A Bedtime Story

We were coming home, all 5 of us in the car.  It was bedtime, and I have a thing about arriving home around bedtime:  before we get out of the car, I always explain what I expect of the kids when we get inside the house.  They're pros at it now.  The talk usually goes like this:
Me:  "Okay.  What's going to happen as soon as we get home?"
Them:  "Get our pajamas on and go to bed."
Me:  "Excellent."

This time Rob was with us, so the talk was a little different.  Rob promised them fun things if they got their pajamas on super fast.  The first person would get a piggyback ride to bed.  Second place was getting a zurbit (sp?).  The kids, for some reason, didn't know what a zurbit was, so they were excited about it (in case you use different language, a zurbit is also called a raspberry.  You know, the blowing on the tummy thing.  Tickles like crazy).  And third prize was a hug.  Not as cool as a piggyback ride, but still alright.

When we got home Teancom and I were the first out of the car.  While the other 3 were fiddling with something in the car, I walked with Tank into the house, hand in hand.  In a normal conversational tone, he said, "I know I'm going to be last."    I half-smiled to myself and then asked, "How do you know?"  "I'm always last."

There was complete acceptance in Tank's voice, which surprised me.  He wasn't anxious about losing.  He wasn't depressed about it.  He knew what was going to happen, and he was okay with it.  I tried to cheer him up about it.  "Well, you'll get a hug!"  He wasn't buying it.  "I don't want a hug.  I want a piggyback ride to bed."  I looked back at the car, with all 3 of the others still occupied, and saw my moment to be a conspirator.  "Well, how about I help you and you'll be done first?!"  "Yeah!"

We rushed into the house.  I practically ran into his room to get his pajamas while Tank ripped off his coat and shoes.  His clothes were off in a jiffy and I pulled the pajamas onto him.  "Now, go!"  Tank ran into the living room as the others were walking into the house and proudly announced, "I'm done!"

They were shocked.  Tank, the boy who always loses without minding, had won the contest before they had even started.  Miciah and Elijah took off running, trying to secure 2nd place, and Miciah came out the winner by a matter of seconds.  Elijah cried.  Turns out they all really wanted that piggyback ride.

The happy ending was that Rob gave all 3 of the kids any and all of the prizes that they wanted.  Miciah and Elijah wanted the zurbits, but after seeing what it was, Tank wasn't interested.  They all got hugs, and then they all got piggyback rides.

Though I didn't get any of those prizes, come to think of it.  I didn't get my pajamas on fast, either.  So I guess it's all fair.