Today I asked the littlest Marli, who will be embarking on her scholastic career next fall, “Is Blanky going to kindergarten with you?” Bear in mind that Blanky has been a distinguished member of our family for 5 years, traveling to Florida with us, visiting Grandma, riding along whenever we go to the store or the park or the library. I expect Blanky to attain sentience and begin communicating with us any day now.
“Will they let me bring Blanky to kindergarten?” mini-Marli asked.
“Yes, but he’ll probably have to stay in your little locker until nap-time.”
“Big kids don’t take naps!” she said, deeply offended.
“Well, quiet time, then. You could take him out and hold him then.”
She thought about it for a minute. “I guess Blanky can stay home,” she said reluctantly.
“Are you sure?” I asked, trying to hide my excitement. Haunted by fears of how much college tuition might be for Blanky (and what if he decides to go to med school after that?), I’ve been ever-so-gently trying to encourage a trial seperation for about a year.
“Yeah,” she said. “The Blanky Ferret will look after him for me.”
Ummm…
“The Blanky what?” I asked.
“You know, the Blanky Ferret. She has wings and she flies around.” She flapped her hands through the air to demonstrate.
“I think you mean Blanky Fairy, honey,” I said.
She looked at me as if to say, Oh, you silly Mommy. I love you, even though you really are very dumb. “That’s what I said,” she said patiently. “The Blanky Ferret.”
“Okay,” I said, laughing.
She patted my hand. “It’s okay, Mommy,” she said, and wandered away.
So, my dear fellow Dopers, rest easy in your dreams tonight. The Blanky Ferret watches over us all.