I would like to tell you about Potato. Potato is a crocheted toy that Spawn (my 9.5 year-old daughter) bought a few weeks ago.
We were at a local festival happening in the park next to my in-laws house and there were a bunch of artists and artisans with booths. I got a cool pair of earrings. Street festivals are my absolute favorite places to buy jewelry, followed by museum gift shops.
So we see this stall selling these lovely crocheted turtle and frog stuffies. They’re colorful and soft and beautiful. Spawn is entranced. I caution Spawn that we are going to the beach next month and she may want to save her money for the store she likes at the beach. No. We ask the price. She has just enough to buy one. The crocheted animals have captivated her. I urge her to take her time and pick out one that she really loves since it will take her time to save up that much money again.
She takes her time. She picks… something that is not a beautiful frog or a colorful turtle.
I ask her if she’s sure. She is sure. We take it to the artist. And let me tell you, this woman’s entire face lights up like sun breaking through the clouds.
“I knew it!” she cries. “I knew it! I told him!” The artist composes herself and asks Spawn what she thinks it is. Spawn says, “Maybe a seal?”
The artist grins and tells her that’s wonderful. She then tells us that her husband told her not to bring this one along with the turtles and the frogs because it was too weird and no one would want it. “But I TOLD him! I told him that someone special would come along who would love it and here you are!” She only charges us 2/3 of what her other toys cost. Spawn takes her new toy. She still has some money in her wallet. We thank the artist, she thanks us, and we go.
On the way home Spawn considers naming her new toy Salt & Pepper. Then she changes her mind and decides that its name is Potato. Because it is hard like a potato.
Are you ready to see Potato?