Emily Paine Carter

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"Write about me! Everyone else in my family has been in the paper!"

The kid persisted.

"Hmmm. ... " I hesitated -- although the boy's enthusiasm was captivating. But I started quizzing him, while trying not to sound like the hookah-puffing caterpillar in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

"Who are you?"

"Alex Tainer. Can I be in the paper? When?"

Alex was stationed at the Bloomin' Buds stall at the Salem Farmers Market.

The friendly 11-year-old said that he started helping out with the vendor this past spring, when his mom, Meg Tainer, came frequently to buy "much stuff. ... Sometimes she helps at the market, too. We came here a lot when my sister was at Roanoke College." His sister, Bridgett, is now 24 and a Washington & Lee law student.

Young Alex helps at the Bloomin' Buds market stall and helps tend and pick tomatoes, beans and berries on the vendor's land in Fincastle and Bedford.

(But he doesn't like tomatoes -- just the growing and tending.)

I also learned that Alex knows several vendors well, especially Coy Shupe and David Hodges -- both of whom sell exquisite honey from their local beehives at the busy Salem venue. (David's dad also has a Roanoke City Market stand.)

The young market assistant said he's the youngest of five kids, which also include Erin, 23; Molly, 22; and Peter, 13. Responsibility makes him seem older -- although he's also playful.

And, justifiably, he bragged a bit about his dad, Thomas, an electrical engineer for T-MEIC-GE: "He makes brains for robots; did you see that story in the paper?"

Either his mom or dad delivers Alex to the market, where he helps from 6:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m. on Saturdays when school is in session. He works all week in the summer.

And not only is Alex refreshingly, openly enthusiastic about his family, but he also really, really likes attending Community School, where he's in the sixth grade -- "No, no favorite subject. I like them all!"

OK, he was less enthusiastic about his two and a half years of home-schooling just before switching to Community last year. He added that before his family's move to Botetourt County, he attended Cave Spring Elementary School, where he was in the choir.

He happily listed "many activities" he's enjoyed at Community: Being part of "People of Peace, helping the community -- like serving meals at RAM House." Going with the whole middle school ("just 45 of us") to see Mill Mountain Theatre's "Lord of the Flies."

And, for exercise, when he isn't helping farmers, Alex appreciates Hollins University letting Community students use its grounds.

Why, I'm glad this well-rounded lad spoke up.