At Least I Told Her About Copyright Law

Scene: Walking back from the park. It was 75 amazing degrees in Kansas City today.

The little angel is reclined in the only stroller we still own, a purple-flowered umbrella jobby. (The park is a mile away.) She has her legs crossed and is waving the water bottle around like a wand as she warms to her subject.

Her: Mommy! I'm going to tell you a story now.

Me: Okay.

Her: This is the story of the three pigs.

Me: (respectful pause)

Her: The first pig was named <LITTLE ANGEL>. 

Me: She sounds very nice.

Her: Shhh! This pig built a house out of FEATHERS. Can you believe it?

Me: That would be hard to do.

Her: And then a wolf came along and blew the house over. Can you believe it?

Me: That's too bad. Then what happened?

Her: Then the SECOND PIG, whose name was AUNT STEPHI, came and built a house out of DIAMONDS.

Me: (choking with laughter) That sounds right.

Her: But the wolf came and blew over the diamonds. And Aunt Stephi ran away.

Me: Excellent. Then what happened?

Her: Then the last pig came, and her name was RITA. And she was the SMARTEST PIG OF ALL.

Me: Of course she was!

Her: And she built her house out of BRICKS.

Me: And could the wolf blow it down?

Her: NO. So the other pigs came to live with her.

Me: Did she build them rooms of diamonds?

Her: Yes, of course she did. Seriously, Mommy.

Me: Excellent story, dear.

Her: And then there is this other story about THREE MICE.

And so it continued, all the way home.

Over dinner, she told the story to Beloved, who also appreciated its sparkling humor. Then she sang a song.

Her: This is not a real song.

Me: Why not?

Her: Because I just made it up.

Me: That's why you need to write it down. Because as soon as you write something original down, it becomes real.

Beloved nodded.

Me: It's called COPYRIGHT LAW.

Her: That is so cool!

Me: It doesn't mean it's good, but at least it's real.

Her: I can't believe I made up something real.

Isn't writing great?