You guess the kid....

"Breakfast is ready," his mother called and the troop came into the dining room with the usual accompaniment of knocked chairs, half hearted arguments, clattered noises thrown together softly enough that mom stayed out of it.

It wasn't much, buttered cinnamon toast on a square of waxed paper and a glass of orange juice. He strolled into the kitchen in underwear. "Good grief, where are your clothes? Go put on your clothes," mom rolled her eyes. He ignored her and sat at the table munching his toast and looking around actively for any opportunity to stir up trouble. She didn't really notice being busy with her coffee and book.

Then she remembered, when breakfast was done and the dining room empty, littered with meal debris. "Go get dressed and then get the math flash cards out of my car door and bring them to me." He trotted upstairs enthusiastically, tripping on the third step, swinging round the half landing on the banister, and hopping up the remaining steps two at a time. A few squeals accompanied his progressive trot across the hall from siblings passed along the way and antagonized in the expected hasty, habitual manner. They practically squealed in anticipation of what would come with his approach.

A short time later he was out the door to retrieve the flash cards. He burst back into the house, tripped and fell scattering flash cards all over. His mother rolled her eyes and went back to her book. He collected himself and his cards. She accepted the cards silently and looked him over. His collar was tucked under the shirt, the buttons crookedly joined, his eyes were bright and his grin was broad.

"How do you manage to put your shirt on like this everyday?" She asked while fixing it, and then started on the flash cards. He enthusiastically fired out the answers only occasionally pausing to search for the right answer. At the end he spontaneously threw his arms around his mother nearly upsetting the coffee cup. " I love you!" he said exuberantly and planted a damp kiss on her cheek.

And you wonder why he's her favorite.