Once , When i was little i was about four, mom and i were in one of those superstores that sells everything from milk to sofas. I was still small enough to fit in the child seat in front of the cart. Mom always came prepared and stuffed pillows on each side of me , so I wouldn't tilt. Everything was fine. She tossed toilet paper and mouthwash and detergent into the cart, and i looked around , enjoying the ride.
Then , in the toy section, i saw them. Brightly coloured packages of plastic blocks. Just that morning i had seen a warning on television about that toy—they were being recalled because the blocks had been hospitalised with lead paint. Several children had already been hospitalised with led poisoning, the report had said. But there they were—still on the shelf.
I pointed at them.
Mom said, "No sweetie. You don't need those. You have enough toys."
