At dinner this evening:
Boy #1: "Do you think the Easter Bunny is real, Boy #2?"
Boy #2 narrows his eyes. "Well. I think that he is in certain parts of the world, but I think that here in Russia people put their own eggs out."
I look hard at Boy #1. If his brother still believes, let the myth continue for a little longer, I think. But there's no need to worry - Boy #1 agrees with his younger sibling.
Boy #1: "And the Tooth Fairy?"
Boy #2: "Oh, the Tooth Fairy is DEFINITELY real. But I was talking to J (one of his best mates) the other day, and apparently, in Belgium, the Tooth Fairy is not a fairy but a little mouse with wings that wears a tutu and leaves sparkles behind it..."
There is a pause, whilst they both consider this and I puzzle over the fact that up until this conversation started I would have bet good money that there was no way my older son still believed the 50 rubles he gets per tooth comes from a winged sprite. Then...
Boy #2: " ... but that is clearly ridiculous! Imagine if the Tooth Fairies had a party, and the Belgian tooth fairy couldn't come, one of them would have to dress up as a mouse and throw glitter around!!"
Both Boys fall about laughing at the thought of a fairy dressed as a mouse. Because, a group of fairies having a party is one thing, but a mouse with wings dressed in a skirt pushes the limits of credulity even for them.
Boy #1: "Yes, that is ridiculous!"
Boy #2: "But - what about Father Christmas? Does he exist? I think if you asked a teenager they might believe in him 20%, and my friend L in class says she doesn't; she's almost sure that it's her parents who leave the presents out. Almost..."
I keep schtum at this point. Best not say anything; after all, they are 9 and 11 years old - surely they can work out for themselves the likelihood of the Big Man being reality?
Boy #1, with an air of great sincerity: "No, she's wrong. Father Christmas definitely exists. When we were at Gran & Grandad's last Christmas I hunted all over the house on Christmas Eve. I looked EVERYWHERE, and I couldn't find a single present. Not ONE! And yet, on Christmas morning, there they were."
Me (somewhat amazed): "I didn't know you did that, Boy #1!"
Boy #1: "Well, I did. But I was very quiet about it. And I didn't find anything."
Boy #2 nods thoughtfully: "I thought so. Yes, that proves it. Father Christmas does exist. Good. 100% it is, then."
Boy #1: "Do you think the Easter Bunny is real, Boy #2?"
Boy #2 narrows his eyes. "Well. I think that he is in certain parts of the world, but I think that here in Russia people put their own eggs out."
I look hard at Boy #1. If his brother still believes, let the myth continue for a little longer, I think. But there's no need to worry - Boy #1 agrees with his younger sibling.
Boy #1: "And the Tooth Fairy?"
Boy #2: "Oh, the Tooth Fairy is DEFINITELY real. But I was talking to J (one of his best mates) the other day, and apparently, in Belgium, the Tooth Fairy is not a fairy but a little mouse with wings that wears a tutu and leaves sparkles behind it..."
There is a pause, whilst they both consider this and I puzzle over the fact that up until this conversation started I would have bet good money that there was no way my older son still believed the 50 rubles he gets per tooth comes from a winged sprite. Then...
Boy #2: " ... but that is clearly ridiculous! Imagine if the Tooth Fairies had a party, and the Belgian tooth fairy couldn't come, one of them would have to dress up as a mouse and throw glitter around!!"
Both Boys fall about laughing at the thought of a fairy dressed as a mouse. Because, a group of fairies having a party is one thing, but a mouse with wings dressed in a skirt pushes the limits of credulity even for them.
Boy #1: "Yes, that is ridiculous!"
Boy #2: "But - what about Father Christmas? Does he exist? I think if you asked a teenager they might believe in him 20%, and my friend L in class says she doesn't; she's almost sure that it's her parents who leave the presents out. Almost..."
I keep schtum at this point. Best not say anything; after all, they are 9 and 11 years old - surely they can work out for themselves the likelihood of the Big Man being reality?
Boy #1, with an air of great sincerity: "No, she's wrong. Father Christmas definitely exists. When we were at Gran & Grandad's last Christmas I hunted all over the house on Christmas Eve. I looked EVERYWHERE, and I couldn't find a single present. Not ONE! And yet, on Christmas morning, there they were."
Me (somewhat amazed): "I didn't know you did that, Boy #1!"
Boy #1: "Well, I did. But I was very quiet about it. And I didn't find anything."
Boy #2 nods thoughtfully: "I thought so. Yes, that proves it. Father Christmas does exist. Good. 100% it is, then."
I've never heard of that mouse with the sparkles. I wonder if that's just a family they happen to know, or if it's maybe a regional variant. When I was a little Belgian, gnomes brought me books for my teeth. Now my little Belgians get 2 euros from the tooth fairy for each tooth.
ReplyDeleteThat's just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI thought so, GPM!
ReplyDeleteThe little boy he was talking to was actually Belgian, Mwa - and I checked with his mum today and discovered that apparently that is what they believe - in their part of Belgium, anyway. But I will definitely ask about the gnomes now that I know about them - that's a fabulous story!
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely.
ReplyDeleteMine still believe in all of those - although I actually think Littleboy 2, who is 8, is much more suspicious than his older brother who is completely unquestioning!