A Conversation With M

Yesterday afternoon, I piled the boys into the car and headed off to Osage park to meet some friends. We were listening to the radio and as I pulled the car into the parking lot a reporter announced that there was a mountain lion sighting behind the park earlier in the day. I called our friends and arranged to meet elsewhere. Following is as close to the actual conversation that M and I proceeded to have as I can recall.

Me: "Boys, we have to go to a different park.
M: "Why?"
Me: "Uhhhhh. There was a big animal near the park so we have to go to a different park."
M: "A scary animal?"
Me: "Yes, it was a scary animal?"
M: "An elephant, Mommy?"
Me: "No, it wasn't an elephant, M. We only see elephants at the zoo."
M: "Oh. What animal, Mommy?"
Me: "It was a mountain lion."
M: "We go back and see lion mountain, Mommy?"
Me: "No. We are not going back to see the MOUNTAIN LION, M. We are going to a different park."
M: "I tell grandpa that we saw lion mountain. We go and see grandpa safta, Mommy? Can you set it up?"

Apparently, I have been relegated to the role of secretary. Can you set it up? Can you believe it? It's moments until he he'll be heading business meetings...