Confrontation Time

Little B has a buddy whose name is Jay. When Little B and Jay, who are nearly the same age, see one another on their way to the play centre, they wave and say hello to each other. They race into the play centre and head straight for the toy garage, with its ramps and its multitude of miniature cars. Then they take turns letting the cars rip down the ramps.

The two boys might wander away from one another but sooner or later, one of them will migrate toward the cardboard bricks. When this happens, the other one is inevitably close behind. Their favourite configuration involves a path of "bricks" on which the two boys climb and walk and race. Yesterday, however, Jay decided to build a castle with his twin brother once the path outlived its fun.

Little B stood to the side, eyeing the new development. He thoughtfully lifted his shirt to his mouth and chewed the cloth. When the castle was nearly finished, Little B raced in and knocked over the entire confection.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!" wailed Jay, his face a mask of red fury. Jay's twin retreated and went to play with the puzzles.

"Woo-hoo," said Simone. "Time to build a new castle! Did you want to build it like this?" She asked Jay, using a different pattern than the one the little boy had used.

Jay dried his tears and nodded, providing a bit of direction, then a brick or two, then taking over construction entirely. The new castle was nearly finished when Little B raced in and knocked it over.

Jay inhaled deeply and let out an ear-piercing screech.

"Time to play a game!" announced the play centre director. "Time for everyone to put away all their toys!"

Little B grabbed a brick and, on all fours, pushed it toward the cubby hole where it belonged. Not to be outdone, Jay did the same. The two boys pushed along perpendicular lines and, inevitably, their paths crossed.

"Ung!" grunted Jay.

"Ung!" grunted Little B.

Then they each growled. Then they began swinging their heads back and forth as though to butt heads together. Literally.

"Woah!" exclaimed Simone, snatching Little B away and carrying him to another part of the room. "Plenty of time for that kind of silliness when you're both teenagers!"

Little B stormed for a few minutes as Simone watched. When his outburst waned, the little guy raced for the exit.

"Time to go, huh?" asked Simone.

"Time oo go," agreed Little B. Then he turned to his friend. "Bye-bye, Jay!"

"See you next week," said Jay.

Boys.