oh that was another thing that happened at the ice cream parlour yesterday

[kaberett]

As barrelofrain and I were getting properly into catching up, a family came in and sat down near us. (The King's Cross Ruby Violet has one long table with four chairs each side, plus some bars & bar stools.) One of the parents was talking excitedly about the pear sorbet and I Could Not Help but enthuse about How Good that flavour in specific and particular is.

A little while later, this same parent Explained How Do Science to a very solemn small child, which appeared to be being assumed to be a girl -- something to the tune of Ask Lots Of Questions, and trying things out and seeing what happens, and so on and so forth.

"Sorry for butting in again," I said, "but yes. That is How Science. I am A Scientist and I Approve This Message."

I proceeded to learn that (0) this small child and her sibling had recently Made a Volcano with food dye and vinegar and baking soda; (1) she likes volcanoes but doesn't love them; (2) she is entirely happy saying to strange adults that she doesn't want to share about what she loves; (3) she likes doing experiments; and (4) she's going on an adventure to see the Loch Ness Monster soon. (Probably some other bits, but they escape me.)

I, naturally, explained about (1) The Volcano That Erupts Baking Soda (And Is Why Flamingoes Are Pink), and slightly less comprehensibly that (2) wrapping her water glass in a paper towel would help keep it warm, like how I give my plants a coat over winter so their feet don't get cold.

There was also some back and forth about how I go to big-big-big-BIG-big school, The Biggest School You Can Go To, in response to which I cheerfully explained that it means I don't have to get an actual job.

I spent a lot of time thanking the child's parents for letting me interact and being generally cheerful and good-natured. They spent a lot of time thanking me for Giving Them Facts, and also Being An Example Grown-Up (Girl) for their small child to imprint on, because she is v interested in science and they want to encourage this. (Refreshingly, the wheelchair was not at any point mentioned.)

It was a lovely interaction, even though I am xkcd-crawling-under-my-metaphorical-bed after the fact.

Comments

[niqaeli]

:D This just makes me really happy to hear. <3

[watersword]

Awwww, tiny scientists are the best.

[worlds_of_smoke]

that's adorable. <3 <3

[sfred]

<3

[redsixwing]

Yay, you!

[judiff]

Awesome!

[alatefeline]

<3 <3 <3

you did a yay! thank you for being a scientist at a good smol.

[glass_icarus]

This is adorable. :D

[fyreharper]

Awwww yay :)

[cadenzamuse]

Aww, tiny scientist is my favorite mode of tiny human.

AE currently does superlative adjectives in that form: big big big big big big big BIG blanket for his largest blanket, etc. and I love it so much. T says we should have moved somewhere with a language that does intensifiers in that manner rather than -er and -est like English, and I pretty much agree.

[alexseanchai]

yay smol scientist!

[azurelunatic]

Hooray Enthusiastic Smol!

[umadoshi]

That sounds entirely marvelous. *^^*

[archangelbeth]

Yay, a good interaction with a Smol Human! (Also, introvert-me fistbumps crawling under the bed feels.)

[silveradept]

Yay, thank you for being A Scientist with the smol.

[conuly]

You were a Good Example to children in public! You get a gold star!

[booksarelife]

That sounds incredibly cute and also you did A Good!

[sylvaine]

Aaaaaa, gosh! :D

[cesy]

Aww.

[tree_and_leaf]

Aw!

[alexwlchan]

:D

This is a lovely story.

Can I share this?

[kaberett]

yep!

[sebenikela]

this is a good story <3

[divulge]

Yay you and small child!

[jeshyr]

I am imagining how unbelievably AWESOME this would have been had it happened to me when I was a small child, so thank you for giving someone that experience <3

[kaberett]

<333

[alyndra]

I love this story in all its adorableness!