The Vegetarian

In hindsight, I should have answered Miles’s question differently. But at the time, I didn’t think anything of it. Just another random question from a curious mind.
 

“Mom, do chickens have blood in them?” Miles asked me a few months ago. I am used to off-the-wall questions from my 6-year-old son and I answered honestly.
 

“What about cows?”
 

Yes, cows have blood too, just like you and me and any other animal.
 

“Pigs, too?” 
 

Yes, pigs too.
 

It was a full day before I realized what I had done. I fixed Miles a nice plate of chicken, rice and peas for dinner – a dinner that he has eaten and enjoyed many, many times. But not this time. Miles looked at the plate in disgust and pushed it away. 
 

His response to my confused look was, “Mom, I don’t eat chicken. Don’t you know I’m a vegetarian?”
 

A vegetarian? What’s this now? To which queries Miles informed me that from this day forward, he would no longer eat anything that had once contained blood.
 

I have nothing against vegetarians. In fact, some of my very best friends are vegetarians. But the thing about the vegetarians I know is this – they actually eat vegetables. Miles, on the other hand, does not. Well, except for peas. And corn. But only if that corn is on a cob fresh from the farm. So you see my dilemma. Of the list of 12 healthy things that Miles will eat, a good 30% of them once contained blood.
 

But Miles is a determined one, and when he dedicates himself to a cause, he does not do it halfway. For months now, he has been a die-hard vegetarian. A vegetarian who only eats peas and corn on the cob.

I’ll admit, it’s been a struggle getting nourishment into that scrawny boy. I even, on occasion, tried a little fibbing. “Actually Miles, this is a new, special meat-less chicken/ham/turkey. No blood involved.”
 

But Miles is a smart boy. He didn’t buy it for a second. He was equally suspicious of any faux-meat soy-based product.
 

Deep down, I was sure it was just a phase. If I could just lay low, humor him and ride it out, I was sure we could get past this whole vegetarian thing.
 

Sure enough. We finally had a break-through last week. Weaver was grilling some marinated chicken while Miles sat nearby. The aroma became too much for my young boy to take. 
 

“Dad, I think I’ll try a little bit of that chicken,” Miles said quietly. “just to see if I’m still a vegetarian.”
 

Two full servings of chicken later, Miles had made his decision. Apparently, Miles is and will continue to be a vegetarian. But he is going to be one of those very rare and unique vegetarians who regularly eats chicken, corn dogs, salami and bacon.
 

“But except for those things, Mom, I am STILL a vegetarian.”
 

I’m pretty sure real vegetarians wouldn’t approve, but it sure works for me. Now if only I could get him to eat a few more vegetables, we’d be all set.