"I'm bored."
"An intelligent person should never be bored", said Brennan, without looking up from her laptop. "Use your imagination."
"My imagination isn't working today. I can't think of anything to do."
"Have you finished the reading you were supposed to do?"
"Yes."
"And all of your written work?"
"Uh huh."
"And you've picked up your toys?"
"Yes."
"And cleaned your room?"
"Yes. You can check it."
"I will", said Brennan, looking up from the keyboard, "even in the closet."
"Oh…."
"Have you worked on the foreign language drills on your computer?"
"Yes."
"You know, I can check that from my computer", said Brennan, typing again.
"Okay, maybe not all of them, but I promise I'll finish all of them before I go to bed tonight."
"Have you finished all your chores?"
"Yes. Everything's finished. Can I watch TV?"
"You're grounded from television. Do you remember why?"
"I used words that children aren't supposed to say."
"And?", said Brennan, looking up from her computer.
"I had a tantrum."
"What else?"
"I threw things."
"Are those acceptable behaviors to exhibit while watching television?"
"No…(with eye rolling and a sing song voice) those are not acceptable behaviors to exhibit while watching television. I've learned my lesson. I won't do those things again, I promise. If I do, you can ground me for 2 months. Please? Pretty please? It's my favorite show. I promise to be good…."
Brennan looked back down at her keyboard. "I don't know. Consistency is best when enforcing household rules. If I let you get away with things this time it might send the wrong signal about what is expected."
" Pleeeease?"
"Okay, Booth." She smiled indulgently. "I assume it's important because the Phillies are playing the Flyers in the Superball or something like that, right?"
"Close. Thanks, Bones!"