Crumpled Home

(while reading a bedtime story)

Dad: … “It’s that nickel I found, only it isn’t a nickel! It’s a magic charm…” … Hang on guys, do you know what a nickel is?

LR & RJ: Yeeeesssss…

Dad: LR, what do you think it is?

LR: It’s a type of metal, right?

Dad: That’s right. But it’s also one of these… RJ, any ideas?

RJ: (confidently) It’s kind of a small metal tooth — very detailed.

Dad: Uhhh… What?! Nevermind.
It’s a 5 cent coin from America. They used to make them out of nickel because it’s hard and stays shiny.

RJ & LR: Ohhhh!!!

(while eating dinner)

RJ: Daa-aad. Can I tell you something?

Dad: Sure mate. What is it?

RJ: Do you know Mister Sippy?

Dad: Uhhh… No?

RJ: It’s very far away. It’s a huge river.

Mum: That’s Mississippi, RJ. It’s in America.

Dad: Mrs. Sippy is Mr. Sippy’s wife.

LR: M… I… S S I… S S I… P P I… S S I…

Dad: No… She was someone else all together.

LR: Mom, I can’t sleep on planes.

Mom: Sure you can. We’ll bring you a nice pillow. You’ll be fine. You fit in the seat perfectly.

LR: No. I just can’t sleep on planes. Can I stay awake the whole way to America?

Mom: It’s a very long way. It’s going to take us a full day and night to get there. I don’t think staying awake is a good idea.

LR: Well, I’m going to need a really good pillow and to lay flat then.

(In the back of the car, listening to nursery rhymes)

Music: Little Tommy tucker
Sings for his supper
What shall we give him?
Brown bread and butter.
How shall he cut it without any knife
And how shall he marry without any wife?

LR: I know! He can go to America and marry a boy there if he wants to!

Mom restrained herself from commenting that he can only marry a boy in some states.