Pumpkins

The other night - a feverish little 6-year-old climbed into bed with Paul and I to watch television.

A quick tangent - did you know it is not a great idea to have a TV in your bedroom? Apparently it's bad for your marriage. Paul and I didn't have one in our bedroom for about a year and then - damn it! He bought this awesome umpteen-inch flat screen with high definition. (pause)  I think as long as you have one like that in your bedroom, it's fine for your marriage. 

So, Ethan crawls in and we watch one of his favorite channels - The Food Network. It's airing one of the "challenges" - and it is a pumpkin carving contest.

Ethan: Is that cake?

Paul: No. It's a pumpkin.

Ethan: But is it a cake?

Paul: No, it's a pumpkin.

pause

Ethan: So it's a cake.

Paul: Ethan. No. It's a pumpkin. They are carving a pumpkin.

Ethan: Cake?

Paul (laughing) No Ethan! A pumpkin! Not a cake - a pumpkin!

pause

Ethan: I knowed - but is it a cake?

Oh. My. God. Seriously? 

Me: No Ethan. You know how last year at Halloween we got pumpkins and we cut the top off and scooped out the insides and made a face on it and put a candle in it?

Ethan: Yeah.

Me: That is what they are doing! They are making jack-o-lanterns!

pause

Ethan: Oh!

pause

Ethan: So...

pause

Ethan: It's not a cake?


It must be the fever. Please - let it be the fever.