Nothing could have been more better than a  lovely Wednesday afternoon, and a  call from a dear friend inviting us over to see her Orange orchard in full bloom.

It was a school holiday, the middle or the week(for Pete’s Sakes), when the shelves and closets that you had cleaned over the weekend, looked like they have not been rearranged for ages.

A school HOLIDAY in the middle of the week also spells a break from the monotonous routine, actually a speed breaker to the mechanized getting up, dressing to school, lunch, tiffin ideas and the homework schedule.

It is most definitely YIPPEE time for the kids. Mum at home, the TV remote in hand, chips and snacks at call and their life is all set.

The thought of the children home in the morning, lazying in bed and fidgeting with the TV remote, arguing over what cartoons to watch, demanding breakfast in bed, is one of the most annoying things to happen. But the invitation to the Orchard changed it all. I could not have asked for a more better time to make the troublesome two get up from bed.

Me: Yippee! We are going to see an Orange Orchard.

The Kids: Aw No! But we want to see TV

Me: No ways, get up and lets get dressed and go and have fun!

The Kids: But This is fun already, TV and all

Me: I mean a different fun, lets go!

The Kids: You adults always want your type of fun. Whats wrong with our type of fun?

Good Question, but the answer is Universal, all across the world, the solar system even.

Me: Get up and get dressed before I lose my head”.

Period! Right at this point of time, my pitch and volume has raised,  my eyes have gained twice the size, my nose is flaring and my blood pressure has definitely shot up.

The dramatics produced the required effect and the kids have already scampered to the bathroom.

A while later I caught the 3.y.o standing buck naked outside the bath, whiling his time.

Me: Hey, young man, didn’t you hear me, why aren’t you dressed yet?

Him: Ma! I was just wondering, will you let me watch TV for the rest of the evening uninterrupted after we have done YOUR picnic at the orchard?

Me: Why not babes, surely!

He  punched his hand in the air and walk with glee into the bathroom, happy that he had negotiated a FRUITFUL BUSINESS PROPOSAL to his benefit, out of an ACTIVITY of compulsion.

Way to go little one! I never once suspected your street smartness.