As anyone with two or more children can testify, you can't do something for one and not the other. So it is that having made Slug-eat-your-face for my son Theo, I am now obliged to make something for my daughter Nora.
These creations are part of a game my children play while riding in the car. Theo has an imaginary kingdom, Theoland, and has encouraged Nora to develop Noraland as a foil for his schemes of conflict.
The game consists of Theo coming up with imaginary creatures and devices, the destructive capabilities of which he enumerates at very great length. Nora, being only four, responds with somewhat less invention but being of a systematic turn of mind, creates by addition to her basic template.
And so I have had to construct Nora's response to Theo's provocation from a number of conversations. A synopsis would go something like this. (The speakers are sometimes simultaneous.)
- T.
- In Theoland, I have giant moles…
- N.
- Well, Noraland has Pink Ponies.
- T.
- ...with wings …
- N.
- Well, mine are pink unicorn ponies.
- T.
- ...and gills…
- N.
- ...and they have wings too and…
- T.
- ... so you can't get away from them…
- N.
- ...they have fairy princesses, magical fairy princesses…
- T.
- ...no matter where you go.
- N.
- ...to ride them.
- T.
- And anyway Nora, there's no such thing as magic.
- N.
- And they're ballerina fairy princesses.
- T.
- Well, my moles have bat wings and are really scary.
- N.
- Well… hum... my ponies have rainbow lasers.
So there you have it. 'Ballerina Fairy Princess on Flying Pink Pony Unicorn with Rainbow Laser'. The standard unit of the Noraland defense force.
P.S. While designing this piece, I had some additional input. Nora informed me that lasers are very hot (an observation she made after watching a science video), and thought I should add oven mitts to the Ballerina Fairy Princess, so she would not burn her fingers.