Elisa's Journal

What is it about some kids, anyway? They get an idea in their minds that they want something and they can't let go. My 14 year old has at least an obsession a week; that's just a hair less frequent than his underwear changes. One week it's a bass guitar. (He actually had the money to buy that one, although he doesn't seem to consider a bass amp as a burning necessity. Hmm.) Another week it's a drum set. (Thank you dear God for making that one a short termer.) Another week it's another guitar. I told him he cant' buy another thing that requires storage in his room until something else must be moved to the trash, the Salvation Army or the recycle bin (preferably something bigger than a breadbox and this does NOT include his little brother) Now, he wants a pocket bike. You know, one of those tiny motorcycles that they race professionally that go 25 miles an hour with you two folded up to the size of a tennis ball hovering two inches from the ground. Personally, I don't see the allure. I mean, who aspires to carouse around the neighborhood looking like a circus clown, really. (Like my husband and I are ever going to let him buy something that moves any faster than his brain?) Of course, since he spends his money like it were on fire, he's pretty tapped out, so he told me his older sister had once said she's be happy to lend him money if ever an emergency arose. Now I may be mistaken but I don't think this situation qualifies. Plus, I'm sure she was talking about 5 or 10 bucks not 325 bucks. After all, in a few weeks, she has to buy furniture for her new apartment before school starts. (Meaning a futon to sleep on, a crate to park a bottle of beer on, a floor lamp, and a book shelf made from two by fours.) I wonder what Erik will do when he actually starts dating? He won't have money to wine and dine his ladies much. He'll probably entertain them with rides around our cul-de-sac on his pocket bike and raid our refrigerator for dinner, then finish off with a serenade with his muted bass guitar.