Exponential Petticoat Junction

Summer has begun and the windows in our neighborhood are open. Sam awakes in the morning to the random giggles and cries of the girls next door. He climbs out of his crib, runs to the window and in his best Marlon Brando circa Street Car Named Desire yells, “E-l-l-l-l-l-l-l--a.” He screams for her as if this is the very acme of his adventure and in order to get the girl (who actually is the “girl next door”), he must divulge the depths of his love and despair. And then he repeats this performance after his nap.

We live next door to three of the prettiest little girls—Cassidy, Ella and Sophia. Next door to them live three more girls.

Not to dismiss the girls' merits, but as a Once-Upon-a-Time-English-Major I can’t help but notice that we are living in the classic fairy tale plot of the three sisters. They are challenged by beasts, enchanted forests, and their other sisters to meet their true love. I just didn't think this sort of fairy tale behavior would start so early.

The other day, I caught him trying to climb the fence.

Dave insists that the girls are encouraging him. He says he saw Ella swing open their side door, look up to our 2nd story window and in a hushed voice repeat, “Sam” until he ran to greet her. But who wouldn’t want a boy yelling your name over the rooftops?

And Ella, What a gal! She’s three and sassy and full of her own self--a regular heroine in the making.

This morning (7/31) I woke up to Sam talking out his bedroom window to Ella. She was in her bathroom. They happily chatted through the screens. I joined them. Ella preceded to show and tell the contents of her purse, piece by piece and mostly to me. In response, Sam reached up to my face, put his hand on my cheek and said ever so gently, "Mom, Go away."

There are four new posts so keep on scrollin'