Too-Cute Objection

Too-Cute Objection

“Mo-ommy! I thought we were going to Miss Chrissy's and Mr. Kool's today?”

“That was the plan, Sweetie, but everything changed because Miss Chrissy is not feeling well. We will visit them another time. You can spend today getting ready to start first grade tomorrow, right? Are you all set? Excited?” Nora Conover bent down to give her son, Carlson, a hug.

“But I wanted to play with Mr. Kool one more time. When school starts we will both be too busy. He's gots lots of big kids to teach about space and I - I have lots of first grade things to learn. What are first grade things, Mommy?”

“Well, there will be letters and numbers, shapes and colors.”

“But I already learned all that, even before kintergarden. Why do I have to keep learning more of that? I don't wanna go to first grade.”

“You'll be able to read bigger words so can read more stories.”

“Does that mean I can read the books Mr. Kool writes?”

“Well, probably not yet. They're for older kids than you.”

“I can't wait to get older so I can read about his fantasies. Bet he makes up good adventures. We always go on adventures when I see him.”

“Tell me about some of the adventures you go on.”

“Oh, you know. I told you before whenever we did 'em.”

“Here, let's look at this calendar and you can remember the the good times you had on our visits there.”

“The first time I knew them is not here.”

“That's because that happened at the end of the year before. Right at Christmas time when you went to stay with your grandfather.”

“He went to live with Jesus so he could see Grandma again. I miss him a lot. But I did meet Miss Chrissy. We had fun going to her classroom to clean up sticky desks and make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. Could we do that, Mommy?”

“Let's remember that this next Christmas time.”

“When will that be?”

“That's what the calendar can show us.” Nora started flipping months. “Each page of a calendar is a month of the year. It starts with January when we have lots of snow.”

“So we can go sledding like Mr. Kool and I did on our first adventure. We went really fast on our flying space ship saucer. That was the best fun and he put me on his shoulders to carry me back up the hill to fly again.”

“Exactly.”

“But Mr. Kool kept the saucer to use for his space decorations. Think he still has it?”

“Probably. He'll want to take you again sometime.”

“But maybe I will be too big to ride on his shoulders in first grade.”

“He's pretty strong but you'll have to leave that decision up to him, okay?”

“What's next on the calendar?” Carlson scanned the pages looking for an X that meant a day they went to see their friends.

“Looks like in February you made a Valentine to take to Miss Chrissy. We visited there and I helped her polish up her story so it would be ready for publication.”

“You're always helping someone do some polishing. How shiny does a story have to be before it can be publi---before it can go on vacation?”

“Publication. It means the story can be made into a book ready to be sold to people who want to read it.”

“How do you know when it is ready?”

“It takes a lot of practice learning what people want to read. All the mistakes in the writing need to be found and corrected. That is my job to help the writers.”

“Why does Daddy have to manager you?”

“He makes sure I am not doing too much or too little at one time so everyone gets the very best book out to readers.”

“That must be a very hard job 'cause he's always too busy to go on adventures with me like Mr. Kool does. Where is Daddy now? We were going to go to a party. Can we make our own party? Can I make a get well card for Miss Chrissy? What's wrong with her, anyway? Is she going to be alright?”

“Whoa! Slow down. Let me see if I can answer all those questions. Daddy went out to get some supplies so we can do an end of summer party of our own. Maybe on the boat. If you want.”

“Yes, please. I wanna go on the boat but, now I am in first grade, do I still hafta wear that scratchy life vest?”

“Can you keep your head above water if you fell in? Yes, you still need your life vest, Son. We love you too much to risk losing you now you are in first grade.”

“So what good is being in first grade if I can't be more free? I object!”

“Objection over ruled. We still make the rules, Young Man.”

“Can I still make a get well card? I don't like it if Miss Chrissy is sick. What's wrong with her?”

“Of course, that is a great idea. Actually something wonderful is happening for Miss Chrissy and Mr. Kool. They are going to become parents.”

“Wait! You mean like you and Daddy are apparent to me?”

“Yes, we are your parents.”

“Does that mean Miss Chrissy swallowed a watermelon seed like Tommy's mommy did? Remember we saw them at the park and her belly was so big. Tommy said she swallowed a watermelon seed and he would soon be a big brother. If Daddy brings watermelon for our party will you swallow a seed? What if you swallow more than one? What if I swallow one! Is that how you became my Mommy? Or did Daddy swallow the seed? Sometimes I see other daddies that have big bellies. Is that where babies come from? Will Mr. Kool still have time to go on adventures with me if he has to be a parent to a new baby? Don't they take a lot of time to get big? I'm afraid I am going to have to object again.”