My son has 5 stuffed dogs - I believe I've mentioned them at some point. All identical - and yet seemingly unique in their own way (at least to Nicholas). There's 'old' doggy and 'fresh' doggy. Who were then joined by 'original' doggy (because he was....although he was retired as a back up at one point...and the resurfaced when he was needed), 'classic' doggy....and then finally 'stale' doggy.
Why 5 dogs you ask? Why not! Good parents get back ups of their kid's favorite stuffed animal. We have 4 back ups....the stuffed doggies are an important park of my son's life....so we had to be covered off just in case. They were never intended to roam the house as a pack of wild dogs...but together they now are. So now we have to keep track of 5 doggies - which have since been discontinued.
And it's important to keep the continuity of the group. Very freaking important. They travel together, sleep together, hang out in the washing machine on occasion together...pretty much everything. These dogs (and my son) are inseparable.
For the most part.
Unless a scam is about to executed.
And the doggies are willing accomplices!
So how was I scammed?
At around 8:30 or so last night I went upstairs to let Nichols know that it was bed time in 10 minutes. He said ok.....and he had a dog with him at the time. Then - I went to his room to get things ready for him (pjs, etc.)...there were 4 doggies sitting on his pillow. So I'm in good shape. The kid has agreed to go to bed, the pjs have been selected....and all the mutts have been accounted for.
I retire to my man cave for about 10 minutes.
Upon my return upstairs - I find my son already in his pjs and quietly reading a book while sitting on the couch.
"Ready for bed little man?" I ask.
"Nope!" is the response.
"And why not?"
"Because a doggy is missing - and YOU need to find it. Right away!" he retorts.
"Well....where is it dude? I just saw you with it a few minutes ago?"
"I dunno"
"Really?"
"Yes really! And you HAVE to start looking. And while you take care of that...I'll just be sitting here reading my book. Please start looking daddy."
Something is not right about this. A missing doggy is usually cause for a call to 911. He seems oddly calm this time around. Something about this scene has me suspicious.....
"Ummmm Nicholas....did you hide the doggy?"
"Yep!"
"Where?"
"I dunno"
"Hmmmm.....as if dude."
My first thought is to say screw this dude...you know where the doggy is and if you want it badly enough you'll get it on your own....I don't have time for games.
But in reality? I do have time for games. Games are fun....and besides - if I can crack his scam this time...I might not be so easy to fool the next time around. We'll see.
"So where is the doggy dude?"
"I dunno"
"Am I hot or cold?"
"I dunno"
And so on and so forth for a few minutes.
"You look around daddy....I'm going to my room. I'm sure you can find him!"
My son retires, with book, to his room. He's humming to himself and thoroughly enjoying his mastery of the environment. That's a good thing - even at 8. And he gets so little of that at times...
Ok - so the doggy is not at eye level. Not at foot level - and not behind the couch cushions. It must be up. And indeed it was.
My son was somehow able to get soggy...or was it fresh doggy?...onto the very top of the Ikea Billy bookshelf...one of the tall ones with 6 shelves baby! I don't know if he used a chair, or if it was a good throw. I'm not sure...because the chair was put away (which he never does) and Nichols is not known for his pitching abilities - but he's getting pretty good with the soccer ball. :)
I retrieve doggy and enter my son's inner sanctum with doggy in hand.
"Oh good job daddy! You found fresh doggy! Now I will be able to sleep!" as he settles down in to bed while handing me a book.
He then puts his hand out without saying a word and just looks at me. I hand over the doggy.
"Thank you daddy."
"Your welcome Nicholas. How did you get him up onto the bookshelf?"
Silence.
"Nicholas?"
My son motions for me to come closer.
I bend over his bed - and he puts me in a head lock to whisper, "it's a secret. I love you. Good night!" in my ear.
"I love you too Nicholas"...and I take my cue and leave with a kiss on his forehead.
Good night dude. Good scam too!
