Semantics

As as become our habit after dinner, we set off on our walk towards the dirt road. Helps to get the crazies out in the open air, you know.

It was particularly necessary today, after a day of intermittent rain and thunder. Unfortunately, we hadn't even gotten out of the driveway before I heard some far-off thunder and I decided we'd better not get too far from the house in case there was another storm. So I decreed we would have a race to the apple tree down the road and back.

Yes, the road we live on is so quiet I can let my small children race down the center of it as if it were their own personal speedway. The boonies have their benefits.

Anyway.

Charlie, who loves to run, took off, with Jack pistoning his little legs madly in his wake. Cubby, who was being a little sulky, declined to run. But then, as soon as Charlie had reached the apple tree and was almost back, Cubby turned on his heel and raced back to me--the Mommy Finish Line--just ahead of Charlie.

"Charlie wins, because Cubby cheated," I announced. After all, the race was to the apple tree and back.

Cubby turned to me indignantly and said, "Mom! I wasn't cheating! I was using tactics."

Sure, kid. Tell it to the judge.

(Really, though. Tactics. Who does he think he is, General Patton?)