Wit of the 8-year-old cousin, Andrew.

My relatives from Iowa came to visit. It was the kids' first visit ever to Indonesia. The first after 13 years for their parents. It's always nice to meet relatives you haven't seen for a long long time. Especially cousins who were just little babies when you last met. Here's little Andrew. 8 years old, in 2nd grade, thinker out of the three siblings. (the other two, would be Tiffany, a 12 year old writer, and Tiara, a 5 year old drama queen/actress). Witty little Andrew.

(Italicized lines are Andrew's)

"I heard it's illegal to litter in Singapore!"
"Yep. It is. They fine you if you litter."
"Is it illegal to litter here?"
"I don't know, I don't think so. Is it? In America?"
"I don't know. I guess not. But shouldn't it be illegal, everywhere?"
"I mean, isn't that illegal, to the environment? And the President doesn't even do anything about it."

***

"I wish I could just stay here in Indonesia. I don't really like it in Iowa."
"Well, nobody ever likes it where they stay. Most people, anyway. People always wish to move someplace else."
"I know, but some people just don't belong. And especially, some places are just not the place to be."
"What about you? Your place?"
"The place where I'm staying right now isn't the place to be. For me, at least."
"Really? Why?"
"It's just not. Especially our school. Schools are supposed to make people better people, and teach the bad guys. But our teacher, she only gets them in trouble and not do anything else about it. That's why I don't like our school." That's why sometimes I get so sensitive. It's just not the place to be.

***

"What do you wanna be when you grow up?"
"I want to be a ninja."
"A ninja?"
"Yes. But then there's a lot to do before i get to become one."
"Yea, ninjas do a lot of trainings."
"Uh huh. They do a lot of trainings and they need to be good people. That's why i've been trying to be better. Like not cry anymore, not be too scared and also be less sensitive."

***

On beggars who were knocking at our window at the stop light:
"You know, just asking for money is a pretty stupid way to earn money."

***

"You know what, we once went to a water park and i saw this couple kissing"
"Really?"
"Yea, really! They were french-kissing as if nobody was around!"

He talks about the environment and the president, about improving one's character, ideal schools, ways to earn money, and french kisses (!!?!) man, THIS SECOND GRADER HAS GOT TO BE SPECIAL.