This was written January 25, 2011 and reposted here for giggles. 
At the time I was working at an emergency shelter for teenagers. 

SuzieQ:  Um, Connie?  <shuffle feet, poke friend in ribs with elbow, push hair behind ears>

Me:  UM What?

SuzieQ:  <hanging on to dear life to CutieQ>  I heard you had your belly pierced.

Me:  <false-shocked look on my face> WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

SuzieQ and CutieQ:  looking at fingernails, tugging on socks, letting hair fall over face>

Me:  Tell me, girls!

THEM:  <in unison>  Steady Ed

Me:  HOW WOULD STEADY ED KNOW IF I HAD A PIERCED BELLY BUTTON?

THEM:  <trembling, no answer>

Me:  <can’t help it anymore and laughing>

THEM:  Connie!  You had us scared.

Me:  Good.  I was the first female Navy Seal, you know.  It keeps me in practice to be scary now and then.

THEM:  Well? Do you?

Me:  Do I what?

SuzieQ – <peals of giggles>

CutieQ – Have a pierced belly button?

Me:  I do.

THEM:  LET US SEE!

Me:  No.  <baring my teeth and looking fierce>

THEM:  Why not?

Me:  I don’t show it to anyone.

THEM:  You showed it to Steady Ed.

Me:  I DID NOT.

THEM:  Let’s go ask him.  <conversation in background.  Steady ED saw the impression of the ring when my t-shirt pulled across my body while putting stuff in upper kitchen cabinets.>

Me:  <girls come back> Oh good lord, what do you want now?

THEM:  When did you get it pierced?

Me:  <staring at the ceiling and ciphering on my fingers> I think in 1998.

THEM:  THEY HAD BELLY RINGS BACK THEN?

Me:  Let me just fetch my shawl, sit in my rocker and y’all can rub my bunioned feet while I tell you about hand hammering the ring out of bronze at the Blacksmith’s after churning the butter and hauling wheat to mill grinder, and how I almost died when it got a little bit infected because penicillin wasn’t invented yet and the old Wise Woman in the hut at the edge of the forest told me to use salt.  Hell’s bells! Salt was expensive in those days, but it works.

THEM:  It sure does.  When I got my nose pierced they said to snort salt water.

Me:  <Sigh. They never know when I’m joking.> I’m wounded.  Y’all are turning me into an old woman.

THEM:  Naw, you’re already old.  I wish my *mawmaw* was like you.