Nice Try

"Can I have my men back?" little kid asked.

"I don't think so. Not today."

"But I don't hardly gots any man toys! Why?"

"Because you threw a deck of Skip-bo cards around the family room and then fought with me when I asked you to pick them up. Remember how you said I didn't love you? That I had never loved you? That I was a mean mom? That you were running away? That you were going to find a new family? And you got a time-out but you were still all mouthy so I took away your box of toys? Remember that now?"

He looked regretful; like he wished he hadn't brought it up. "Hmmmmmm," he said, leaning his forehead against my knee to avoid eye contact. "I think...." he looked up at me "....that...you're beautiful."

The Master Manipulator strikes again. He looked confused when I laughed out loud.

"So I's not gettin' no mens back today?"

"No. No, you're not. But thanks."