The last day of summer camp was the best. Never mind that on the first day I thought it was great, and on the second I was sure it was better. The fifth day was the culmination of a week of friendships, and kids learning songs. They understood the routine, and were braver about climbing in the laps of their counselors.
Kids who had trouble separating from their moms on Monday now ran toward the tent without looking back.
On Friday we had a carnival. I was the face painting station. Kids cycled through eight activities, and at some point sat across from me in a chair.
In that moment, there was nothing but that child. I looked into his or her darling face, and asked if they wanted to be a cat, or a tiger. Some wanted soccer balls, or butterflies.
The truth is, I am a terrible face painter. Each summer I kick myself for not watching tutorials, and practicing. It is not rocket science. Surely I could master it. And yet, my
ineptitude became the occasion for a few dozen children to give me grace. I would try to fulfill their wishes for whiskers, and a pink nose. But often the paint was runny, or clumpy. Or the child would turn to see a friend running by, and I would barely escape painting their hair.
Their hair. Such curls, and cornsilk. They are of course oblivious to their own ineffable
beauty. Their skin is perfect, and here I was dosing it with pigment. Yet that was the agreement, and I gingerly tried to fashion tiger stripes and hedgehog spikes. Then I handed over the mirror and held my breath.
Not a single customer complained. In the kindest voice possible, they said, yes, they did indeed look like a kitty. Bless them. One boy asked for a sword on
one cheek, a spear on the other, and the word LORD on his forehead. He was trying to manifest the song we sang all week about David and Goliath.
Having a small child accept my feeble attempts at zoomorphism is humbling. One suggested that she saw sparkles in the paint. What an example of beauty being in the eyes of the beholder. There are such products on the market. I
intend to own a supply by next June.