Take a little off the end?

In America, boys have short hair and girls have long hair.  Here, it’s common for both boys and girls to wear their hair cut short, so you have to rely more on the clothing clues.

This week, I went to visit clients at an apartment building and was greeted by several cute toddlers in cotton dresses.  I assumed that all three were girls.  I was wrong.

This came to my attention when one of the women I was speaking with pointed to the two-year-old in the deep blue dress and asked another, “Isn’t that your son, Isaac?”

“Yes,” answered the second woman. “That is my son Isaac.”

At this point I was very intrigued. But I kept quiet, fearing that to reveal my confusion would demonstrate my ignorance of some profound South African cultural tradition.

Fortunately, the first woman plunged straight in where I feared to tread, and asked the obvious follow-up question: “Why is he wearing a dress?”

“Aahh,” answered the mother with a smile, realizing for the first time where this line of questioning was leading. “Yesterday he was circumsized.”

Sometimes, apparently, even little boys are more comfortable in a skirt.