language lessons and claire’s electra complex
Claire speaks Spanglish, but mostly in Spanish. We’re trying to teach her the Queen’s English, with limited success. We lie abed of a morning having full and frank exchanges of views on linguistics:
R (pointing at one of Claire’s huge blue eyes): Eye!
C: ?
R: Eye!
C (giggles)
R: Eye!
C (firmly, pointing a fat finger at own eye): Ojo!
R: Well, yes, and you are beyond adorable when you correct me like that, but… humour me? Eye? It’s like “bye” without the b… Eye?
C: OJO!
Jeremy (arriving damply from the shower): Yes, ojo!
R: Very good, but we’re trying for English.
J: Oh. Eye!
C (overjoyed): Pappy!
J: Eye!
C (wiggling towards father, source of all joy): Pappy!
J: Eye!
C (pointing at eye): Eyee! Eyee! Eyee!
R&J (thrilled): That’s right! Eye! Yes!
C: Eyee! Eyee, Pappy! Eyee!
R: Do you need further proof that you’re her favourite?
J (complacently): Am not.
C: EYEE!