Life: Idiotropic

Screens.  You know those wire mesh things that block windows in most American homes?  The things that fall off when you don't want them to and won't come off when you need to break into your own house?

Well, most European homes don't have them.

They hang beads and lace and chains in their doorways to keep out flies, but when the windows are open, it's an open invitation to all things winged and scaled to fly or creep in. 

The good thing?  Well, first, it's much easier to break into your house.  And, secondly, it makes play much more fun.

Last year I found them playing jail.  This year, they've combed their rooms for things that they needed to "barter."  Arianna, who's been brainstorming ways to get rich quick, got out old fabrics, plastic bags, buttons, thread, and a stapler to create a selection of fashion statements worthy of Milan's catwalk. 

I told her that she was not allowed to accept her sister's money for these creations, so they all set up store out Arianna's window and used their rejects to "barter," a fun game that they kept up until it was too dark to see what they were trading.