A Lesson In Retaliation

The story a couple of entries back about my niece Evonne and the spider in her soup made me remember another family tale involving her.  When she was about five years old she was being watched one day by her aunt (my sister Dennice), who took Evonne with her to the laundromat in her apartment complex.  The laundromat was next to the apartment complex's playground and was built with windows along one wall looking out onto the playground.  So while Dee did her laundry she was able to keep an eye on Evonne and a little boy about the same age while they played.

Of course she couldn't keep her eyes on them 100% of the time.  She was emptying a dryer when Evonne came running in, calling loudly, "Aunt Dee Dee! Aunt Dee Dee!  You don't 'posed to pay back evil for evil, do you?"

"Huh?" Dennice gasped.

"You don't 'posed to pay back evil for evil, do you?"

Dennice gathered her scattering wits.  "Uh, no! No, of course not!"  She became aware of several pairs of curious eyes -- what does that little kid know about paying back evil for evil?-- and said decisively, "No, we aren't supposed to pay back evil for evil.  Why?  Who's trying to do that?"

"He is!"  Evonne turned and pointed an accusing finger at the little boy, shrinking behind her.  "I hit him and then he hit me back!"