Ash Wednesday with Thing 2

Oh my...it's only 9:42, and we're already having Ash Wednesday issues.

Denominationally, I'm Baptist. I am so much more than that, but I get my understandings and traditions from the Baptist teachings. So, even though I participate in Lent, I am still a little new to the customs and traditions surrounding it.

Today, Thing 2 comes into my room and as we're working together, I notice a smudge on his forehead. It's not shaped in the cross, but my friend Kim the New Greek Orthodox says that sometimes they don't Cross you, they just Smudge you. Okay...

So I ask Thing 2, "did you go to church this morning?" He says rather uncertainly, "yes?"
"I can't tell if that's dirt on your forehead or ashes. Did you have a priest put ashes on your forehead, or is that just dirt?"
"um, it's ashes" He says with the glimmer in his eye. At this point, I still believe him. I'm going about my business when he mischievously shows me his hand. It is also covered with "ashes". At this point, he reveals that he hasn't been to church, he's just got marker all over his hands. So, I do what any other teacher would do...lick my finger and wipe his forehead off. That'll teach him to play tricks on me!

He and I are also working on his biography, of George Washington. His interesting fact for the day:
"George Washington grew up..."
t2: on a farm
me: where?
t2: I don't know
me: on Mount...
t2: Everest.