Swan days

Tonight Cassidy and I were walking hand in hand through Lowe’s while I searched for some suitable window coverings for my classroom. I hate Lowe’s, it overwhelms the hell out of me and I avoid if at all possible so to have Cass along for conversation was a good thing. She was pattering on about all things ‘tween when I suddenly heard her voice rise an octave, this is always my cue to tune in and be mom-like. “Mom, I’m funny looking.” This was said with a dramatic sigh and dip of her shoulders.

“Well, of course you are, honey. You’re 12 1/2. Your parts are all growing at different rates and you have a mouth full of metal.” I almost immediately realized this was the most wrong of replies when she turned her brown eyes towards me and her above mentioned mouth trembled.

“I’m an ugly duckling, Mom. I’m ugly now and always will be. I’ll never have my swan day.”

Oh dear. Ouch. True enough she is funny looking right now. Girl is 5’4″, 85 pounds. Add a head of thick red hair, freckles, brown eyes and the metal mouth and it’s not an easy package. But the thing is that in about five years Sister is going to be a stunner the likes of which can’t be touched by regular ole humans. She’ll hit about 5’9″, have the sort of physique most of us gals can only dream of, the red hair and freckles will calm down by then. But more importantly Cassidy’s got it going on inside. She is not only smart, she is a smart ass. She can deliver a zinger without even blinking an eye and leave the recipient, often me, reeling on their ass. Cass reads, writes and delivers. She will be a star and a swan all in one breath. And her one day? It will be a lifetime of fabulousness. She doesn’t get that now. Right now she is the lone red fish in a sea of blondes and brunettes. She is lanky and knobby when the others are curvy and soft. I want to tell her it will even out, and I do. She doesn’t believe it right now because these words come from her mom who is old, 39 is ancient to her. But her day will come and when it does I hope she looks back at her awkward days and remembers the path she travled to get there. And so tonight I replied, “Sister Child, this too shall pass. Your duck days will end and your swan reign will begin. You are destined for all things beautiful. I know this much is true.” Of course to this she merely rolled her eyes and heaved another sigh.