The Table Manners of French Children

Last night we had the young couple across the road over for dinner. They brought their thirteen-year old daughter. I was a little worried, because I thought she might be bored out of wits . . . we had Roger (age 76) over along with his cousin, Pierre (age 82) . . . not exactly the type of crowd that would interest a young girl.

Unsolicited, this girl helped me serve dinner and dry dishes. She sat quietly through our discussions of the Euro vs. Dollar . . . the current state of the world wine market . . . our discussions of World War's numero one and two . . . and the current occupation of Iraq.

Then, around 11:30, this young girl had the audacity to complain to her father that she was tired! He ignored her. I told her she could go lie down on the sofa, but she said that wasn't polite. So she remained sitting at the table, listening to our banter until we ran out of brilliant things to say around 12:30.