the (sad) story of snowy’s mom

some of you have probably known snowy, aina’s beloved security dog. but did you know that snowy’s mom has passed away a while back?

on one afternoon a few months ago, i was putting aina to nap when we exchanged stories. i don’t remember how the conversation started, but i was asking where is snowy’s mom.

“aina, are you snowy’s mom?”
“no, snowy’s mom is dead, binggi.” (she calls me binggi).
“huh? really? how come? what happened?”
“she was bitten by an orca whale.”
i was flabbergasted, “oh, no… poor snowy. he must’ve been very sad…”
“yes, he was crying.”

what a sad and tragic story to be made up by a 2 year-old! that story comes up again every now and then. aina usually ends up hugging and kissing her snowy after she finishes telling the story.

yesterday, ari asked for some more information.

“aina, i heard snowy’s binggi was bitten by an orca whale and died…”
“oh yea, she was!” aina then ran to get her small whale toy that she usually plays with when she’s having a bath.
“see, this is not an orca whale… this is blue. orca whale is black and white”, she then explained while poking the whale.
“why do you keep poking the whale?” ari asked.
“oh! you can’t do this to orca whales, you know,” she explained, “snowy’s mom was poking the orca whale in the eye. it made the orca whale angry…. HRRRMPPPHH!!! then the orca whale bit and killed her.”

whoa… i really don’t know what else to say. yes, you really shouldn’t poke whales in the eye. or anyone in eye, for that matter.