2009/08/14 New York
Hard
Merci
Before they went to JFK to fly back to Europe I took my godson and his mother to my hairdresser Christian.
Christian is a very special hairdresser.
After he cut my godson’s hair I urged my godson to say “thank you” to Christian or “merci” – Christian is French. All my godson did was biting my arm.
He was probably overcome with emotions, but I have to say that he bit me very hard.
Had he been my own son I would have bitten back. I believe you should teach your children that this world is a tit-for-tat world. But since he is my godson I just said: “You really hurt me. You should not bite people. People don’t like it.”
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32 comments 
Arnon
We would like you to meet Lyndon, Laura's hairdresser.bite
probably he felt miserable leaving youArnon
Let his mother inform him you wrote about it and that now the whole world knows what he did , including Santa.Winter job
I could imagine Arnon blossoming as Zwarte Piet.Hurting other people physically can transport a wide variety of emotions. Did you ask him why he bit you? If he really did it because it pained him to leave you, you should feel flattered. There aren't many people who use more than words and empty gestures to show you they like you. Or would you've opted for old-fashioned tears?
Oscar
Yes, I'm looking forward to it.Does he like a haircut ?
I detest hairdressers and can very well excuse the biting.
Dens
Arnon is not a hairdresser.arnon
i guess he felt too forced to say thank you or merciand then biting was his reaction
may i ask which relationship you do have with the mother of your godson?
Casandra vs Clepsydra
once I thrust a fork into my lil' brother's calf. Some years latter hid a nail under the ethnic rug: when my father jumped screaming, his Achilles thing produced a tent, pulling up the rug pyramid-like. Compared to all the other exploits of my very long childhood, those two incidents went almost unnoticed, because otherwise I was considered a very calm child-in total opposition to my brother .It was a question of frequency, I guess
Frequence is the key to many things.
Oscar Wilde
That is true. It would be weird to bite the hairdresser since he's not familiar with your outings. To bite, and thus extrapolate his stress, someone is a sign of love in this case.I would love to be bitten after a haircut.
I just read "A modest Hongarian" by Mr. Arnon in bath. A lovely story I might say.
Oscar
That would be a nice next project for Arnon to write about:working as a hairdresser.
Dens
Are you suggesting that all that the godson needed was a cookie?Oscar Wilde
Not at all. Why think that?Juliane
Do you plan to bite my arm when I leave you?Peggy Sue
If you want to know more about Arnon's relationship with his godson's mother, I advice you to read the columns he dedicated to her in ' Omdat ik U begeer.' Look for Marianne Koeman. I would call it a relationship of reciprocal protection.Arnon
Why certainly.Or would you like to be kicked in the shin or get your hair pulled instead?
Juliane
What do you prefer?Arnon
Biting. By far.Juliane
Then biting it is.Arnon
One more question. Would I be restricted to your arm (forearm?) or am I free to choose the bodypart I'd like to bite? (If this sounds slighty salacious, rest assured that such was not my intention.)Juliane
I still remember your lecherous gaze from Münster.Arnon
I had to summon up all my self-control to keep myself from drooling. But be honest, Mr Grunberg. You deliberately unbuttoned your shirt to provoke me, didn't you?Be that as it may, it doesn't answer my question which emanates from completely aesthetic motives. Your godson may be of adequate hight to bite your forearm. If I tried to do the same, however, we would risk desecrating this moment of high emotional intensity as I don't plan to fall on my knees before you.
Juliane
How about my nose, my lips, my ears, my cheeks?What body part do you prefer?You are at your best when you drool.Arnon
Oh, but I won't nibble on you, Mr Grunberg, I will bite you. Therefore, the area between your neck and shoulder might be a good part, don't you think?Juliane
What exactly do you hope to get out of biting me? Do you fantasize more often about biting men? Do you bite boyfriend on a regular basis?I prefer human beings to nibble on me.
Arnon
As I said in an earlier comment biting can be an emotional valve. In this case it would have served as I small punishment for you in addition since we were talking about you leaving me. It would've hurt just a little.Nibbling is a sign of affection very close to kissing and you can't hope to get that from me if you hurt me. Be nice, and I might consider it.
Juliane
What should I do when you decide to leave me?Arnon
It depends on whether it would hurt you or not. You could be indifferent or even happy about it just as well. In this latter case it just wouldn't fit to inflict pain upon me (unless you don't want me to know it doesn't hurt you).So let's assume it would hurt you if I left you. Since you're not into biting yourself, this might not be an appropriate option to express your suffering. Hmm...I'm at a loss here, I'm not exactly sure what actually would suit you. What would you like to do? Describe a scene, if you like.
(I should have said 'I'll never leave you, my darling.', shouldn't I?)
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