The Puzzle

The day is cloudy, rainy, dismal.

A good day to put together a puzzle.

First we must pick a puzzle.

Love these floor puzzles.

This one is called Farm Animals..

Not to be confused with

House Animals

(otherwise known as grandchildren)

So we have our box and remove the top.

Under the cover lies this mess...

This one says Ages 3 & Up..

SweetCheeks informs me..

I'm three, Nana.

I can do dis all by mysthelf.

Of course you can!Ok-I tell her..

Take the puzzle pieces out and lay them

all face up so you can see them.

"Noah, Nana... I jus' gonna takem

outta the box an' usshe dem that way.

Hmmm...I see the frustration building.

The shoulders are hunched and slumping a bit.

"Nana, dis is too hward!"

Do you want some help?

Noah! I not wanna eny hulp. I gonna do it!

Okay then...I am leaving you alone now...

"Nana, dis puzzle is all messy ahnd

the peeaces doan fit rwight."

BabyDoll has been thrown to one side.

This is NOT good!

Do you want some help, SweetCheeks?

NO! I sayed I gonna do it.

The plot now thickens because

Ria has joined in the

Puzzle Party.

She quickly helps SweetCheeks

form the outer edges and helps

her put the other pieces in place.

I look over at the two little girls

with the now completed puzzle.

Good Job, Ria! I tell her.

SweetCheeks smile turns upside down.

Oooops-I should have said..

Good Job GIRLS..

uh-oh- too late now!

No-HERS didn't dood it Nana.

I dood it.

Ria, of course, being only a bit

older herself, rebutts..

No, SweetCheeks...I did it..

You are too little to do it.

NOAH I NOT! I dood it too!

The tears now start to course down

the ruddy little cheeks.

I tell them they BOTH

did a good job..

Ria you HELPED SweetCheeks..
that was really KIND of you..

And...SweetCheeks...

You did great putting that puzzle

together, right Ria?

You BOTH did it!

SweetCheeks head begins to nod

up and down vigorously...

"Yeah..we bofth dood it, Ria!"

The squall has passed, the tears have dried.

The sun is out..

All is right with the world.

Wait for it...wait for it...

SweetCheeks picks up her baby

and holds her while she starts putting the puzzle

back into the box.

Ria looks at her with those big innocent eyes,

smiles slightly and says,

"SweetCheeks, next time you get the puzzle out

I will put it together for you AGAIN...

just like I did today...

Let the crying begin.....