Gotta Have Earrings!!

The first time S had her ears pierced was when she was 2 years old. Understandably, she threw such a huge fit, bawled everytime I tried to apply on the antiseptic, and constantly pulled/scratched/tugged until her lobes got sore and swollen. To keep the peace, we simply took the earrings out and let the holes close. We thought that the experience had probably caused her so much trauma that we never brought up the subject of getting her ears pierced again. Until out of the blue, she simply asked for it. "I want some bling-bling earrings, Mama". Are you Sure? "Yup! Nicole has them. And a first grader. She has Pink Dolphins. " *Sigh. The power of peer pressure - at age 5. So first thing the next morning, we dropped by her grandparents' store.
We let her pick her first set: A pair of sparkling star-shaped studs.

Flanked by her Dad on the right and her Aunt on the left, there was a moment's hesitation... (I think they were more anxious than her).
...before the split-second shot. Upon seeing her eyes welled up in tears, she was immediately handed a mirror.

A smile broke out. Pain? What pain?

Here she is with P, picking up an extra pair of earrings. It was a no-brainer. Blue Dolphins. "Just like Veronica's." Oh. Of course...