“Once upon a time, there was a boy who wanted to travel to places. One day, he thought of making a helicopter. He went to the hardware to buy screws, bolts and nuts, metal sheets, lights, wires… When he came home, he gathered all his tools - like his pliers, saw, wire cutter… And started to build a helicopter.”

Stories of creation.

For reasons I could not explain, I always tell my son stories of creation when he prods me to tell him a story. Usually but not always at bedtime. He’d say -Mama story of the …please. Example, he’d say “Story of the helicopter, please”

One time, while lying down on our bed, I asked my son: “What story do you want Mama to tell?”

I had thought  maybe it’s the helicopter again. Or the story of the plane. Or the candle like he’d sometimes ask. I was certain it would be any of these.

But

when

I heard

my son,

 I. couldn’t. believe. my. ears.

“Mama, story of the bowl please.”  

The bowl? I was taken aback.

“Uhm, you mean the toilet bowl?” I think my voice slightly wavered then.

I was really stumped when my son said yes. For the life of me, I could not think of anything to say about the bowl - the toilet bowl! Not a degree in engineering has prepared me for that kind of question!

I thought and thought and thought as my heart echoed bowl, bowl, bowl… And I think my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets with all the thinking.

P.S. In case you’re wondering, I did tell him something about the bowl - good mother that I am. *smirk* I hope he’d remember it so that one day, I can tell him how much effort I put into weaving that story.