The Left Hand of Darkness

Lots of kids have scape-goats. What was the cartoon, "Family Circus"? that had an invisible character named "Not Me" that ran around and got the kids in trouble. When I was a kid, I called it "Mr. Nobody." Isabelle occassionally invokes Mr. Nobody, but usually, misbehavior is caused by "the hands."

"Isabelle, don't splash."
"It's not me, daddy, it's the hands."

"Don't play with your food."
"It's not me, mommy, it's the hands."

The fact that the hands are connected to her is convenient, because I don't have to contradict her: "If those hands splash daddy again, they're going to have to get out of the bath, and anyone attached to them, too."

But the hands have personalities, as well. There is a good hand, and a bad hand.

Why is being naughty so fascinating? I swear Darth Vader has more fans than Luke Skywalker, or even Obi Wan Kenobi.

My dear, sweet, left-handed child, just told me today that the good hand is the right hand, and the bad hand is the left.