The next night I learned from a neighbor that Cameron once showed up on her doorstep with the boa constrictor wrapped around his arm.
The following day I sat Jack down for a serious talk.
"Jack, you know that your friend Cameron is always welcome in our home, right? But you have to know that your friend Cameron with a boa constrictor wrapped around his arm is not welcome in our home."
This statement of mine didn't really come as any surprise as Jack. Roger and I have had a long-term understanding that snakes are not welcome in our home. (I choose to ignore their addendum "that you know of." I know they love me and will always respect my wishes on this point. Right?!)
Anyway, as soon as I laid down the law I saw Jack's wheels turning. I saw that gleam in his eyes. I smelled a rat.
"I'm coming up with lots of loopholes, Mom."
I'm sure.
"What if the snake is wrapped around my arm? What if Cameron is carrying the snake on a board? What if . . ."
"What if we talk about the spirit of the law?" After all, a boy who is smart enough to know about loopholes is smart enough to wrap his brain around that concept. Right?!
3 comments:
Oh my GOODNESS!! That so sounds like one of my boys. There will never (and yes, I've cursed myself my saying never) be a pet snake in my home. Not only can I not deal with snakes, I cannot deal with the food that feeds them. Yuck!
I'd say that's some good parenting right there. Spirit of the law, an important concept. No snakes, a vital rule.
I'm with you.
And you have a kid that is way too smart. Good luck with that.
Oooh, the interpretation of law is a slippery slope, ins't it? Good luck closing the loop holes until they are too small for that snake to slither through. :)
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