The Backstory
I had the three-year-old right where I wanted her: eyes ablaze, staring indignantly back and forth between me and her bright red shirt.
I repeat myself cheerfully: “Yessiree, I just love your blue shirt!”
She can’t stand it. “Noooo!” she bursts out. “It’s not blue!”
“Oh?” I feign surprise, peer closer. She waits patiently, helpfully holding out the bottom of her red shirt so I can get a better look at the color. “Why, you’re right!” I exclaim. She looks relieved. “It’s green!”
“Noooooooo!”