BOB BOB BOB

Dear Spike:

For a while now, we've been letting you watch "Bob the Builder" videos, usually in the early afternoons when you're getting restless, I'm trying to get some work done, and your mother is not quite home from school.

But it seems that in addition to your little milk problem,  you've developed a significant case of Bobaholism.

As in: 

Spike's Dad: "What's your name?"

Spike: "Bob."    

Spike's Dad: "No, your name is not Bob."

Spike: "Bob."

Spike's Dad: "I'll give you a hint, your name starts with a..."

Spike: "Bob."

Spike's Dad: "That's not even a letter."

Spike: "Bob. Bob. Bob."

Spike's Dad: "If I let you watch Bob, will you stop saying Bob?"

Spike: (Nods solemnly.)

Spike's Dad: "You promise?"

Spike: (Eyes wide. Continues to nod solemnly.)

Spike's Dad: "OK. But just one episode."

Spike: (chin trembling.)

Spike's Dad: "Don't do that."

Spike: (chin trembling.)

Spike's Dad: "Oh please don't do that."

Spike: "Bob Bob?"

Spike's Dad: "No, just one Bob."

Spike: "Bob. Bob. Bob?"

Spike's Dad: "No. No. No." 

Spike: "Bob. Bob. Bob, Bob, Bob!"

Spike's Dad: "OK. Forget it. No Bob."

Spike: (chin trembling) "No Bob?"

Spike's Dad: "Don't do that."

Spike: "Love-oo daddy?"

Spike's Dad: "That's not fair."

Spike: "Love-oo! Love-oo daddy!"

Spike's Dad: "That's SO not fair."

Spike: "Love-oo daddy... ... ... ... Bob?"

This afternoon your Auntie Sue came over to watch you while your mother was in a night class. I showed her where your food was, where your toys were and, finally, where the computer was hidden...

Spike's Dad: Here's the computer. If she get crabby and there's just nothing else that works, feel free to put on a B--O--B video.

Spike: Bob!?

Auntie Sue: She can spell?

Spike's Dad: (sighs) Um, apparently so.

Spike: (proudly) Bob! Bob! Bob, Bob, Bob!

Love,

dad

P.S. — You mother just now...

Spike's Mom: (reading over Spike's Dad's shoulder) "She did not say 'Love-oo Daddy,' did she?" 

Spike's Dad: (unhappily) "Yes. As a matter of fact she did."

Spike's Mom: (laughing) "She said that just to get her way?"

Spike's Dad: "Yes. And I'm adding a new word to label the blog posts..."

Spike's Mom: "What?"

Spike's Dad: "Manipulation." 

Spike's Mom: (smiling broadly) "She's SOOOOOO my child!"