My son goes on kicks; that is to say he gets attached to things and does them repeatedly. He will occasionally ask a question multiple times despite receiving the answer he wanted each time.
He also has a thing for stories. He loves them. He will memorize a movie or a book that he loves after a single viewing or very few viewings. "I Stink!" and "Trashy Town" were two of his favorites when he was five. Beyond loving the written prose, we had a limited print video version of both on our server, which he could access from his Apple TV whenever he wanted.
When these two behaviors collide, he will do everything from incorporating himself into complex plots from the stories or movies he loves, to asking questions about how he has fit into the story.
On one such occasion, my wife and children were out shopping with a family friend on one of those marathon shopping days. During one of the final stops, my wife ran into the store by herself. While in the car with three other children (including my daughter), and my wife's friend, my son poses a query to the lone adult in the vehicle, "can I clean up Trashy Town?"
"Yes," she replied, "of course you can clean up Trashy Town," believing this would suffice — it would not.
"Can I clean up Trashy Town?" My son repeated.
"Yes, I told you can clean up Trashy Town." She replied, though unsure of why he was asking again.
My wife returned to the car in that moment. Shortly afterward, "Mama, can I clean up Trashy Town?!" My son asked excitedly.
Before my wife could answer, her friend said, "you already asked me twice and I already said yes twice. There is no need to ask your mother."
"She is right, mijo. You already asked and she has already responded. Yes, you may clean up Trashy Town, but there is no reason to keep asking." My wife said. "If you ask me again, I will answer 'no.'"
"Mama," my son began almost immediately, "can I clean up Trashy Town?"
"No. You many not clean up Trashy Town," my wife advised him, making good on her threat.
My son's entire demeanor changed. He was solemn and fighting back tears. When he spoke, his voice was cracking. "No, Mama. I am going to clean up Trashy Town."
My wife may have kept her composure, but her friend burst into hysterics.
Of course you can clean up Trashy Town. Of course you can.
