The Mystery of the Pacifier

After friends of ours had their second child, we paid them a visit.  We oohed and awwed over their beautiful little girl.  And laughed-hysterically.

As parents, when you have a newborn and they cry, what do you do?  Pull out the reliable pacifier.  The bink, noonie, nuby, binky, paci, or whatever name you affectionately (or not so affectionately) call it by, is one of those items that many parents rely on in the early days of a child's life (and sometimes later).

Our friends also have a four year old.  He is adorable, full of energy and laughter.  Oh, and I can't forget mischievousness.

Our twice blessed new daddy was given a pacifier by his little boy for the baby.  He was shocked that the tip was missing.  He kept turning it over in his hands wondering how such a thing could happen.  He was also very concerned since what would have happened if it had come off in his daughters mouth.  

Then he turned to his son and asked him how it had fallen off.  When his son just looked at him in innocence, he asked if it had been like that when his son picked it up. 

His son shrugged.  Mmmmhmmm.  Then after a minute, in all seriousness he said, "weeellllll some people cut them."

Huh?

In the kitchen there was a telltale pair of scissors on the counter.  When he confronted his son and asked if he had cut it, his son looked at him very solemnly, shaking his head.

"Some people just cut them," he replied.

It's all about deniability, folks.  Spoken like a future lawyer. 

He knew he wasn't allowed to play with scissors.  If he just admitted that someone cut it but not who he wasn't techinically lying and wouldn't get in trouble, right?  Not quite.

Months later, we still chuckle whenever this story comes up in conversation (obviously when the kids are not in the room or we just allude cryptically to that time if they are).