Overheard at the homework table...

After school this evening, Child Number One whisked up to the peace and quiet of her bedroom in order to concentrate on fractions and decimals.

This left Child Number Two and her little sister, Wee Three, with me down in the kitchen.

Child Number Two hauled the reading books out of her little back pack, spread them out on the kitchen table, and embarked upon her nightly book report, complete with hand-drawn, fully-coloured illustrations. Wee Three was not about to be left out of the "fun" and scrounged up some paper, determined to complete a "pwoject", herself.

Some time ago, my children received a box of what I call "smelly markers" as a gift. I, personally, cannot stand the things, as whiffs of chemically-imitated scents make my stomach turn. But the girlies think they are absolutely miraculous, and delight in creating masterpieces that SMELL as colourful as they look.

I listened as Child Number Two popped the tops on each marker, so that her little sister could use them. Each *POP* was accompanied by a description, so that Wee Three would not only learn her colours properly, but be able to place the sometimes "unplace-able" smell...

Child Number Two: (*POP*) And this one is BLUE... It smells like blueberries!! Remember those yummy things we ate last summer with ice cream??!

Child Number Three: (nods furiously, with a big smile on her face, scribbles on her page and then sniffs it appreciatively) YUP!!

Child Number Two: (*POP*) This one is RED. It smells like strawberries!! Mummy can't smell this one, or she'll barf... She's ALLERGIC...

Child Number Three: (slightly taken aback, but takes the pen and makes a few tentative dots here and there) 'Kay...

Child Number Two: (*POP*) This one is BROWN. Guess what it smells like???!! CHOOOOCOLATE!!

Child Number Three: (takes the pen and sniffs... then frowns decidedly, and hands it back) DAT not chocolate... DAT smells like POOP.

Hmmm...

My scentiments exactly.