Scissors

Of particular note is an experience that took place one day between Reed and Mom. As a well kempt younger woman, mom would occasionally take it upon herself to trim her nails. We boys seldom took notice of such things. We were too busy with our own lively purposes. Rather, we just enjoyed the result of well-trimmed, feminine nails that our mother adorned. On the average day of note, my mother was engaged in trimming her nails in a quiet corner of the house where she’d be able to achieve seldom available ‘me time’. As she was thus engaged; little Reed approached innocently to ascertain and observed the behavior of his mother. Mom, accustomed to being surrounded by the prying eyes of sons, kept her focus on her fingernails as Reed curiously watched her seemingly bizarre behavior.

Upon completing her process with her own fingernails, she naturally took the opportunity to examine little Reed’s nails and trim them where necessary. Reaching out, she grasped her young toddler’s hands in order to draw them near for close inspection. Undoubtedly, Reed (having just watched his mother cut parts of her own hand away) was somewhat reticent to having his own beloved hands subjected to such barbaric behavior. Though trusting his mother; Reed may have wondered if he wanted such violent application to his own precious fingers. Thus, mom was wrestling with her young offspring to save him from inadvertently scratching himself with his own nails. Insufficiently aware of his mother’s intent to care for her young toddler, Reed was less than fully cooperative as his mother positioned the manicure scissors to trim the youngster’s nails. Though uncertain, Reed may have been terrified at the seemingly loss of finger parts to a bizarre ritual he’d just observed. We may never know.