The Protege

It's 7 PM on a weeknight, and the boys and I are in pajamas, on the floor in Ariel's room, making our way through a large stack of thoughtfully-selected reading material. Ariel had voted for dinosaurs that night and Elan had reluctantly agreed.

Reluctantly, because, you know, he is SO over dinosaurs. He's been for, like, a year now. But he'd indulge his younger brother, if only, apparently, to find out where the latter was holding in terms of basic development.

Like most nights, Elan took charge of our quality time, laying out the rules:

"Okay, Mommy. You don't read any'hing until I point to it. First, I'll point to the different dinosaurs and I'll ask Ariel what they are. And he will have to see if he gets it right. And then, if we want to know what else it says about them, I'll ask you to read it. Got it?"

"Yes, got it," I say. He looks at Ariel expectantly. Ariel nods an affirmative. He gets it too.

Elan opens the first book and points to a picture. "This is an easy one. Ariel, what is this?"

" Dat's a Tiwannasauwus Wex."

"Good job!" Elan high-fives him. Ariel beams.

"Now, what's this one?"

"A Long-Neck!" Thank you, The Land Before Time, Volume XI.

"Great! This?"

"Stegasauwus."

"And this?"

"Twicewatops!"

"Very good. And this?"

It's a hard one. Ariel furrows his little brow. "Hmmmm."

Elan offers help: "Veloci..."

"Waptor!" Ariel yells. Elan's ecstatic. "You're very good!"

Hold up. Ariel just got 'Velociraptor?' How the hell does he know that? And what else does he know?

Elan continues his lesson. "This one is a..."

"Ptewanadon!" Ariel replies, jamming a fist into the air in victory.

"Pteranadon? Are you kidding me?" I can't help myself. "How does Ariel know these?"

"I teach him," Elan says simply.

I'm starting to understand that this isn't the first time the two of them have played this game. They knock off a few more, including Dilaphosaurus, Anklysaurus, and Dimetrodon.

Elan points to the 3-D spikes on a Stegasaurus's back in one book. "Feel, Ariel. Aren't these prickly?"

"Yes, like thorns," Ariel replies knowingly. You see, we have a backyard now. With rosebushes.

Finally, Elan closes the book and throws his arm around a delighted Ariel.

"I am so, so proud of you!" he cries. "You did great! You know so much, you smarty pants!"

Ariel concentrates on hugging back with all of his might, smiling so hard I fear his face will crack. His eyes are closed. He OWNS this moment, and he's going to let Elan's momentary burst of affection seep into every pore. He'll never let go first.

Eventually, Elan loosens his grip, sighing appreciatively. And Ariel proves that he's learned another thing or two from his big brother when he finally speaks:

"You're so pwoud, so wull you give me a candy?"

Hey, if it works on Daddy...