The world is a different place when you're 4 years old. The world is big and full of unknown spaces, and on top of it, you're pretty much a slave to your neuropsychology because it's the only yardstick you have.

"You're not coming? Then I don't want to go"

That was the story in the late day's end time at bed time. I don't blame you! There's the scary Birthday Monster that will eat up all the candy and cake open all the presents and blow the candles out the window ...

"Candy?"

Well we laughed about that and the lights went out and no further word about it until 8am when

"Is Mrs Wes here yet? I have to put my name on my card and wrap the present and ..."

3 hours is a tough concept to endure. So we had breakfast, got dressed, brushed our teeth (doing normal things is good therapy for anyone under stress, even if it's just the first-party trembling with anticip-
-ation)

By 10 it was time to get the ball rolling. That's when it became my turn to panic: Mama's away down in the city for two days, and although we'd been assured the gift was wrapped and ready, it wasn't. Where's the paper? Where's the tape? Where's the pens? What's the time?...

The party-guy, meanwhile, was cool like cucumbers, all in stride, picked out a shirt and pants, went and found his socks, even combed his hair (with a little help) and signed the card and went downstairs to wait ... all by 10:30. From there, it was an easy walk out the door when Wes's mom came by to pick him up and down the walk and out of sight gone to his first solo birthday party.

Me and the little guy, well, we found some purple Christmas chocolates and set to making ourselves feel all purple again...

So what else helps you feel purple again?

"Like purple chocolate balls ... like playing ... like sleeping ... like games, like dot-coms like Bob the Builder ... I like three things"

Three things?

"Three things, three like a number. Things that starts with 'three'..."

Ok. Mental note: When you ask a 3 year old for psychological insight, you get what you get.