"Rea, honey, dinner's ready. Want to come eat?" I told my little charge from the doorway of her playroom. Sitting at her play table, she was once again dressed up in yet another comical outfit that would make the most amateur of fashion designers repulse in horror. It consisted of her mother's old crimson cocktail dress, a pair of powder blue plastic Cinderella slippers, and a hot pink feather scarf.
"Me and Puby already had dinner. So has miss sparkle, princess blue, and queen Lulu."She looked at Puby (her old stuffed pig), and her other dolls. "Yes, and they say they're full. I so too." (She has a habit of putting "so" where it doesn't belong.) "Well, what did the four of you have for dinner?" ' I ask, playing along. " We had cupcakes, and cookies and- and we had tea too. Lots and lots an-and lots of tea," She says, holding up the plastic teapot. "Rea, sweetie," I say, walking over to her play table and crouching down to her eye level, that's lovely but now it's time to put away your toys and have a real dinner. "One that you can really bite into and it won't hurt your teeth," I say, pointing to the plastic cupcakes.
"But- but I don't wanna." Rea says, crossing her arms and making a pouty face. "Rea," I say, lowering my tone of voice now. "It's time to have dinner. You can play again after you're finished eating" I said. Rea replies, lowering her tone and increasing her volume "I said don't wanna!" "Well, I say, looking disappointed. "If I can't get you to come eat, I guess you'll have to get a visit from – THE TICKLE MOSTER! " I yell tickling her until she laughs out loud. Between giggles she says "okokokok, I'll come eat! I'll come eat!" "Good." I say standing up. "It Looks like the tickle monster's work here is done. "
I help her out of her "princess costume" and we go into the dining room where I plate her Costa Rican brown rice, steamed organic carrots and grilled free range chicken cutlets. After I set it down in front of her, I open the fridge and ask her what she wants to drink. "I want juice. Juicy juicy juicy juice." "Rea, you've already had juice twice today. Remember the rule?" "I know" she replies, although she sounds sorrowful at the loss of juice she could have had." "Its Milk or water, Rea." "Milk!" she replies, her mouth full of rice.
As I am opening the box of almond milk and getting a kid-proof cup, Rea's infamous mother walks into the kitchen wearing an emerald green evening gown, peach- colored pumps, and diamond jewelry. "Traci, I prefer that you call Alexandrea by her full name. This is not the first time I have had to ask you to do so." She says, giving me a cold, aloof look. "Yes, Mrs. Thornes, I apologize. It won't happen again". "It had better not, otherwise I'll have deduct it out of your salary'. Really?! Just for calling her a nickname? It's not my fault your child's name is a mile long! "Anyhow,I am going out for an evening with friends. We are going out to dinner and then to the Opera. I'll likely be back quite late, so don't bother to wait up for me. " Yeah. Like I am the one who'll want to wait up for you. "You look like a princess, says, smiling up at her mother lovingly. "Alexandrea, dear, don't speak with food in your mouth."
After walking halfway out the door she turns around and adds "Thank you, dear. You look like a princess in that dress as well" she puts on a forced smile, although it probably looks like a genuine one to Rea.
