language gap

I was pointing out a gap between the top storm window and the library window frame, a gap that was letting in some of the snow that's still falling from our most recent winter storm.

Benjamin came into the library and said, "'I hate gaps!' he said angrily."

After we had suppressed our laughter, I said, "He said it angrily, did he?"

Benjamin: "Yes, he did."

Me: "Why did he say it angrily?"

Benjamin: "Because I'm angry about the gap."

Me: "Oh, I see."

Benjamin: "What's a gap?"

symbolism

Benjamin showed me a picture from his Peter Pan book. "What's this, papa?"

Me: "I don't know."

Benj: "But what do you think it is?"

Me: "I think it's probably the bottle of poison Captain Hook uses to try to kill Peter Pan."

Benj: "Why is there a skull in it?"

Me: "The skull isn't really there. It just represents death."

Later, Benjamin showed me the cover of Good Night Goon:



Benjamin: "Why is there a brain in that room?"

Me: "I don't know."

Benjamin: "Maybe it represents 'scary'..."

misapprehension

This afternoon, I found Benjamin, dressed as a pirate, sword fighting with his mother, dressed as a shark.

I said, "I didn't know sharks could fence."

Nathalie, dressed like a shark: "No, I'm Captain Hook."

Me: "Captain Hook with a shark's head?"

Benjamin, dressed like a pirate: "She's disguised for Halloween!"

Me, to Benjamin: "So if she's Captain Hook, who are you?"

Benjamin, dressed like a pirate: "I'm Fido Flip-flop [a circus dog from Uncle Wiggily's Adventures]. I'm just disguised as a pirate for Halloween."

I didn't bother asking how a circus-dog-dressed-like-a-pirate could hold his own in a sword fight with Captain Hook.

Postscript: After hearing me read this post to his mother, Benjamin corrected me: "We weren't really fighting!"