Outmaneuvering

Occasionally Juliet asks for some of the junk food that we imperfectly allow in the house. Up until now we've been able to ask her how many she wants, and since she never asks for more than five, it's not such a big deal. Sunday, though, she asked for five yuppie cheese puffs and then I watched her counting the fingers of her right hand with the fingers of her left hand. Failing to make it come out to any number higher than five, she gave up and cut to the chase. "I want the whole bag."

Only the first time this will happen

Juliet finished her dinner and dashed to the living room to look over her new library books. I asked whether she wanted more shepherd's pie and was met with silence. I asked again, a little exasperated, and she said "Yes. Sorry, I was reading my book."