Kidsy

The elementary school has multiple opportunities for parents to do something tangible, for example “making materials, helping to put the activities together, the physical assistance, whereas in middle school they don't do all the charts and the bulletin boards and the kidsy activities” (Interview, teacher).

On a pinboard filled with cute, kidsy designs, mine is dark, dangerous and downright scary. I have drawn a shipwrecked boat, with dark waves crashing around it. Pirates are swinging on to the wreck, waving their swords about.

The pumpkins appeared cute in a kidsy way. I seemed suddenly too old for that. My feet skid-kissed loose gravel as I ran serpentine through wet alleys, certain I was headed first to jail, then to hell. Gill never got his chance.

“[…]How about one of those kidsy adventure shorts?” Roddy rolled his eyes. Tossing the remote to a startled Esper, who juggled it before grabbing hold, he slipped down from the couch. “Knock yourselves out. I'll go find some work to do.”

And yet her interest in kidsy picture books hadn't abated either. Just looking at her read always put a spring in my step.