My new DC friend

"What are you doing?"

I turned from the post office, then looked down at my inquisitor. He was probaly four, had a bowl cut, and was wearing khaki shorts and sweater vest with nothing underneath. Kid had style.

"Um... I'm trying to get some stamps, and I don't know which ones to buy." I chose a book and started applying them to the last of my graduation thank you notes.

"What are those for?"

I looked around - no parent in sight. A women at a nearby counter smiled, but offered no help. This, clearly, was going to be my buddy for the rest of my post-office visit.

"Well, they're so that the postman knows that I paid to send my letters. Hmm... which slot do you think these go in?"

"I don't know. What does that say" He pointed to the words above the mail slots on the wall.

"F-L-A-T. Flat. This one says L-E-T-T-E-R-S. Letters. But I have a flat letter. What should I do?"

The little man put his hands on his hips, then pointed up at L-E-T-T-E-R-S, and said, "That one."

"Ok. I'll put the first two in. You put the last one." I stuck the last envelope halfway in the slot, then watched as he jumped up and high-fived the letter into L-E-T-T-E-R-S and put the rest of the stamps in my pocket.

"What are you going to do with those?"

"I'm going to save them and put them on some mo-"

"Jack - Jack!" I heard her before she came around the corner. "I'm sorry. Jack! Come over here."

Jack grinned and scrambled to his mother as I slipped away and out of the post-office. "See you later, Jack," I called over my shoulder.

Jack waved back with an awkward four-year-old/Forrest Gump wave. "See you later, Jack! Oh. Uh, see you later. Bye!"

DC is pretty sweet.