DadaMama: When Krakens Duel

November 12, 2006

When Krakens Duel

I bring you this story in leiu of the promised whining video, which I have not yet had a chance to upload onto my computer.

The drive to our friends' house this weekend took about two hours. During this two hours, Gus talked incessantly. He periodically interrupted his diatribe to ask, "are we there yet?" When I say periodically, I mean every five minutes. Or maybe every three, it's hard to tell when you're GOING INSANE.

In a desperate attempt to distract the child, I asked him if he'd brought his (imaginary) baby kraken. When Gus replied that he had brought Krakeny (kraken-ee, that imaginary creature's ever-so-fitting imaginary name), I suggested that perhaps the wee kraken would like to hear a story.

"No," Gus said, "Krakeny is crying for some milk. He just doesn't want to hear a story."

But because I was once a gifted student who willingly participated in such events as science research, Odyssey of the Mind AND Science Olympiad, I refused (in my head) to give up so easily. I could out-imagine this boy, and I was about to prove it.

"Gus," I replied, "did you know I have a baby kraken, too? He's purple and his name is Joseph."

"Krakeny is just black," said Gus, in a feeble attempt to knock me off my game.

"Well, Joseph is best friends with Krakeny, and he told me that Krakeny likes to hear a story while he drinks his milk."

I had him now. Even a three-year-old know-it-all cannot dispute the word of the imaginary baby kraken's best imaginary friend.

"Well," said Gus, "I think Krakeny would just like to hear a story about Santa Claus." The child then launched into a lengthy tale of Santa and Spiderman. This occupied him for a good fifteen minutes, making the drive somewhat less painful. If only I'd remembered to bring earplugs!

Nov 12, 2006 7:58:17 PM | Yer Killin' Me, Smalls