The mystery of teenagers.

Tyce's preschool takes place at a high-school technical skills center since his class is actually also a class for high-schoolers interested in pursuing careers in education. The upshot of this is that there are teenagers all over the place when we are dropping off/picking up Tyce. The young ladies that work in Tyce's classroom are all perky, pony-tailed, teachers-to-be who wear matching preschool shirts everyday and perpetuate the myth that the world revolves around Tyce and his classmates. Some of the other students though, demonstrate the spectrum of teenage behavior/attire. Today a boy was following us into the building dressed in his welding or car-repair jumpsuit. Tyce glanced behind us, then proceeded to turn around and walk backward while shouting, "That is a LITTLE MAN!" I'll admit that his appearance had to be baffling to Tyce; he was a good two feet shorter than me, but with a full beard, manish attire and a backpack. He just didn't fit into the categories that Tyce organizes people into based on his experiences.

Tyce is also puzzled by a painting on one of the students' cars: Heath Ledger in his "Joker" makeup from the Batman movie. On both sides of the car. I try to avoid it every day because it even creeps me out, but some days I accidentally lead the kids right by it, so that there is a crazed, evil clown looking them right in the face. And every time Tyce asks, "why would someone paint that on their car?" Of course, I think he may actually be more concerned that someone was painting on a car when they shouldn't be, rather than upset by the subject matter.

So today, after apologizing to the "little man" that Tyce may have offended, hugging Tyce goodbye and carefully mapping my route back to the car to avoid the creepy car of doom, we were followed through the parking lot by yet another teenage boy. Delaney was peering over my shoulder and said, "that guy angry!" I turned around and looked. Typical sullen teenage expression. "No Laney, I don't think that he's angry, he's just not smiling at you" (like the gregarious little lady has become so accustomed to everyone she encounters doing). She responds: "He needs to make a 'happy face'" and she proceeds to demonstrate. No effect on the sullen teenager. Ah, I'm so glad to be through those years myself and really hope that my kids' own teenage years are, in spite of being awkward, happy.