Spike the Stoic

One of his rare moments of levity.  Photo by Max.

Spike reminds me of me, which is funny since he looks the least like me of all my kids.  When I was a small kid my parents were concerned that something was wrong with me because I was so negative all the time.  I unsuccessfully tried out for cheerleading four times and imagine that I didn't make it because of my personality.  The judges could just sense I wasn't a naturally perky person.  Now this doesn't mean I'm not happy, I am, it just means I don't give off a naturally happy vibe.  (The one notable exception is when I answer the phone at a job.  For unknown reasons I go into this really weird, and slightly uncomfortable, chipper tone that I cannot control.)  Spike seems to be similar in his daily countenance.  The kid doesn't laugh as much as the other two did.  You get the feeling that he is amused and giving you a slight chuckle on the inside most of the time.  Maybe he just has a highly evolved sense of humor and only offers a laugh to encourage true comic genius.  My favorite game to play with Spike is a take off on the classic Staring Contest.  I stare at him giving him a huge grin until he just can't take it any longer and gives me a sly smile.  I don't think that I have changed his mood at all.  I suspect that he knows what I am up to and only smiles to get me to stop making the stupid grin at him.  The second I let go he stops smiling.  I think this kid will give us some fun times ahead.