The Right Letters
The scene begins at 7 pm last night. Dave, Dessa and I have been watching Mary Poppins, which is a pretty long movie, and now it's time for Dessa to go to bed. The movie isn't over yet, but since Dessa's never seen it before, we figure we're safe turning it off after "Chim-Chiminey" and telling her that all the chimney sweeps have gone home.
"Bert and his friends alllll went home to go nigh-night!" we chirp, hoping that our contrary toddler will agree that it would be good for her to join them in the pursuit of nigh-night. "Time for Dessa to go upstairs!"
"No!" Dessa replies. This is nothing new. We are deep in No Territory these days.
"Yep. Movie's over for tonight. You can see Mary Poppins some more tomorrow if you'd like," I assure her, girding myself for a fight. This following a bloodcurdlingly loud screaming hissy fit over tooth brushing just 20 minutes earlier.
"No, not over." Dessa is adamant, though not yet whiny.
"Sure it is," I tell her, gesturing to the television. "See? It's off. Let's head upstairs now."
"No, no," she says, almost reasonably. "I want to see the letters."
Perplexed, Dave says, "Letters? Your letters are right here." He points to her cloth baggie filled with magnetic letters, a recent acquisition that she very much enjoys.
"No." Dessa points to the now darkened television. "The letters on the T.V."
It takes me a second but then I think I know what she's referring to, though I'm pretty taken aback. "I think she means the credits," I tell Dave, who is looking at me in more than a little shock. I turn the T.V. back on and scan the DVD to the last chapter. When the end credits roll, I ask, "These letters?"
"Yeah," she nods, relaxing and watching closely. "I need the right letters."
Although I don't know what she means by this, I let her watch the credits so she's satisfied that the movie is actually over. Anything to get her to bed without screaming.
When the final credits come up, she points again and crows, "Oh there they are! Those the right letters!"
And what are the right letters, those magic letters that will satisfy this kid that it's really time for bed?
"The End", of course.
Posted by GoddessKristin on 08/25/09 at 02:41 PM [link] [No Comments - Be the first!]
