Well, lying in bed in the dark IS boring when you're 4

Last night after she'd been put to bed, A came downstairs with that "is this gonna fly?" look on her face, holding her toy dog.

I asked her what she needed and she said, "Um, my doggie fell down on the floor." Yes, the one she was holding.

I said, "And just why did you need to come downstairs to tell me this?"

"Because . . . um . . . because it was boring?"

At least she was honest. I tried desperately to keep a straight face (not helped at all by the sound of my sister snickering behind me) while I thanked her for telling the truth, took the dog for safekeeping and sent her back to bed.