I walk into his room, and in a too-patronizing, obnoxious sort of voice say, “You know, Martin, it really makes me sad when you take all these clothes out of your bureau drawers and just leave them here on the–”
“You know what makes ME sad?” he interrupts. “Steve is DEAD!” He throws himself on the bed and starts to sob.
*****
It was just a beat-up videotape that started it all. One of Steve Irwin’s very first shows. Tom had it for years, and one day, popped it in the VCR for Martin, our budding nature adventurer. And just like that, Steve took over. Martin learned everything he could about him . . . and the whole Irwin family. Terri, Baby Bob, Bindi, mom Lynne, dad Bob, and best friend Wes. . . Australia is the scene of his every imaginary adventure; poachers and enemies of conservation his every imaginary villain. Hours I have spent outside, pretending that Steve is desperately calling my cell phone to give Martin instructions on rescuing a croc that a poacher has cornered. Or I’m Steve himself–”Be Steve! Be Steve!” Martin pleads. And I’m usually Terri in the car, helping Martin and Chris narrate our adventure as we drive through the Australian bush rescuing animals from (of course) the dreaded poachers.
We told him that Steve died when it happened, but he didn’t get it then. He was too little. So before he started school, we wanted to make sure he knew that Steve was dead–better he find out from us than from someone else, and it was bound to come up with as much as he talks about Steve. So, one night at bathtime when Martin asked Tom when we would be going to the Australia Zoo to see Steve, Tom gently explained why that wasn’t going to happen.
And that was just before I flounced into the room with my picky little comment about the stupid clothes on the floor.
So he knows now that Steve is dead. He asks me every so often who is going to save the animals now that Steve is gone; he says that he, Martin, cannot possibly do it without Steve’s help. Then he gets tears in his eyes and rubs them really hard because he doesn’t want to cry.
# Vikki:
March 14th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
So heartbreaking.
Vikki’s last blog post..Lemon Scone #
Penni:
March 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am
Oh that’s so sad. But there’s always Bindi…do you get her jungle girl series over there?
Penni’s last blog post..Cover Sneak Peak #
blue milk:
March 15th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Yikes, pretty sad for your boy. I’m wondering when this will come up for our daughter too. She is a big Bindi fan though so we’re able to keep Steve in the background a little more.
blue milk’s last blog post..Is, is that you? #
maria:
March 15th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Tell, young Martin to follow his dreams and do his part to help steve carry on his conservation work. There are so many outlets that he can help keep Steve’s work alive. Starting with providing a wildlife habitat in your own yard, or a small area near your home if you don’t have a yard. Visit national wildlife federation for instructions on how to do this. Then when he is old enough many zoos and nature centers offer Junior Docent(volunteer educator)programs that he can join. Most importantly let him know that Steve needs his help to continue this crucial work, it may help him cope and feel like he is truly assisting the Irwins.
Kris:
March 19th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
I am so sorry for your boy. It is very hard to learn that the person you love and admire and rely on is gone.
But I think our Martin will be doing good things himself very soon. We are lucky he is in the world.
Kris’s last blog post..Finis … #
Breeder:
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Oh, poor sweet little man. It’s a tough lesson to learn.
Breeder’s last blog post..Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow #
Rachel:
April 2nd, 2009 at 12:14 am
Oh, that’s so sad!
I was also going to suggest telling him about Bindi. There’s nothing like a shelia to take a bloke’s mind off of something sad.
Rachel’s last blog post..On-the-way-to-work Idol #