19 2005 |
The Girls are summoned, front and center.
"We're missing bowls. There's only four bowls here, and there should be seven."
Allie interjects, "Destiny broke one -- that's six!"
"No," I correct, avoiding being dragged off topic, "there used to be eight, one broke, that leaves seven supposed to be in the kitchen."
D has the answer: "You ladies aren't supposed to be eating upstairs. Tomorrow you will both tear your rooms and closets apart until all the dishes come downstairs."
Both of the Ladies insist there's no dishes upstairs. The never take food upstairs -- how could there possibly be dishes up there? It's absurd, they insist, because there's no possibility of any dishes...
Three hours later, two bowls arrive -- one from our regular set of dishes, but also one of the 'odd' ones from pre-marriage. Also two spoons. "That's all!" they yell. "There are no more dishes or eating utensils upstairs! It's completely impossible!"
They're not off the hook, we warn. If the bowls aren't found, D and I will be the ones cleaning, and when that happened last summer nobody was happy. Least happy was the garbage-man, who had to lift 8 extra packed-full garbage bags from the curb.
"That's all!," Ladies yell, "You must have the dishes in the basement, or they have to be down here, or something -- but there's no dishes upstairs!"
Then another bowl appears, no spoon.
Then a fork appears.
"That's IT!," the grounded Girls insist, tired of spending TVless time in their rooms. "There's no possible way any more dishes are upstairs!" Destiny has a solution: "The last bowl has to be in the toybox you took to the basement." (the one taken down there last spring). We shake our heads.
We remind them that each time they insist dishes are not upstairs, more dishes appear. The process started three days ago; tonight, the children will yield to the cleaning powers of D and Derek. They will not be pleased.
Oops, sorry D&D, I have one of your bowls here. Mmmm... ice cream!!!
--Joel , 01/20/2005 11:34:50