My daughter Julia came to live with me two years ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my nine-year-old clone, but that is exactly what I find I am doing with Julia. Through our judo and soccer practices, reading, writing and arithmetic, Girl Scouts, and Japanese language classes, we occasionally have a conversation that connects us both in a sometimes deep and usually humorous way. Hopefully, you will be as entertained as we are.

Truth or Dare

Daddy and Julia are cleaning her room.  Julia has gotten a little bored and wants to play a game, Truth or Dare…  not realising that Daddy played this game long ago when he was in the fourth grade…

Julia:  O.K., Daddy, ask me – “truth or dare!”

Daddy:  Ummm…  truth or dare?

Julia:  Truth!

Daddy:  O.K., if you had to kiss a boy at school, who would you kiss?

(pause)

Julia:  Disgusted sigh!  Wait!  You can’t…

Daddy:  Baloney!  The game is Truth or Dare!  You don’t have to like him, but you do have to pick him! 

Julia:  (mumble).

Daddy:  I’m sorry, who?

Julia:  (disgusted sigh)  Xxxx.

Daddy:  Xxxxx who?

Julia:  Xxxx Yyyy.

Daddy:  (reaching for Julia’s 2012 yearbook)  Hmmm….  Xxxx Yyyy…

Julia:  (lunging at Daddy)  NO!