It started out of necessity, but quickly turned to a preference. For a while now Alexis has been accompanying me on client photo shoots. She makes THE BEST photography assistant. For reals.
From carrying equipment to holding reflectors, she does it all. Without complaining. Without questioning. She just does it. Sometimes bribery is involved, but usually she just plain enjoys helping me.
But, even more so, she enjoys charming little kids. Especially boys.
It's almost a guarantee that if there is a little boy involved in the photos, Alexis will have him fawning over her in no time. She casts a magical spell over them that leaves them grinning and happy and HELLO! Smiling for the camera! I swear to you that child has saved me hours just by yelling "Boo!" and giggling herself. It's her foolproof way of breaking the ice and making kids younger than her laugh.
I can get laughs and smiles without her, but I get them much faster with her.
But not if the kids are older than her. Especially the boys.
I don't know what it is, but Alexis is very not interested in attention from boys who are seven or older. There are exceptions (for example, she nearly died from happy when Ginny's son hugged her the other day), but for the most part, older boys better not make eye contact.
And that is why she has lost SO much sleep recently.
There is a boy in our neighborhood who knows where Alexis lives. She doesn't know where he lives, but they go to the same school and are in the same grade. But, he's SEVEN. OMG. THAT'S SO OLD.
One night last week, he showed up at our door. With a knock and a hello, he asked if Alexis could play outside. Of course the answer was yes, but at that moment, she really wanted to hear "no." She didn't want to go outside and play and she didn't want to look at the little boy and she didn't want any part of anything. GO AWAY.
I wasn't home, but the husband made her go outside. The kids played Tag for a while, but Alexis spent the entire time with a sour look on her face. When I returned home, she spent a good hour telling me all about how horrible it all was.
"Why?" I asked.
"Moooooom! He's SEVEN. And he's a BOY. He's gross!" she replied.
Alrighty then. Let's just stick with that theory, mmkay? I'd be perfectly OK if Alexis stayed very not-interested in older men for a very long time.
