Monty: The Enigma

This story was probably the most amusing part of my London trip...can't believe I forgot about it.

Dawson, Cameron, and I took Wiley to the playground one afternoon. It was a short walk from Dawson's flat and Wiley scootered the whole way there (these London kids love scooters...literally every child has one). Once we got there Wiley, Cameron, and I went to play. The British playgrounds would not fly in America. I climbed up a rope contraption and when at the top we nearly too afraid to get down. It was probably just 6 feet but it would have been deemed a ropes course by our standards and would be used for FOAC at Cherokee Bend.

I digress.

So Cameron and I are positioned on the top of the rope contraption and Dawson starts pushing Wiley and his two friends on a round thing that you sit on and it spins. Cameron and I could tell one kid didn't look so good holding on and surely enough Dawson gave one more mighty push and child flies from the thing like a projectile. But this just wasn't any random Brit child. This was Monty, dressed up in a US Army jacket (complete with an American flag and Army patches). Monty takes a tumble, bursts into tears, and Monty's mum has to come assist. Meanwhile Dawson stands there looking guilty.

Strike 1.

Soon Monty feels back up to playing and Wiley, Monty, and Fabien move on to the rest of the playground. Cameron and I manage to get off the ropes in enough time to hear Dawson trying to make small talk with Monty's mum. I hear her ask about her daughter, Monty, to which the woman replies, "Oh no, its a boy!"

Strike 2.

A minute later Wiley and Monty are playing on the slide. Wiley is standing on the top like the king of the castle while Monty tried to climb up. Wiley sees me standing nearby and yells, "AUNT B!! COME HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL!" Monty realizes that Wiley is talking about him and yells back, "HEY! I'M A BOY!"

Strike 3. Coopers are out.

But to both Dawson and Wiley's benefit, Monty looks like a little tomboy girl. He has long hair but has bangs. I think that the bangs part is what throws everyone off. I, too, thought that Monty was a girl until the mum and Monty made it clear that was not the case. Here are pictures of Monty pre-fall.


Monty from the back. Notice American flag on shoulder. Also notice the girl in the purple watching from the side. She new this was dangerous.

Monty from the front. See bangs and Army insignia.

So what do y'all think?? Girl or boy??