After seeing Matt's friend and his friend's fiance, I later had dinner with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and Sarah. She loves french fries, but her mommy rarely lets her have them (because even though they are oh so yummy they are bad bad bad). Every once in a while she'd look at me, reach out her left hand, and ask, "Please?"

Only after she finished all of her dinner and some of my mom's dessert did my sister-in-law allow Sarah one fry. My brother wanted to be the one to give her this forbidden treat, but I fended him away from my plate and reached over to give her a french fry.

While she happily ate her fry, I tried to put bit of positive association with saying Auntie and good things. "See. Auntie. Auntie gives you yummy food. Say Auntie?" She garbled a few words, and then I tried again. "Auntie. If you say Auntie I'll give you another french fry." My sister-in-law and brother laughed. And then I thought I heard a small voice say, "Auntie." The whole table turned to look at her. All of us were wondering, did she?

After a little coaxing she said again in a loud voice, "Auntie!" And I gave her the promised fry and a big kiss.