The Girl was in her bedroom finishing up a sewing project before school and called to her brother to take a look at her handiwork.

The Girl: Come look at the purse I just made.

The Boy: It’s ni….  Hey!  That’s my stuffed animal.

TG: No it’s not.  You gave it to me!

TB: I did not!

 

This back and forth banter went on for quite some time until the boy broke the stalemate.

TB: I did not give it to you.  You snuck in my room and you took it!  (Imagine Claire Huxtable angry with Heathcliff Huxtable, and you’ll just about nail the tone, temper, and timing of The Boy’s comment.)

By this point The Girl is wailing.

TG: No I did NOT!  You gave it to me!

TB: No.  You snuck in my room and you took it.  That’s what you did.  You snuck in and took it!

Me (calling from the bathroom): Which stuffed animal are you talking about?

TB and TG (in unison): The rhinoceros!

Me: Oh, she didn’t take that.  You gave it to her.

 

The Boy replies, calmly and quite dignified, “Oh. OK.  But what about my chick?”

Me: You gave her the chick, too.  You gave her all of your stuffed animals except the dinosaur.

TB: Well, yeah.  I still like the dinosaur.

Me: Really?  Then why has it been living under your bed for the past 2 months?

TB: It needed the rest.  Now I will play with it, and feed, it, and talk to it.  And show it my light up penguin.  It’ll be cool.