Trains on the Brains

I’m in the kitchen cleaning up after snack after I told him Thomas the Tank was over and he should play. But he had other thoughts, and around the corner, he pops, sliding up next to me. Thomas the Tank Engine DVD proudly displayed in his left hand and a quick tug on my shirt with the right. I was gonna dash that cherubs smirk and cool those bright blue eyes to get my work done, and I did, or so I thought. It didn’t take long for the little angel to return, only to be turned down again. On the third try, this little two-year-old wasn’t going down without a fight. He knew that begging wasn’t gonna cut it. He put on his thinking cap, changed his approach to suit the objections, and roused as much happiness as his heart could share. With the most spring in his step, he bounded a few steps towards me, exclaiming in a sing-song tone, “Percys Chocolate Cruuunch Momma!! How ‘bout this one?”…. He holds it in those little sausage fingers with one hand. Moving it up close to his face, the other hand swirls straight to it with a spiraling pointing finger, touching the title while the grin the pointed finger passes changes in both depth and breadth to a great big toothy but soundless ingratiating wide grin. Like a sprite, he poses, then darts to the sofa springs his body upon the center cushion, scooches his bottom back, feet dangling at the edge. …. “Thomas the Tank Engine Momma, Come-On!!! Should it be FUN!!?” While hitting all the high notes of the last hard sell, he pats the empty sofa cushion next to him and beckons with excited body shimmies and an exclamation point inviting wave.

It’s been fun ever since! Starting a new chapter and headed to a college with a train for a mascot! Boiler Up!