Scattered about the table, marked with checks, stars, and maybes was my 14-year-old’s high school club list. Experience has taught me not to hover. It is better to fake indifference so not to discourage potential good intentions of the peculiar and moody inhabitant of my house ... who resembles a young human but is in reality a teenage mutant ninja daughter.
As Riley monologued through the pros and cons of B-Movie Club, Bollywood Club, Book Club, Booster’s Club, Chess Club, Choral Madrigals, and Crossstitchers, … she paused at the Ds. “Debate Club,” she said decidedly.
That Riley would consider the Debate Club is good and bad news. Good in that she would certainly excel and shine, bad in that, I am not sure she needs to hone her debating skills while still living under my roof.
Her nine year old sister Ryann asked, “What do you do in a Debate Club?”
“Well,” Riley answered. “You choose a position on a topic and then you defend that position. For example, take the chicken and the egg debate. You choose a side and then defend that side.”
“What chicken and egg debate?” asked Ryann.
“You know, the classic debate of which came first, was it the chicken or was it the egg?” said Riley.
“Oh,” said Ryann. “It was the egg.”
“That isn’t enough to debate it, Ryann.Why do you think the egg came first?”
“It was the egg,” answered Ryann, both indifferent and annoying as only a younger sibling can be.
“Yes, I know that you think the egg came first, but why do you think that? Maybe I think that God created the hen and that the hen laid an egg, so that would mean that the chicken came first. Maybe I think it was impossible for the egg to be first because it would have been too fragile and who would have nested on the egg to hatch it? I am confident now the chicken came first.”
Ryann unimpressed and unwavering soundly stated one word, “Egg.”
“Ryann,” yelled Riley. “Aaaarrrrrggggggg. It wasn’t the egg; it was the chicken. Can’t you hear me? Mom, will you please moderate this debate and tell Ryann the chicken came first.”
“Sorry,” I answered. “My high school didn’t have a Moderator’s Club.”
“Ryann,” said Riley, using her older sister knows best, deep breathing, calm voice. “It is okay that you think the egg came first. To debate like we will do in the Debate Club, just tell me a reason why you think that. Offer me some evidence.”
“I don’t need any evidence, Riley, it was the egg,” said Ryann.
“Why was it the egg? Why couldn’t the chicken have been first? Huh, why? Why couldn’t it have been the chicken???????” yelled Riley.
“Egg,” said Ryann, her navy blue eyes dancing, confident in her impending victory.
“You know what, Ryann? Never mind about the chicken and the egg. I quit,” said Riley, stomping upstairs in frustration.
“Mom, did I win the debate?” smiled Ryann.
***
Hours later when all is and quiet in our house, I hear Riley, whose heart likes harmony and order call out across the hall to her sister, “Goodnight Ryann, I love you.”
“Egg,” replied her sister in the sweet darkness.