Annabelle is mastering a new look. It is one of extreme concentration and judgment. You would think she had started to read the old testament or something by the way she can stare down the most innocent looking person.
Two days ago I took Annabelle to the mall so that I could get out of the heat and simultaneously let her run around in a protected environment. (As guilty as I feel about it, I have to admit that I have found shopping malls to be the best substitutions for playgrounds whenever I need an "easy" day.)
So, on Tuesday I had started to wrap up our playdate with mall folk and began the familiar chanting of "This way, Annabelle!" and "C'mon! Where's the car?!" to try and get her to hurry. Or at least walk in the right direction. I turned around to see her standing about ten feet in front of two teenagers seating on a bench. These kids were dressed entirely in black, wearing some studded belt jewelry around their arms, pierced all over their faces, and had hair arranged in a complex design of spikes. They were doing a decent job at being goth.
And they were squirming under the stare of my 16 month daughter. She was giving them her best-ever stare. I enjoyed it for about thirty seconds. And then I started to call to her, but she was completely entranced with them. So, being sick and tired, I sat down on a bench and watched her watching them while I blew my nose.
She watched them for TEN MINUTES. She stood there, silent and utterly still. With the stare. It was a very long time. The goth kids laughed, acted embarrassed, motioned to her, looked around for her mom (I waved), and basically freaked out. It was very entertaining.
Eventually she looked around for me and toddled over. In a weird way, I was very proud of her.
