Theo's relationship with the truth is quite fluid. His narratives slide in and out of the river of truth so frequently that it is a wonder he doesn't get dizzy. There doesn't seem to be a motive for his exaggeration- he rarely spins the tale to make himself look better or braver or stronger- it just seems like life as he lives it is not colorful enough so he puts a little extra gloss on everything. Here's an example:
Last weekend we had the lovely Amish brothers and sisters over for a work day in the backyard. My boys were thrilled to introduce their rabbits to the crew of kids, and the kids did seem to like them, but then they were on to bigger and better things. Later, when I asked Theo if the kids liked the rabbits, Theo said, "Oh yea, I brought Harriet up and she asked if she could bring them outside. But then she thought about it and said that we better not because there were predators in the backyard and she wanted to keep the bunnies safe." Oh really? Harriet is two. When she is with her Amish brother-pack she rarely opens her mouth, so busy is she trying to keep track of the whirling mass of fast-moving boys. I hardly think she was giving Theo a treatsie on the predatory habbits of the neighborhood birds. When questioned by Eli, the Truth Commissioner of St. Paul, Theo did back down a little, but couldn't completely give up the story. He was adamant that Harriet was making soaring motions with her arms, clearly indicating through pantomine her fears for the rabbits.
This type of story escalation, then the abrupt and scornful interrogation by the truth commission, then the backpedalling but stubborn refusal to completly back down, is the usual pattern of conversation here these days. Theo is starting to get a little weary of it. Right now his reaction is not to tone down the tales, but to start each one with the disclaimer, "You probably won't believe me, but...." When I hear him so unabashedly tell us his version of the truth, part of me worries a bit about our shared trip through his upcoming adolescence, but the bigger part of me decides to just sit back and see where this ride might take us. He does make it an interesting journey.
For the record, Eli does not look like he will ever tire of his role as the interrogator.
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