Gordon

Gavin and Mark went for a little walk yesterday evening. When they got home, Gavin introduced me to his new friend, a little caterpillar he had found on the road. He had it in his little bug house which is basically a screened box with a handle.

Gavin: Look Mom! I got a cata-uh-cat-cat-er-pil-LER!

Me: Ooooooohhhh! Look at that!

Gavin: He was on da woad and I didn’t want him to get run over by a car.

Me: Oh, very good…

Gavin: And we have gween fings in dere for him! (shows me the leaves and grass they gave it to eat)

Mark: What are you gonna name him?

Gavin: Uhhhhh….nofing. He’s just a caterpillar.

Mark: He’s gotta have a name. You can name him anything you want!

Gavin: Ummmmmmmmmm

Mark: How about Casey? Casey the caterpillar?

Gavin: Yeah, yeah. Uh, Casey. Ok!

So we take “Casey” and find him a safe spot on Gavin’s bookshelf to wait for Gavin to get ready for bed. Gavin getting ready for bed:

Gavin: Mom, I don’t want to call my caterpillar Casey any more

Me: Oh, ok. What should his name be?

Gavin (very decisively): Gordon.

Me: Gordon?

Gavin: Yeah. Gordon. Dat’s a good name!

Me: It sure is!

Gavin: Can Gordon have a sleepover at my house?

Me: Sure he can. But we should ask his Mommy. One sec.

I leave the room to get a phone and quickly fill Mark in on our discussion. I go back to Gavin with the phone and dial “Gordon’s Mommy”.

Ring ring!

Gordon’s Mommy (in a high falsetto voice): Hello?

Me: Hello. This is Gavin’s Mommy. Is this Gordon’s Mommy?

Gordon’s Mommy: Yes. This is Gordon Caterpillar’s Mommy..

Me: Gavin found Gordon on the road and he picked him up and took him to our house because he didn’t want Gordon to get hurt. Is it ok if Gordon sleeps over?

Gordon’s Mommy: Yes, that would be fine. Just make sure he has lots of green things to eat. And thanks you Gavin for keeping my Gordon safe and sound.

Gavin: You’re welcome!.....ummmm….are you a caterpillar?

Gordon’s Mommy: Yes, I’m a caterpillar just like Gordon.

Gavin: Ok. Bye!

So Gavin finishes getting ready for bed and we’re checking on Gordon to make sure he’s all settled for bed. He is on the side of the bug house, on the screen. He’s just hangin out there doing nothing. Gavin pokes him. HARD. REPEATEDLY!

Gavin: Gordon! Are you sleeping? Mom, I want Gordon to eat his gwass.

Me: Oh no no Gavin! You have to be very gentle with caterpillars! They’re very little and you’re very big!

Gavin: OK. Night night Gordon.

Fast forward to this morning. I go wake up Gavin.

Me: Hey let’s check on Gordon!

Gavin jumps out of bed.

We go look. There are now 2 Gordons. Or, more specifically, poor old Gordon is now in 2 pieces. Guess Gavin poked him a little too hard.

Gavin: Why does Gordon have 2 pieces now?

Uh oh.

Gavin: Mom, why? I want him to be one. Why is he 2?

Me: uhhhhhhh

Gavin: Can you make him be one?

Me: Errrr….well, remember when you poked him last night? Well you were a little too rough and you hurt him a little bit. He’ll be ok, but he needs to go home to his Mommy soon.

Gavin: But I don’t want him go home

Me: But caterpillars don’t live in houses, they live outside in the grass.

Gavin (sadly): ok Mom.

Me: But you know what, there are lots of other caterpillars for you to find and maybe we can look for another one later and have another sleepover!

Gavin: Yeah yeah! That would be good! But his name will not be Gordon.

LOL! I love this kid!