to catch his breath. “The one for VOCALS.” And it was jazz choir day.

So we stopped rushing and let time stand still for a minute while I avoided any mention of the importance of always listening to your mother.