the princess and the giant (5.6.11)

“NO, don’t step there!”

I look down and see a little girl running toward me. On her head I see a little chain of daisies and in her hand is a stick. I recognize the costume as the garb of a royal princess, wielding a magic wand. The costume, I know, was made in a pinch, but the dignity with which she ran towards me was inspiring. I decide to play along with her game.

“Why not?” I ask.

“Because you can’t step over a castle wall, silly.”

“A giant can.”

“Yes,” she agrees with a smile, “a giant can.”

5.5.11-greasy grimy gopher guts

“What is that?” Charlotte asked, disgusted.

Her brother, Max had been busily working on a concoction all afternoon and six-year-old Charlotte’s curiosity finally got the best of her. She had been pretending to be a princess all day, but decided that even princesses need a break, so she ventured out of her castle to see what Max the prince was up to.

“This,” explained Max with a mischievous grin, “is delicious soup. It's made of great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts, mutilated monkey meat, little dirty birdy feet, and french-fired eyeballs.”

Charlotte began to cry.