Conversations from the cafe

Today, Mr4 and I enjoyed what he likes to call a 'Mr4 Day', whereby he gets to choose the activities for the day and we generally steer clear of the supermarket. Supermarket shopping is not on Mr4's list of favourite things to do, which is fine by me because taking Mr4 supermarket shopping is definitely not on mine.

Interestingly, Mr4 Day generally involves doing all the things we would normally do on our days together - minus the supermarket bit. So we go to the DVD shop and pick him up another ABC Kids masterpiece. We have a milkshake. We 'poke about' in bookshops and pop in to say hello to our friends who run some of Fibrotown's best shops.

It's a good arrangement.

Our milkshake today took place, controversially, after a visit to a shop and, more specifically, after I had purchased not one, but two pairs of shoes (they were 30 per cent off - practically free!). Mr4 was not happy with the deviation from our Mr4 Day plans. I had some making up to do. This is a small excerpt of the conversation that followed...

The scene: A busy cafe in central Fibrotown. Mr4 is steered away from his favourite seat right in the doorway, allowing him the space to run in and out and climb on the ledge outside the large window so he can make funny faces at me through the glass. We settle on the 'comfy chairs' up the back and he sits happily with his DVD while I order not just a small chocolate milkshake but a Smartie cookie as well. When I return, we sit chatting about the wonders of Fireman Sam for a few minutes until his milkshake arrives, at which point I take the opportunity to bustle to the front of the cafe and swipe a newspaper from a recently vacated table. Upon my return, I find him sucking on his straw, deep in thought...

Mr4: "Mum, when you get big does your bottom get big too?"

Me (choking on latte): "Well, it grows to keep up with you. You'd look silly if you were as big as me with a bottom as little as yours."

He sucks his straw, considering, big blue eyes quizzical.

Mr4: "But does it have to be as big as yours?"

Me (trying hard not to laugh): "Are you worried that your bottom might be the same size as mine one day?"

Mr4 nods vigorously.

Me: "Right, then... More Smartie cookie for me."

[image: jim8ball/etsy]