I’m Going To Eat It.
Shane and I were at a collegiate-level baseball game earlier this week, with family friends.
He and his friend were chatting at the end of the row, while we watched the end of a 16-inning overtime game – the first game of a double-header. By the time the game was over, it was about 9:15 at night. And the second game – the game we came to see – hadn’t even started yet.
Shane doesn’t really care about baseball. He understands the game, I suppose, but what he likes about the games we watch are the between-inning shenanigans. They do a mascot race and musical chairs. They throw t-shirts and burritos into the audience. It’s all about the show for Shane.
So when, at 9:30, I suggested that we go home, I was surprised at Shane’s response.
“Awwww…” he said. “I want to watch the next game!”
I had underestimated the power of having a friend at the game. I, too, was swayed by having his friend’s parents there. We were having a lot of fun, and it was a beautiful night. I was tired, and we both had to get up early the next day.
But I didn’t push. “We can stay until 10:00,” I said.
Shortly thereafter came the burrito toss. For the uninitiated, staff members throw burritos into the audience – which, at 9:30, was rather small. If you catch a burrito, it’s yours to keep – and warm and ready to eat.
Shane caught a burrito. To be fair, he actually grabbed it off the ground after his friend let it slip.
“Give that to your friend,” I told him.
“It’s mine,” Shane said.
“But you don’t even like burritos!” I said. Shane is infamous in our family for eating nothing but bread, cheese and sugar. This burrito was loaded with chicken, rice, cheese, beans and other vegetables.
“I’m going to eat it,” he said.
My jaw dropped. “If you eat that whole burrito,” I said, “we can stay for the rest of the game.”
“Really?” he said. This burrito was huge, even for an adult.
“Sure,” I said, knowing he wouldn’t get past the first bite.
“Okay,” Shane said. Then he opened up the burrito and took a bite. And another bite. And another bite. As long as he kept eating, he was allowed to stay at the game. Meanwhile, I got to stay and watch the game, and talk to my friends, too.
And my cheese-and-bread son ate a full half of that burrito. He ate for nearly an hour, and he actually seemed to like it.
I was tired, but thrilled. It was the second new food he’d tried in one day! At age 12, maybe he’s finally broadening his horizons.
At 10:30, Shane banged his elbow on his chair, and finally admitted to being tired enough to go home. On the way, he admitted that he didn’t like the beans “or the green stuff” (lettuce) – but that the burrito was otherwise okay. He’s going to try one someday with just chicken and rice, the parts he liked best.
I’d say it was an hour well-spent.