Monday, October 4, 2010

Metaphors and Idioms

Equipped with heaps of new stickers, stamps, and art supplies, I said, "Boys, would you like to make a poster today? Something new to put in your room?"

"Oh, yes. I want to make a poster. And what is a poster?"

"A poster is a big picture you can hang on your wall. You can decorate it anyway you want. Stickers, stamps, markers, the whole deal. You can go to town."

"But will you go to the town too?" Tyler asked.

"Well, it's not a real town. I didn't mean we were going anywhere. That just means have a good time. 'Go to town' means have so much fun."

"But I don't want you to go to the town without us."

"Right. I won't. I just meant have a good time."

"But you're going to go to the town and have fun? Can't we come?"

For crying out loud. (And he was quite nearly doing just that. The whole plan was lost on him, as far gone as the matter of the idiom.)

"Let's start over. Wanna make a poster? Let's do it. It'll be fun."

2 comments:

Alli said...

I have a thing or two to say about this.

First: something about a camel breaking a monkey's back.

Second: these boys know how to tug at my heartstrings. (There aren't real strings on my heart though.)

Mindy Wilkerson said...

Oh this opens up a whole new can of monkeys. Tricia, don't go to town without the boys. That'll be the melon that broke the shoed camel's back for sure.