Dear Marshall,
When you want something (a cookie, a TV show, etc.), you try to convince us by saying, “One!” As if we couldn’t possibly refuse such a small, reasonable request! When we give you what you want, you smile and accept your treat. It’s never enough, though. When you’re done with it, you come back and say, “One!” And if we ignore your request, you repeat it over and over again, each time a little louder and poutier—“One! ONE! ONNNNNNNNNE!”
At night when it’s time for bed, I tell you to grab one book to read. You start stacking a bunch of books. So I say, “One!” You pick up the stack, which takes a while because a couple of them try to slide out. “That’s six, Marshall. I said, ‘One.’ We’re only going to read one!” You ignore me and take your stack over to the bed. “ONE! ONE! ONE!” I say. You sit down and pick out the first book for me to read to you. “ONE!” I say one last time, then sit down and read six.
Love,
Mom