Through the eyes of Kazen

Children often perceive things differently than adults do, and sometimes their unique perspective on life is refreshing. Listening to them prattle on about the latest video game, movie or the make-believe world of their imaginations is quite entertaining — even when you have no idea what they are talking about. 

Working in an office is often portrayed as dull and boring, but that is never the case when 7-year-old Kazen Barker, son of Alexis Barker, is around. During the summer months when school is not in session, Kazen often joins his mom here in the News Letter Journal office.

He sees everything that happens behind the scenes at the office but through the eyes of a second grader. Some of you might wonder what KateLynn, Avery and I do as the “youngsters” on the NLJ staff, but I’m sure Kazen would be more than happy to provide the answers to any and all of your questions.

For starters, KateLynn and I were minding our own business in our little cubicle, which happens to be in the best spot for overhearing conversations, when we heard Kazen giving Avery an assessment of what Pokémon “type” he is in relation to his job at the newspaper. 

Kazen nonchalantly and confidently told Avery that he is the “assistant type” because he assists his mom. Kazen proceeded to inform KateLynn that she was the “working type, editing type, laughing type and making friends type.” He added the “electric type” to her resumé because of the three computers she uses for work purposes. 

Kazen paused and told her she seemed like she was also the reading type, as well as the “arts and crafts type,” even though art is admittedly not her forté. 

“And I’m just the assistant,” Avery said, muttering under his breath. His sustained injuries were minor, however, as he is used to frequent bullying at the office from co-workers who enjoy making him the punch line of their jokes.

KateLynn asked Kazen for his evaluation of me. 

“I need to know more about her,” he said. 

Suddenly, a revelation dawned on him. “A water type, duh.” 

Much of what he said about me reflected KateLynn’s slate, but he added the “talking type” and “typing type,” as I frantically tried to record his observations into my laptop. 

We enjoy Kazen’s entertainment — it brightens the grind of the typical workday, but sometimes it distracts us from our work, so Alexis frequently checks up on her son to keep him in line. On this occasion, he was explaining the “types” he was labeling us. 

In doing so, he forgot KateLynn’s name, much to the delight of Avery. 

“I might be the assistant type, but at least he knows my name,” he said. 

“It was just a brain fart,” KateLynn quickly retorted. 

Alexis reminded Kazen of one “type” he forgot — perhaps the most important to the young boy: his partiality to blondes. Kazen glanced at KateLynn and I and quickly noticed that neither one of us is a blond. 

“Well, she (KateLynn) is kind of blonde. That’s okay, you’re still my friends anyway,” he assured us. 

As he continued rambling about whatever is important to 7-year-old boys, Alexis gave him a final warning to leave us to our work. 

“If you don’t listen, I’ll lock you in a closet,” she said, with a warning as Kazen rapidly scurried away, muttering under his breath, “Okay, okay — no thanks, no thanks.”

And so, we continue trudging away at our workload until he returns, which is usually no longer than five minutes. But don’t worry, we still get the work done — after all, we are the “working type.” Except for Avery–he is just the assistant.