Three years old

Nini there was a rocketship and in it there were some dogs doing things in there and it went high up in the sky and sonic with flames and you should see it there. See it? Nini? There's also birds here shabbed in the carpet with wings and beaks and it's way in there if you can just see their beaks. They are shabbed in there. Nini?

What does shabbed mean, Liam?

Oh well you get shabbed when you are flying high in the sky and you fly through the carpet and you just get shabbed in there. See? These birds are shabbed in there.

Does shabbed mean stuck?

No no no no, Nini. No they are shabbed. Right in there. See what they are doing in their with beaks and wings?

... shabbing?

No no no no, Nini, they are shabbed. Right in there. Take a look and see how they are doing in there.

...

Shabbed.

Shabbed. Oh Nini here I got this for you.





Thank you, Liam. How is this? Is this also shabbed?


No no no no, Nini. Only birds and rocketship dogs can get shabbed up in the carpet there.


(He pauses to regard the tiny flower).


How you doing, Nini?


Liam, I am a little bit shabbed.


No no no no, Nini, you can't get shabbed. You are a person.

Really?

Yeah yeah you are. Whole person, no beaks or wings.

I beg to differ.

Nini you can't get shabbed.

Then why can't I get off this carpet. I am stuck to it. I can't get up.

You can Nini you just have to try it.

No no no no Liam. I am shabbed. In the carpet.


(Liam pauses to consider).

Put your flower down. I'll be right back!

(Liam disappears into the living room. Less than a minute later he returns, wearing a plastic tool belt and a fireman hat. He is carrying a toy fork lift.

Let's try this so we can ride bikes. You go onto this forklight and then you won't be shabbed. Put down your flower. And go on this forklift.



And so I permitted myself to be rescued from the carpet shabbery so I could ride bikes.


And that was my weekend. How was yours?