“I want an apple!” Joy says at breakfast in Suzy’s and my home.
“Sure thing, sweet–” Suzy begins, but Justin raises a hand.
“Nope. Only cereal.”
“I want an apple for breakfast,” Joy says. “It’s healthy!”
Justin shakes his head. “Nope.”
“Why can’t she have an apple?” Suzy asks.
“She knows why.”
“You can’t punish her with food,” Suzy says. “That’s not–”
“I’m not punishing her, I’m saving her,” he crosses his arms. “Aren’t I?’
Joy shrugs. “Didn’t want one anyway. Grandma, can I have a carrot?”
“Nope!” Justin raises his arm with an open palm.
“What is going on?” Suzy demands.
“But they’re really annoying me, Dad! It hurts when I eat!”
“Well, that’s part of growing up. Your teeth will fall when they fall. You cannot and will not force them! Let nature do its thing!”
Joy opens her mouth and pushes one tooth so it’s completely upside down. “It wants to fall! It just doesn’t!”
Justin looks away, and so do I.
“When it really wants to fall, it’ll fall,” he assures her. “No hard food.”
“Phooey!” Joy says and gets up. “Then I don’t want any breakfast!”
“Fine. Punish yourself,” Justin says, as Joy starts running out of the house.
Suddenly, she slips and falls. Justin catches her just before she is about to hit the tiles head first.
“Oh!” Suzy says.
“Nice try!” Justin tells her, shaking his head. “You promised you’ll wait until the teeth actually fall. You keep that promise!”
“You suck!”
“I suck. And…?”
“Okay,” she turns around and walks out with a miserable air.
Justin sighs. “Mom, Dad, how will I be able to control her when she’s older? She’s going to get herself killed.”
I don’t answer. Suzy doesn’t answer. He sighs again.
—Told by Grampa Walt