17 June 2010

A conversation between M- and D-: You gotta watch out for those zombie ground squirrels

The following is part of a Monty-Python-esque conversation my 6-year-old son D- and 3-year-old daughter M- had today with their noses pressed against the patio doors, watching the frolicking of the new litter born to our thirteen-lined ground squirrel friends "Nibble Purple" and "Sunflower Stripehead".*

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of asking my wife aloud if a little thing near them in the grass was a dead sibling. The flies shortly confirmed this suspicion, and the kids then became intensely focused on this one instead of all the unbearably cute and very alive ones.

M- (trying desperately to find it): Is that the dead one?

D- (patiently): No, it's the one that's not moving.

M-: Is that one it? ...No, it's moving. ...Is that one it? No, it's moving, too.

D- (authoritatively): All the ones that are moving are dead.

M- (buying it, but just trying to make sure she has it straight): All the ones that are moving are dead?

D- (as if she misheard him): No, all the ones that are moving are NOT dead-- they're alive. All the ones that are NOT moving are dead.

M-: Oh.



* Guess who named them.

8 comments:

Deb said...

I'd make sure that dead one is still there in the morning. I've seen the chipmunks chew through plastic garbage cans in these parts. I don't want to think about what a zombie chipmunk is capable of doing.

I dig your son's attempt at using authority to cover his error. My husband still does that.

Father Knows (Travis) Best said...

If you convince yourself something is true, then it is.

unmitigated me said...

I'm so proud that you know the difference between chipmunks and 13 line ground squirrels!

Mary said...

Wow, that really clears it up.

Irrational Dad said...

WHAT is your favorite color?

Dawn said...

yep... clear as mud.

Jacobus Gideon Hanekom said...
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Rolly said...
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