Can I Touch Him?

This is not the first time I've gotten this question, but it still never amazes me that people would ask it. Today me and Bennet were at Jason's Deli grabbing a quick bite when a woman sitting next to him goes to leave and walks up and says:

Stranger: Can I touch him?

Me: What?

Stranger: Can I touch him? (she says it again this time more enthusiastically)

Me: Ummmm, well, (I stutter a bit trying to think of a nice way to put it), No he doesn't like to be touched
(I know, I could have gone with, no he's shy, no he's sick very very sick, but that's what came out, just a plain no)

Now, I know she was just curious but seriously. Bennet is not some kind of pet, to be touched and stared at, he's a little boy. A little boy that had a grilled cheese stuffed in his mouth. A little boy that really doesn't like to be touched by strange people, well maybe just the little boy of a mom that doesn't like him to be touched by strange people. And please don't forget this is coming for a woman that hates to be touched by strangers, remember my hate of doctors, even facials sometimes! I hated that about being pregnant, people always wanting to touch as if it wasn't even my belly anymore, just there for the public to touch! Anyways, I always get a laugh about that question, people so badly wanting to know what his hair feels like, its just hair people! I sometimes forget that Bennet is black and that he looks at bit different than the rest of us in our family so sometimes when people ask things like that it takes a second to register why they might be interested. People never ask to touch Ella, they should, she has great hair!