Unfiltered Story #312414

My goddaughters, their mothers, and I had planned a small vacation at a midway spot between our houses. It was in a Airbnb high in the mountains in a secluded part of the woods and there was a small waterfall not far from where we were.

Since both the goddaughters love ‘exploring’ I took them a somewhat long excursion to walk through the woods to the top of the waterfall and see it. Knowing they would get hungry I had brought some snacks and so when the older goddaughter, 5 at the time, complained about being hungry I gave her a banana to eat. In exchange she soon hands me an empty banana peel back.

Me: “oh gee thanks for you trash.”
Goddaughter: ” ‘welcome”
Me: “You know this is such a nice gift I shouldn’t take it from you. I should let you have it back!”
Goddaughter: “no, you take it.”
Me: “what about [younger goddaughter], do you want it?”

the younger girl just shakes her head at me.

Me: “Maybe the animals want it. think we should let the deers have it?”

The older girl just grins and nods at the joke.

Me: “Okay, here you go deers”

I throw the banana peel hard into the woods. At this my goddaughter gives a little gasp of shock”

Goddaughter: “We don’t litter!”
Me: “Oh you’re right, you shouldn’t litter. But banana peels are biodegradable, that means instead of sticking around like trash it will turn into dirt and help the trees and plants grow. It’s okay to leave them here in the woods because they will help the woods grow instead of just making it dirty like trash would.
Goddaughter: “really?”
Me: “Yes I promise. That’s why we brought bananas and oranges for snacks today, because there won’t be any trashcans so I wanted to bring stuff that could be left in the woods without littering.

The discussion moved on to other things and I forgot about it all until later that evening when I, and the girls, had already returned home.

Goddaughter: “Mom, are banana’s trash?”
Mom: “No honey, their food.”
Goddaughter: “no not that part. The part you take off.”
Mom: “you mean the peel?”
Goddaughter: “Yeah”
Mom: “yes that’s trash.”
Goddaughter: “but does it make trees grow?”
Mom: (sounding confused) no, trees come from acorns and seeds”

At this my goddaughter looks at me with a hurt and disappointed look.

Goddaughter: “[my name] lied!”
Me: “Oh I promise I didn’t, I just think you’re mom didn’t know what you meant. Ask her if banana peels are biodegradable.”
mom: “Oh yes they are biodegradable. And you’re right [goddaughter] after they biodegrade they turn into stuff that is good for growing plants. You’re so smart.”
Goddaughter: (sounding uncertain): “so is it littering?”
Mom: “I don’t know what you mean.”
Me: “I think she means is it littering to throw biodegradable things into the woods”
Mom: “Oh no I guess it probably wouldn’t be, depending on where you throw it.”
Goddaughter: (now sounding revealed) “Oh good!”

Apparently my goddaughter had been worrying I was a filthy litterer for half the day, and was glad I turned out not to be.