We went out to dinner last night to a restaurant that always gives balloons to the kids. Zoe could easily get a job filling the balloons there, she knows exactly where the balloons are located and what needs to be done to fill them. In fact, while she’s waiting for the hostess to notice her, she’s already scouted out the balloon supply and sees full well that there are plenty of pink and red balloons available.  Directly behind the hostess there are only two balloons filled, one blue and one green.

The hostess finally notices her, Zoe asks for a balloon, the hostess offers her the blue or the green one. But Zoe asks if she could please have a pink or a red one.

Hostess: All we have are these two balloons. That’s all we have left.

Zoe, a little deflated, chooses the blue one.

Then the hostess, who should have just taken the blue balloon and handed it to my daughter keeps on talking as she reaches for it: If I had a pink one, I’d make it for you, but these are the LAST TWO BALLOONS.

Zoe, who is THE MOST PARTICULAR CHILD EVER, turns to me and says: BUT MOM, I SAW THE OTHER BALLOONS.

And I know she did, and I know it’s driving her type-A personality over the edge that the information coming out of the hostess’ mouth is totally incorrect. 

I didn’t hush my child, because ya know what? That hostess might be able to pull the wool over the eyes of a three year old, but not a seven year old. I’m pretty sure she heard Zoe too, because the snottiness level rose in her voice as she reiterated that THESE WERE THE LAST TWO BALLOONS. THE VERY LAST TWO. 

Whatever. We get it.

On the way out we explained to Zoe that sometimes people lie because they are lazy. It was certainly a concept that was new to her. Lie? About a balloon?

I’m still shaking my head about it too.