BELONGING TO MANY WORLDS BUT BELONGING TO NONE

AN ONLINE MAGAZINE

| 2007 Archive
| 2006 Archive
| 2005 Archive
| 2004 Archive
| Respond

FROM THE MARGINS | BY PATRICK AZADIAN
Los Angeles Times Valley Edition | Glendale News-Press | January 13 2007

The return of the little white tigress

I am getting invited to kids' parties less frequently. But the drought came to a screeching halt last Saturday. My friends Miro and Souzi Khanzadian were kind enough to invite me to their daughter's birthday. Garni was turning 3.

The night before I had been visiting a friend up in the Bay Area. I felt like a true jet-setter – having Peete's coffee on 3rd Street in San Francisco in the morning, hanging out with 3-year-olds in L.A. in the afternoon.

I wasn't sure if I would have enough time to buy a gift. I called the Khanzadians a day in advance and gave my condition for attendance. "I'll be there, but I won't be bringing a gift," I said.

I was actually looking forward to the birthday. Besides, I owed it to Garni; she was the only Armenian girl who'd sang happy birthday on my voicemail back in December. Initially she had some reservations since I was not at the other end of the phone. She'd said: "Payts inkuh hon cheh." ("But he is not there!")

As I got off the plane at Bob Hope Airport, something was bothering me. I asked myself, why show up if I didn't have a gift? Did a 3-year-old care to see me unless I had some goodies? Or was she actually going to appreciate the fact that although I was very tired, I'd showed up?

Luckily, there was the gift shop at the airport. Once I was in the store, I knew my dilemma had been solved. My eyes locked on a pink purse with a stuffed white poodle sticking out of the zipper. It was love at first sight.

It was not a $500 Burberry Candy Check Baby Bag, but it would have to do.

I walked toward the cashier, but remembered another precious princess, Narod, was also going to be at the party. Narod is now a local semi-celebrity. Her story appeared in 2004 in the Glendale News-Press titled "Little white tigress slays dragon" (From the Margins, Nov. 27, 2004). I doubled my shopping.

I arrived at the party excited but apprehensive. Would my pedestrian gifts sans gift-wrapping match up to the glamorous goodies?

My apprehension got a boost when the employees at the playhouse told me I had to remove my shoes before entering the party.

I don't take off my shoes even when I am at home. It wasn't enough I'd had to take off my shoes at the airport, now I had to go commando at a kids' gathering. Fortunately, I had new socks.

I kept the gifts close to my chest. I refused to put them next to the other gifts. If they weren't sitting next to the other gifts, they wouldn't stand out as much.

I delivered the first gift to Garni's mom and waited for the Tigress to make a fashionably late appearance.

From the moment Narod came into the party in her mommy's arms, she showed character. She had more common sense than me; she refused to remove her glittering pink shoes. And when I asked whether she wanted to see what I had for her in the plastic bag, she gently nodded her head up and down. I was hoping the gift would break down her resistance and I would get a little kiss. I was mistaken.

The Little Tigress seemed to like the pink purse and the poodle, but when asked "Bachig muh gurnam oonenal?" ('Can I have a kiss?'), she shook her head from side to side in a sign of disapproval. The answer was: "Thanks for the gift, but no kiss for you."

It was good to know some girls in L.A. are being raised with good morals.

I stayed for cake, just in time to steal a kiss from Narod. I had to do it quickly when she was not looking. She had no complaints.

I have not checked with the Khanzadians, as I did not want to bring attention to my gifts, but the pink purse has been a hit with the Little Tigress.

When asked what the name of her poodle was, Narod exclaimed: "Lady!" in a tone which could only mean: "Don't you grown-ups know anything?"

She carries the purse and the poodle with her to preschool, she sleeps with them and the poodle gets a feeding of real dog food twice a day. Lady is in good hands.

I think kids are great; unless, of course, grown-ups mess with their heads.

Copyright 2007 Glendale News Press