Mechanical Arm
The room was abuzz with adult conversation, new parents, older grandparents, in-betweeners finally able to catch up on months of news that only the holidays can allow.
Someone quietly set out some Oreos and M&M's in festive shades of red and green to be snacked on as people socialized.
One small girl sat near her mother, her eyes watchful as the dishes were placed on the coffee table. She focused on the M&M's, a new discovery she had only recently been privy to. She wanted these candies.
She hovered close to the lip of the table, intent on the bowl of chocolate. She knew better than to reach for the candy. This would mean an automatic no if caught. Too many people around. Too risky. Secondly, the candy was too far for her small hands to stretch. Maybe the telling stance she assumed would signal to her mother that she was hungry for these treats. Seconds passed and no candy was offered. Clearly, a better plan was needed to gain access to an M.
The little girl looked to her mother who was talking to someone else. Sitting on the floor near her daughter, the mother's arms were free and her attention was elsewhere. An idea started to glow in the toddler's head. If she could not reach the candy, she would bring the candy to her.
She turned back to her mother, her mother's attention still averted, and quietly took her right wrist. Lifting it up, she pulled it toward the table. The conversation stilted as everyone began to notice this little girl placing her mother's hand on the table. The volume turned down to a whisper as she started to push her mother's arm across the span of the coffee table toward her treasure.
She nudged the arm up a bit as her newly acquired appendage came upon the bowl of M&M's and watched her mother's fingers grasp a green M. Not able to contain her excitement over the sheer amazement that this had worked, she let out a small squeal as she pulled her mechanical arm back to her side and plucked the prize from it.
"Thank you," she muttered as she popped the candy into her mouth, completely unaware that the laughter reverberating through the space was focused on her and her trick, completely unaware that her mother had caught on early into the act and was humoring her young daughter, completely unaware that the next time she attempted this feat, it would not go according to plan.
Where does she come up with these things.....Oh yea she is your daughter! Thing is you never did that. But you sure figured it out fast enought.
Posted by: Baba | December 04, 2008 at 08:38 AM
You better watch out. That kiddo is gonna be a sneaky one.
Posted by: Kat | December 04, 2008 at 08:53 AM
What they will think of (shaking head).
Posted by: Michele | December 04, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Awww - it only worked once?
Posted by: Debbie | December 04, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Awww - it only worked once?
Posted by: Debbie | December 04, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Go Sprite!! She is one innovative little chickie! That was nice of you to play along, if only for a moment.
Beat ya- you forgot to comment too. HA!
Posted by: Deemarie | December 04, 2008 at 09:20 AM
DEEEE!!!!!
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | December 04, 2008 at 09:48 AM
That's just brilliant! I have to PAY to use the mechanical arm (crane) when I see them and I usually waste a few dollars and go home with nothing. Sprite is a genius.
Posted by: Casey | December 04, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Sprite is hysterical! That's some innovation for sure!
Posted by: bessie.viola | December 04, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Cute, and at the same time, you should be a little bit proud of her ingenuity. Those are very good problem-solving skills, think about that when you're in the old folks home and she's supporting you with her rocket science job!!
Posted by: Cameron | December 04, 2008 at 10:15 AM
That was a smart trick!! Got to hand it to her for the problem solving skills and ingenuity!
Posted by: WickedStepMom | December 04, 2008 at 10:24 AM
She's a keeper! Okay, I'm sure you've had this exact comment before...
Posted by: Beth, Scottsdale, AZ | December 04, 2008 at 10:59 AM
That Sprite, she is going to be a future robot arm engineer, I can see it now!! She'll be like Doc Oc from Spiderman, only nice. With pretty pink robot arms or something.
Posted by: HeatherPride | December 04, 2008 at 11:28 AM
That is awesome! She is a girl after my own heart! Love it! So ingenious!
Posted by: (Lisa) Jonnysmommy | December 04, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Oh, BTW: Spin!
http://bessieviola.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/coming-to-a-mailbox-near-you/
This one WAS tough... huge post, but it was fun to write!
Posted by: bessie.viola | December 04, 2008 at 11:34 AM
LOL that's funny! Next Mommy's will come with a quarter slot and a remote control..lol
Posted by: kirsten | December 04, 2008 at 11:34 AM
spin!!! You better come!!
http://viewfromtheshortbus.blogspot.com/2008/12/if-we-host-it-will-they-come.html
Posted by: HeatherPride | December 04, 2008 at 01:13 PM
That is one cleaver little girl! I would've loved to have seen that. Hysterical!
Posted by: Leslie | December 04, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Oh, this is too stinkin' cute. And I love how a single candy is called an M.
Posted by: Robin | December 04, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Now that little girl is beyond precious!!!
Posted by: Krystal | December 04, 2008 at 02:40 PM
Too cute. That's some mighty fine thinking going on there.
Posted by: Jim | December 04, 2008 at 03:37 PM
fantastic. i was rooting for the kid the whole way.
then i spontaneously started the wave.
Posted by: ralph | December 04, 2008 at 04:15 PM
She's very creative!! lol
Posted by: Rhea | December 04, 2008 at 06:34 PM
oh, she must have been proud of herself!
Posted by: jenni | December 04, 2008 at 07:20 PM
She's a wise little thing, isn't she? I love, love when my kiddies think they are being clever and sneaky. I'd watch her if I were you, it's all fun and games and M&Ms now, but soon she'll be hotwiring your minivan and taking joy rides!
Posted by: steenky bee | December 04, 2008 at 08:54 PM