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“Awww, you’re in trouble!” taunted Ethan. “Am not!” replied his sister. “Are too!” responded Ethan. This went on for a full five minutes before I decided to intervene. “Ethan, please stop teasing your sister,” I requested. “See, I knew you were trying to trick me!” shouted Kennedy. This tirade began the moment Kennedy walked in the door. I told her to be home by noon and by my watch, she had come home on time. Yet, as I looked around the kitchen, all of the clocks showed her ten minutes late. Something was going on. I just hadn’t figured out what. Ethan was obviously trying to get his sister in trouble. And based on the smirk on his face, he had done something to incite this “lateness.” But what was it? “Mom, aren’t you going to punish her?” Ethan asked. “I don’t know, Ethan. By my watch, Kennedy’s on time.” “See!” screeched Kennedy. “But Mom! The clocks don’t lie! It’s 12:10. She’s late! You have to punish her. That’s the rule!” I hated when Ethan had a point. But I couldn’t ignore that devilish look in his eye. So, I did what any mother would do; I interrogated the accuser, pretending I already knew the answer to all of my questions. “Ethan, is there something you want to tell your sister?” “No….” he said shuffling his feet. “Hmmm…” I responded. “Then, how is it that my watch says she’s on time.” Then, I walked over to the computer and checked the time. “And the computer says she’s on time. So, why don’t you explain why you think she’s late.” That’s when he started laughing because of course he had gone around the house resetting clocks so they ran ten minutes fast. That’s what twelve year old brothers do, right? |