My Son, Questioner Extraordinnaire
If you have a hankering to play 20 Questions, you are welcome to come to my house any time. My son is a genius at this game! He is three. Very three, and very good at this game. Allow me to illustrate.
Him: “Mom, what that man doing over there? How he get up there?”
Me: “I don’t know. Maybe he climbed.”
Him: “But he don’t got a ladder. How he get up there, mom?”
Me: “Maybe a cherry-picker helped him get up there.”
Him: “No! That not right! Mom!”
Not knowing is not an option. Nor is guessing. You. Must. Know. The. Correct. Answer. When all else fails, I recommend a diversion tactic, like saying “Ooh! There’s a John Deere tractor!”
Him: “Mom. What dad doing?”
Me: “He’s driving, and sitting right beside me.”
Him: “But what he doing now?”
Me: “He’s stopping at a red light. Why don’t you ask him?”
Him: “No! You! Why there a red light here?”
To play, you might have to wear a curly brunette wig and mimic my voice because he only really likes to play this game with me.
Him: “Mom?”
Me: “Yes?”
Him: “Mom!?”
Me: “Yes honey!?”
Him: “Mom! What do yellow and blue make?”
Me: “Green.”
Him: “No! Super yellow!”
Me: “Oh right. I forgot.”
You have to be able to concede that even if you know the answer, you may not know the answer. Be one with the universe. There is no there there. Knowing is only half the battle.
Him {dressing himself}: “Mom, close your eyes and cover them like this!”
Me: “OK.” (closes eyes)
Him: “Mom, this right?”
Me: “I don’t know. My eyes are closed.”
Him {cry-whining}: “Can you help me?”
Me: “Sure! {Proceeds to help get his arm out of the head hole.}
Him: “No, Mom, cover your eyes!”
Finally, you have to be able to know those things which are not possible for you to know.
Now that I’ve whetted your appetite, any takers on a game of 20 Questions? I’ll even throw in a bottle of wine – you’ll need it afterwards!
About Mary Beth Cox
