September Utterances

Scene: The Preschool. J has just entered to pick up A.

A (running to J): "J! J! Today I learned to use my words and not hit people with a shovel!"

(pause to imagine Tweety/Sylvester shovel source material)

Teacher (responding to J's stricken look): "We had a great day."

---

Scene: Early morning at home. M is packing the car for an early-morning hike. A is being an over-energetic, rude, and slightly destructive pain in the rear.


J: "C'mon. Put on your shoes. Come with me."

(the shodding commenced, they head outside.)

J (sitting down on a patio chair): "Do you think you can run around the cherry tree six times?"

A (runs across backyard to tree): "Let's see... one... two... [...] ...six!"

J: "Do you think you could do seven?"

A: "I'm going to do all the numbers!" (jump-skips around tree)

J (leaning back in chair): "OK. I'll count."

(time passes)

J: "Twenty six..."

A (panting): "I'm getting tired. How many numbers are there after twenty-six?"

J (carefully not smiling): "Ooh. There's a few -- keep running!"

A (more determined): "I'm going to do them all."

J: "Do you think you can do thirty?"

(more time passes, A is sort of walk-hopping)

J: "Wow, buddy! You made it to forty! That's great!"

A (walking away from tree): "I (pant) think I (pant) need some water..."