Yesterday was School Picture Day, and Henry looked, if he did say so himself, particularly dashing. On the walk home from school we walked part of the way with a girl from his class. While Charlie peed on every un-peed-upon leaf, I heard her saying to him, "You are handsome in that yellow shirt, Henry. You look so handsome today." Henry nodded and gave her a half-smile as he walked and she skipped in circles around him. Her mom said to me, "She talks about Henry all the time." "That's so sweet," I said, and struggled to remember if he had ever mentioned her before.
As we parted ways, the girl cried out one last time, "You look really handsome, Henry!" He didn't even glance at her as we crossed the street. "Aren't you going to say goodbye?" I asked him. He thought for a second, then turned around and shouted, "You looked really beautiful today!"
A moment later I looked back, and she was still standing there, beaming and waving as he walked away.
That Henry is a smooth one.
Posted by: All Adither | March 06, 2008 at 10:43 AM
That is the sweetest thing ever.
Posted by: Rachel | March 06, 2008 at 10:47 AM
What a little sweetheart!
Posted by: Nichole | March 06, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Be afraid; very, very afraid.
Posted by: Jenn @ Juggling Life | March 06, 2008 at 10:50 AM
And so it begins...
Posted by: cj | March 06, 2008 at 10:58 AM
My heart? It just melted. Where can I find a Henry my age?
Posted by: Kristen | March 06, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Oh, wow - that is so charming. Little boys are just so charming.
Posted by: SuburbanCorrespondent | March 06, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Any chance sweet little Henry can give my husband some pointers? :)
Posted by: EB | March 06, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Spontanous kindness -- God, I love that in a guy.
Tell him to feel free to e-mail me at any time. I have a four-year-old little girl that I think he'd love to meet ... ;-)
Posted by: Chookooloonks | March 06, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Very, very sweet.
Posted by: College Mama | March 06, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Dammit, Alice! You're destroying my cynicism with your stories of Henry's charm!
Posted by: You can call me, 'Sir' | March 06, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Very cute!
There's a little boy in love with my 6 year old. he was devastated when they didn't get the same first grade teacher. I personally think arranged marriages at a young age are a great thing; puts an end to all those anxious "will I have a date for the middle school prom" moments.
Posted by: Jozet at Halushki | March 06, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I demand pictures!
Posted by: leah | March 06, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Oh, if only I was as world-wise as Henry at his age! I spent most of my formative years avoiding cooties..
Posted by: Jim | March 06, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Confession: Halfway through your post, I had to double-check to see who was peeing on all the leaves. You never can tell with little boys.
Also, Henry is seriously smooooove. The easy compliments always pay off, don't they?
Note to self: Be more like Henry (less like Charlie).
Posted by: mike | March 06, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Okay, Henry is obviously a sweetheart and may I add, well-trained by you, but now I'm wondering...
Are my girls going to be skipping circles around some boy at school and telling him over and over how handsome he is and then, coming home and regaling us with stories of his heroic crayon drawings and impeccable penmanship?
Crap. They will won't they?
I'm sick. Thanks Alice.
Kim
Posted by: The Yummy Mummy | March 06, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Oh, how sweet --
Posted by: Readersguide | March 06, 2008 at 12:50 PM
I'm having a crappy day and the sweetness of this story put a much-needed smile on my face. How lovely!
Posted by: Rivetergirl | March 06, 2008 at 12:50 PM
that is sweet.
Posted by: Hottdog | March 06, 2008 at 01:04 PM
ah! my heart gave a little flutter! I'm in love with Henry, too!
Posted by: Lisa C | March 06, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Oh, that story made my day. So sweet.
Posted by: jenfromRI | March 06, 2008 at 01:19 PM
after everyone threw up in their mouth a little, i'm sure there was a collective 'awwwwww'
Posted by: mathew | March 06, 2008 at 01:44 PM
YM, if it makes you feel any better, I think it's because Henry's the oldest in the class as much as it is that he's a (dreamy) boy. I've seen the skipping-in-circles-around-him happen with the younger boys in his class, too. He's the BMOC right now.
Posted by: alice | March 06, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Ahhhhhh, let the era of romance begin! It's an endearing little phase for parents that lasts roughly for-EVER--or at least until kids clam up and stop telling all. That, my friend, is when parenting really gets interesting.
P.S. I'll bet the little devil did look rather handsome. Awwwww. :-)
Posted by: Planet Mom | March 06, 2008 at 01:55 PM
That girl will remember that for the rest of her life, the first time a boy called her beautiful. This story softens my hard heart.
Posted by: sac | March 06, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Dearest Alice,
Perhaps it's time for Henry and Pretty Rambo to have "the talk" and the ceremonial imparting of chick wisdom.
Swingingly,
Joe
Posted by: HeyJoe | March 06, 2008 at 02:10 PM
He is a CATCH!
Posted by: Pretty Lush | March 06, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Sniff......
Posted by: Anne Prince | March 06, 2008 at 02:34 PM
That. Is adorable.
Posted by: Marcy | March 06, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Way to prompt a sweetness, Mom. ;)
Posted by: kristi | March 06, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Apparently there was a reason why he wasn't phased by the necking in Robin Hood. ; )
Hee hee. I kid. This is too cute.
Posted by: lis | March 06, 2008 at 04:19 PM
That is so sweet it almost brought tears to my eyes. What a great kid.
Posted by: Meegan | March 06, 2008 at 05:25 PM
AWWWWW! So cute! She'll probably always remember the way the light was hitting the street as he continued walking home... adorable!
Jules
House of Jules
Posted by: jules | March 06, 2008 at 07:17 PM
That is so incredibly sweet!
Only kids with great parents do stuff like that...
Posted by: m | March 06, 2008 at 08:57 PM
So sweet!!
While my youngest has yet to be bitten by the little love bug, my oldest, almost 10, has been asked on a date. She was also given an entire bag of valentine candy, while everyone else got the normal one or two pieces.
Posted by: cc | March 06, 2008 at 09:08 PM
That's really sweet!
Posted by: Colleen | March 06, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Oh...I'm going to go lock MYSELF up; my heart just exploded. Your son is already one of the good ones. Excellent work on your part, I have to say. Excellent.
Posted by: Priya | March 07, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Holy. Flippin. Precious.
Posted by: Suzanne | March 07, 2008 at 12:08 AM
What a dreamboat! I love that he paused to consider his response carefully.
Posted by: sveedish | March 07, 2008 at 12:29 AM
all i have to say is Uh-Oh.
Posted by: Sarcomical | March 07, 2008 at 05:01 AM
Nothing to say but awwwwwww.....
Posted by: Krys | March 07, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Dear Henry: Remember this compliment. Use it often. Even if the female is a fat ugly warthog woman, smile and say she's beautiful. The, one day, you will become president.
Bill C
Posted by: Dee | March 07, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Bless his handsome little heart!
Posted by: Juju | March 07, 2008 at 11:32 AM
While I am swooning along with you, I am suddenly terrified that I have girls.
Posted by: Mom101 | March 07, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Ladykiller, Lover of words that end in butt, thy name is Henry.
Posted by: Jamie | March 07, 2008 at 03:34 PM
oh, henry.
Posted by: kate | March 07, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Oh yeah teach him how to get the girls from the start :) Good job :)
Posted by: Catherine P | March 07, 2008 at 06:31 PM
That is the sweetest thing I have heard in a while! You are in for some trouble!
Posted by: Sarah | March 07, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Handsome is as handsome does. He is dreamy that one.
Posted by: LetterB | March 07, 2008 at 11:25 PM
hubba hubba!
Posted by: kat | March 08, 2008 at 11:50 AM