Mind tricks

This afternoon in the school room I laughed right out loud following these events recorded just as they occurred.

I entered the bright school room, which is now, thanks to my dad, freshly painted, with a great big bookshelf along one wall, laden with antique leather bound volumes, and the school desks line up in front of the windows. The entire air of the room is wholly inspiring: the sunshine coming in, unhindered by blinds or curtains, bookshelves to the right and left, bright yellow paint on the walls and white trim. Jonathan sat at his desk thumbing through his World History volume, pausing here and there to take notes with a dutiful air. I stood and observed him for a moment, with a book in my hand.

"What are you reading?" Jonathan asked as he looked up. "Pavlov," was the answer. "I've decided that in order to insure positive results in my parenting style, I should turn to mind control." Jonathan grinned broadly and replied," The Jedi teach us that only the weak minded are influenced by mind control. I would say Caroline will prove your most responsive subject."

Sick kids

Late yesterday afternoon Caroline came crying to the top of the stairs. I was, of course as you may have guessed, seated at my desk working on the computer. Caroline said as she came down," I just threw up!" I considered that momentarily and then asked," Did you reach the toilet?" to which she responded," Yes."

I was relieved. "Well, then, congratulations, you just earned $2." Caroline seemed to brighten up considerably. I continued," Would you like it now or later?" The tears were gone now. "I'll take it now, please," she said with a hint of a smile. A good Capitalist can appreciate money even when throwing up.

This morning I had to forego going to the Capitol because Caroline is still quite sick, and now Gabriel has a fever and mopey disposition. Jonathan decided at 10:30am that he needed a snack. So he started munching pistachios at the counter. "Hand me that bag," I ordered, still typing rapidly. "What's the magic word?" He replied not moving from the counter. "Give them to me now or I'll kick you in the shins," came my ready response. "When someone asks that nicely, how can you refuse them?" He said to no one in particular handing me the bag. It occurred to me that Lucy and Linus had a similar conversation once upon a time concerning a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Yikes! I was Lucy.