Most days I get by with uttering the same half dozen sentences or so. Have you done your homework? Food's on the table going cold! What did I come in here for? Do you have to poo in the garden? (this last to dogs, not kids, you'll be relieved to know).
It is always a joy to be able to utter a sentence that I've never used before. Even better if it's one that has probably never been produced EVER in the entire history of human evolution.
Like...
"We've left a tank in your pavilion."
Last Saturday, we gave Willl a remote-controlled tank that fires BB gun pellets* for his birthday. He was so pleased with it he took it to show his friend before band practice. Band practice takes place in the small sports pavilion in a nearby village. As we drove away at the end, we realised he'd left the tank inside. By the time we got back the band leaders had left and locked the pavilion.
Several e-mails and phone calls later, I tracked down the lovely elderly lady in the village who holds the key to the pavilion. This morning I called at her house and introduced myself with the above sentence. She looked puzzled for a moment, then took it in her stride! Armed with the key I retrieved the tank, which was still sitting on the table where it was left, among the weed-killer warning signs and beneath yellowing photos of local football teams of yesteryear.
* I know! I was determined I would never give toy weapons to my boys either. I soon realised I was fighting a losing battle.
What a fun read! I confess I was trying to imagine a roving tank shooting random bb pellets! ...in the hands of a boy... But I got the biggest kick out of your last sentence! We had a 6 y-o foster son years ago, and I decided we wouldn't have toy guns around...what a joke! I don't understand the fixation, but they come part and parcel with little boys I learned...
LOL Great story and it had me laughing which is always a good thing. I raised two boys with the same idea and they played army and GI Joe and shot guns with their dad and they are both fine upstanding citizens who are anti war like their mother.
Great story Helen and I'm familiar with all the statements you say except for the tank one ha! I did like your last sentence that had me chuckling but sooooo right!
great story. What a mom! My daughter is at that point with her four-year-old son. Mainly, now we stress the difference between toys and real weapons and that if he isn't sure, don't touch!
a remote control tank that fires bb pellets!!? I want one. They're not that polite about the weed killer are they, surely a please would have been nice.
"Oh not another one," key holder lady said with a sigh!! Bet Dad's eyeing up those warning signs! V funny, glad Will got his tank back, wonder where it'll end up next!
