Monday, December 17, 2007

Secret Agent

Luke has always maintained--strangely, given his obsession with superheroes--that he wants to be an astronaut when he grows up. But yesterday, he told me that he wanted to grow up to be an astronaut and a good ninja.

"Is that a job, mom? The job of a ninja?" he asked.

The only respectable job I could think of that might involve some ninja moves was that of a CIA agent, although, in retrospect, I should have talked up acting. I mean, what mom wants her kid to be a CIA field agent?

But CIA field agent is now on Luke's list of possible career choices. And I must admit, I like the possibilities with this one.

"So Luke, you really need to work on your disguises. And also your spying skills. Why don't you very quietly try to hide and spy on me for about, oh, twenty minutes. Do you think you have the agent skills to do it for twenty minutes?"

Luke was off to work on his tasks.

Later, when he was complaining about having to go to school, I casually mentioned that CIA agents have to work very hard in school. They must be very smart so they can memorize everything, since it wouldn't do to write anything down. They also have to be very good at math and must know many languages.

Luke looked at me with determination and said, "Okay, Mom."

I asked Luke if he thought he might also like to get married and have a family in addition to being an astronaut and a CIA field agent.

"I won't have a wife," he said with the utmost certainty, "I'll have a boy master."

I knew that this must have something to do with a superhero partner or ninja master. But I didn't delve into it. I'll just save it, file it away for later use. Perhaps for a wedding toast?

5 comments:

Beck said...

I like a kid that makes practical plans for the future...

Molly Sabourin said...

Oh Ser,

I really never laugh out loud while reading blogs but you manage to make me giggle every time! Benjamin would be nothing short of infatuated with Luke, if they were still in Sunday School together.

Anonymous said...

Ser,
Luke's photo just made me break into a smile! Keep that wedding toast in mind.

Jenny said...

Ser,

I love your writing and I love this story. Luke is one amazing kid, and a force to be reckoned with. I sure wouldn't want to have him on my trail!

BTW--spying--that sounds like a great idea for a quiet afternoon. I'll take a nap and dare Anna to spy on me for the whole time and to keep sissy quiet so that I won't be on to them . . .

Lhamo Osel said...

Drew has given up on becoming an astronaut since he learned about Apollo 1 and the high death rate. Even having a local astronaut (John Grunsfeld) currently in charge of the Hubble won't sway him. I made the big mistake of telling him that you could die in just about any career.