On a long ride in the Métro, my daughter Holly and I watched a group of mischievous boys. They were accompanied by their teacher, probably on a field trip, in a group of about ten children.
As riders exited and entered the train at each Métro stop, these three would crowd around the door with a sheet of paper which they had torn into long strips. They would position the paper to hang out of the closing door which would then flap and tear away in the breeze of the speeding train. As the door opened at the next stop they would burst into laughter to see what was left of the paper. This scenario was repeated at each stop. The teacher gave them one stern glance but all the other Métro riders pretended not to notice. Holly and I conspired with their antics and I asked them to give me a pose as we exited.
Et voilà! Can you tell which one was the ringleader?
I guess it must have been the one to the right (or left).
ReplyDeleteThe teacher is the one looking over his glasses (or the one to the left listening to music.....)
Anyway, a nice shot!
Probably the tallest one, but the kid in orange looks impish! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteohh--that little grin is a dead give away
ReplyDeleteGunn -- They were all three having fun and acting like young boys pushing their luck with the teacher.
ReplyDeleteBibi -- I'll wait and see if Holly chimes in on this but I think that the tall kid was more cautious than the "imp" in orange!
Sooz -- and that is probably what saved them all three! Who could fuss at that little "cherub"? Hah!
ReplyDeleteI think the one in the orange has a really cheeky grin ~ but they're all gorgeous. Good shot Genie!
ReplyDelete~Dianne~
Ha! They were SO funny and just giggling the whole (long) ride. If I remember correctly the one in orange was instigating, but on closer inspection the one with the glasses still has a strip of paper in his hands....
ReplyDeleteI've known a number of ring leaders who've worn orange. :)
ReplyDeleteC'est divertissement! :) That's our mot du jour !
ReplyDeleteLOVE this photo and the story. I'm always amazed at the courage those teachers have to have to herd a crowd of kiddos on the Metro.
V
They're all adorable—and their game sounds like an innocent enough divertissement (!). I've helped to herd a bunch of kids in the subway when mine were in school—not a lot of fun even when they're being very bien élevé! Nicely captured, Genie. Good for you for asking them to pose!
ReplyDeleteCute kids. Bonjour de Paris. ous sommes arrivé hier.
ReplyDeleteDianne -- I do love to see the Parisian children acting like "regular" kids.
ReplyDeleteHolly, ma chère, you are right. They were having great fun and dodging the commuters as they entered and exited the train -- glad that we could be a part of the conspiracy!
Shell -- Anyone we know?
Virginia -- What a challenge to get them all on/off at the right time. I would think that you have to have an adult at the end of the group and one at the beginning to ensure that they all move together. The trains in Madrid moved more slowly and spent a longer time at each station than in Paris. I prefer those in Paris.
Alexa -- Yes, it is much easier to encourage misbehavior, which was admittedly not a big deal and all in fun, when you are anonymous and a foreigner.
Starman -- Behave on the Métro and let me know what you are doing.
Kids are great aren't they? they can always entertain themselves regardless of where they are.
ReplyDeletePicturit -- and their looks, expressions, and behavior transcend nationality -- Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking logically and assuming it's the older boy...but the spirit of the imp is exuding from the boy in orange...so it must be him!!!
ReplyDeleteI call that exploratory learning. Genius! The little guy in the middle is the instigator. He looks like a future CEO.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I bet it's the little one, it's always the little ones! Too cute, glad to know kids are pretty much the same everywhere! XX!
ReplyDeleteHa ha boys will be boys :) I say it was the middle one.
ReplyDeleteKW -- They were all three in the thick of it, but "imp in orange" made it all possible!
ReplyDeleteNinny -- I'll have to remember that -- "exploratory learning"! I think you are correct. "Imp in orange" future CEO. Genius on the left, future CFO, and fellow in brown, VP of Covert Operations!
Shari -- I agree and it is easier to laugh when I do not have to worry about any juvenile delinquents of my own. Now, they have their own worries - hah!
Loree -- a big box of macarons for you! The eyes say it all!
very cute post genie -- my vote for ringleader is monsieur avec les lunettes!
ReplyDeleteAmanda -- As Holly pointed out he was the one with the "evidence" still in his hands! They were all three right on the edge of being in trouble.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have time to comment this morning but my vote was on little orange guy -- his face says "I'm trouble" to me. You have a knack for capturing kid personalities!
ReplyDeleteI think it's the kid in the orange. Look at those "who me" eyes.
ReplyDeleteM -- Yeah, he gets my vote, too. Merci.
ReplyDeleteRandy -- Yes, it is in the eyes. I think that they were grateful that I did not scold them or "rat them out."
Being a Bear with a blog, and thus peculiar, it should be no surprise that I ask peculiar questions.
ReplyDeleteFor example: How are you going to learn if you don't try new things? If you don't experiment a bit?
The lads should have saved their pieces of paper and entered them in a science fair. "Things we discovered in the Métro."
But as I said, I'm peculiar (in at least some ways).
I love the tall boy's coat and glasses... very chic
ReplyDeleteRob -- I do not doubt that it started out as a bit of an experiment. What happens when something as small as a sheet of paper gets caught in the door? Can you pull it out? How much flapping wind can the paper withstand? Oh yes, I think it might have started as curiosity. Good point!
ReplyDeleteSara Louise -- I would have gotten their shoes in the shot but I think that they were not much different than boys anywhere.
Great portrait, Genie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun story !
ReplyDelete:-))
That's a great story. I think any one of them could be the "ring leader", they're all mischievous looking! It's a great portrait.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever watched Louis Malle's "Zazie Dans le Metro"? I had the exact same haircut as Zazie when I was a little girl living in Beaulieu.
When I operated subway (Metro) trains in Toronto I saw many things happening that were unacceptable. Looking at the photo all I can think about is that these kids are going to grow up and breed.
ReplyDeleteThe kids in orange is cute :D
ReplyDeleteJM -- I was lucky to catch them with one shot before the doors shut.
ReplyDeleteNathalie -- That's one of the things I love about travel -- finding the stories.
Paula -- Merci! No, I have not but I am going to check it out and report back.
Andy -- Spoken like a parent. Yeah, but knowing that these kids will eventually have kids is the best revenge.
Adeeya -- Merci -- They were all three pretty cute and friendly!
It is a wonder this hasn't been done in the NY subways - tho perish the thought of what the reaction would be by the 'authorities'. Love your photos of Paris....
ReplyDeleteMargaret -- Merci! It was quite interesting that all the passengers within sight of these boys acted as if they were blind. No one even rolled their eyes!
ReplyDelete