The date: October 19, 2006.
The place: A small restaurant in Maysville, Georgia.
The players:
– Maddie Smith, age 2 years, 4 months
– Dustin Smith, her father
– A waitress
The scene: Maddie has just ordered her lunch: a peanut butter sandwich and potato chips.
—————
Waitress: Is that it?
Maddie: Yep, thass it.
Dustin: Do you want some milk to drink?
Maddie (To waitress): I want milk — I want chocolate milk.
Waitress: We don’t have chocolate, but we have regular milk.
(Maddie slumps her shoulders in disappointment. Her chin drops to her chest.)
Dustin: How about regular milk.
(Maddie makes a sour face and doesn’t answer.)
Dustin: Would you rather have water?
Maddie (to waitress): I want water.
Waitress: Water? Okay.
(The waitress leaves. Maddie turns to Dustin.)
Maddie: Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma…
Dustin (With a concerned-parent expression): Shhhhhh!
Maddie (Shouting): MA-MA!!
Dustin: Maddie, you’ve got to be nice. Use your “inside voice.”
Maddie: I cain’t!
Dustin: Yes, you can.
Maddie: I cain’t!
Dustin: Do you need a timeout?
Maddie: No! (She looks at Dustin imploringly.) I don’t wanna go to timeout.
Dustin: Well, then, behave yourself, okay?
Maddie: Woops! Sorry, daddio!
Dustin (Leaning down to Maddie’s level): What is WRONG with you?
Maddie (Whining): I want chocolate milk!
Dustin: They don’t have chocolate milk, baby. We’ll get some when we get home.
(Maddie lowers her head in disappointment again. Dustin scoops her up and hugs her.)
Dustin (Muttering): You’re a stinker.
(Maddie giggles and hugs him back.)
Maddie: I a stinker!
Maddie ordering chocolate milk.
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