“The secret of poetry is never explained...In every house a child that in mere play utters oracles, & knows not that they are such.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Players
Mark: Age 2 1/2; Unwilling to eat delicious dinner of teriyaki chicken and rice; Upset because he is not allowed to bring his favorite stuffed doggie to the dinner table; Distraught and crying alligator tears
Lisa: Mother of Mark; Fixer of delicious dinner, Taker of stuffed doggie; Prepared to let her youngest son sit at table until he eats; Tired and fed up, not crying
Jeff: Father of Mark, Husband of Lisa; Willing eater of dinner; Tired of hearing son cry; Worn down and weak in the face of so much emotion
The Scene:
Lisa: Markie, you need to eat your dinner
Mark (sobbing): I no like it. Is yucky.
Lisa: You didn't even taste it. It's good. You like rice.
Mark (still crying): No, is yucky.
Jeff: Mark, please stop crying. What do you want to eat?
Mark (sniffling): I want chicken nuggets.
Jeff: Would chicken nuggets taste good to you?
Mark: Yes, Daddy, chicken nuggets in my bowl are like a diamond in the sky.
How can you argue with that?
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