MetaFic

[Chatman-daughter] is looking out the window. She turns to me and says, ”So Dad, can [youngest Chatman-son] and I take the sled to the school yard down the road this afternoon?”

“Sure. Do you want me to get it down from the rafters in the shed?”

“Thanks, Dad. We’ll load it into the van and drive down to the school.”

“Drive? You realize the roads have yet to be plowed and it will snow harder this afternoon. You’d be better off walking the half mile to the school.”

She shakes her head. “No, Dad, we can’t walk; it’s cold out there and we don’t have outside snow clothes. We’ll freeze. Besides, the roads have been plowed; the snow is not as deep on the roads!”

“Er… How did you plan to keep warm while sledding? Also, ‘not as deep on the roads’ means the snow has re-covered the roads since the plow passed. Do you think the school parking lot has been plowed? If you get stuck in the parking lot I won’t be able to get you out with the Neon.”

“Oh, um… But Dad, we can park on the side of the road!”

“You mean where the plows have pushed the fallen snow?”

[Chatman-daughther] gives me her best ‘Laser Eyes of Death'™ and says, “All right. [Youngest Chatman-son] and I will play in the yard and start to shovel the top of the driveway, then.”