A Conversation

Me: “Jack, did you drink some of my coke?”

Jack: “Yes.”

Me: “Why did you do that? You know the rules. How old are you?”

Jack: “Three!”

Me: “Yes, and you can have coke when you’re eight.”

Jack: “I did ate.”

Me: “What? No, I mean when you’re eight years old.”

Jack: “Oh, okay. I eat now. How ‘bout banana? And then coke.”

Me: “How ‘bout no.”

Jack: “Why not?”

Me: “How old are you?”

Jack: “Three!”

Me: “Three is not the same as eight. You can have coke when you’re eight.”

Jack: “Mommy, I did ate!”

Me (to myself): “’Could this go on all day and night? It could, you know, and it just might.’”