"This question is for Amanda," my son Doug said pointedly.
He frowned at his little brother, Joey. "And only Amanda."
We were playing What if? Have you ever played that game?
One person makes up an emergency situation, and another person has to guess
how to handle it. It's great training and great fun. Doug was ten. He was
also very smart, so everyone expected him to get the answers right. Amanda
was eight, and ditto. But Joey was only four. I was thrilled at how well
he was doing.
"You know how Dad is always leaving his hammer somewhere and then he
can't find it?" Doug was asking.
Amanda nodded. So did little Joey. So did I. We all knew that
one!
"What if Dad left his hammer on the top step of the ladder and it fell
down and hit him on the head and knocked him out cold? What would you
do?"
"Dial 911," Amanda screamed happily.
"Dial 911," Joey screamed happily along with her.
"Joey," Amanda whined. "You're supposed to wait for your turn." She
sighed heavily. "This one's for you, Mom. And
only Mom," she glared warningly at Joey. "What would you do
if the stove caught fire, and you couldn't get to the fire extinguisher because
you'd left it too close to the stove?"
"Dial 911," I yelled. Too easy.
"Dial 911," Joey yelled along with me. I gave him a hug.
Amanda whined, "Make him stop, Mom."
"He's only four," I said excusingly.
Make him stop? Not hardly. I was thrilled that Joey had learned about
911 so quickly. Being able to summon help can save your life - or mine. It's
important to know how to call for help when you need it! I gave Joey another
hug, then turned my attention to my elder son.
"This question is for Doug," I said. "What would you do if a stranger
drove up and asked you to help him find his lost little puppy?"
"Dial 911!" Doug yelled. (You never get too old for this game.)
"Dial 911!" Joey screamed. He bounced up and down excitedly. The people
who lived two houses down had a new puppy.
Doug's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "This question is for Joey. And
only Joey."
Joey sat up proudly.
"What would you do," Doug asked carefully, "if you and Mom were home
alone, and suddenly Mom yelled Put that down! What would you
do?"
"Dial 911," screamed Joey.
"And how would you do that, Joey?" my incredibly smart son asked.
"How would you dial 911?"
Joey thought it over. He chewed his lip. He thought about it some more.
It was obvious. He had not a clue.
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