Tell Me About the Zoo

I just had a phone conversation with Ethan. We went through the usual questions. He always asks me, "Are you having fun?" To which I generally reply "Yes." I live with Masha. Of course I'm having fun :)

I know that in some cultures they greet each other by saying "Have you had food?" And when I got ambitious and started trying to learn Hebrew (a shortlived fling) I learned from Hebrew for Dummies that in Israel they say "How's your peace?" Hey man, how's your peace? I actually kind of like that.

As usual, Ethan and I stumble around trying to think of things to say.

"I have a new lego jet," he informs me. "It's right here in my hand. I can't wait till you can see it. How many days are you going to be there?"

"Umm...a lot of days, buddy. Like four months."

"Oh. Well, there are thirty days in a month."

"You're right!" I exclaim. "Who told you that?"

"Daddy. And there are 7 days in a week." I ask him if he knows the days of the week. He doesn't, so I list them off.

Long lull. I resist tempation to fill in the blanks. Maybe he is incubating some profound epiphany. Suddenly, he stirs, as if fueled by new life.

"There is something I want to talk to you about," he says, his tone becoming serious.

"Oh, what's that?"

"I want to talk to you about the zoo."

"Oh, ok, tell me about the zoo!" Mom and Dad took him to the zoo last week and I guess he's still pumped. I can hear his quickened breathing in my ear through the Skype phone and hear him shifting the phone.

"Well," he begins, "I dinnent see an ephelant, but I did see a lion."

"You did?"

"And I saw an alligator and birds and slithering snakes."

"Oh I love that word "slither," I say, grinning as I pace the floor of the Crowes' schoolroom.

"Yeah. And I saw g'raffes."

"What were they like?" I glance out the window at the sparse snowflakes falling.

"They had tall necks, and they were eating."

"What were they eating?"

"I dunno. But I saw a lion."

"What did it look like?" I press, wondering what description I'll get this time.

"It had a hairy neck."

I also discover that he saw meercats and penguins at the zoo, fed ducks, and got sunglasses and toy animals and a ball that he accidentally left.

"And what was your favorite part about the hotel?" I press for more. He doesn't even have to stop to think.

"Garfield!" He watched the movie there, apparently.

I've never had a phone conversation this long and detailed with my little brother before. He's growing up, that one. I don't know if I'll even recognize him when I get home...