The Gravity of the Situation

This is Isaac's patch shirt.  It's his favorite shirt.  Today I learned that in addition to looking good, the patch also doubles as a walkie-talkie type communication device.  Now put that information aside for a second while I tell you about Gravity.

Isaac has an imaginary friend that stops by regularly.  His name is Gravity.  He tends to show up while the sisters are at school.  He usually plays trains, cars, or tag, and eats snacks with Isaac.  Gravity is a little mischievous, and Isaac does a good job watching out for Gravity to make sure he doesn't get in any trouble.  He makes sure doors are locked and dangerous things are put away so that Gravity stays safe.  He does get frustrated when he has to clean up Gravity's messes.  He sometimes argues with me over the injustice of cleaning up a mess that he didn't make.  "But Mom, Gravity made these toys fall to the ground."

Gravity showed up for the first time several months ago, just after Ella explained to Isaac why a necklace she was playing with kept sliding off her leg even though she wasn't touching it.  I think the explanation was something like "There's an invisible force, called gravity that pulls things to the ground."  Since then Gravity has shown up in a couple other unexpected, and completely relevant places.  

In September I took Isaac to Vermont.  We went to Shelburne Orchards to pick apples.  I was looking forward to introducing him to cider donuts and the giant rope swing.  Unfortunately, the rope swing was out of commission, so we played on the slide instead.  "Look mom, Gravity is helping me go down the slide."  

Last month we went to the Cranberry Harvest Festival, and we went on a tractor ride tour of the bogs.  Isaac was excited to hear our tour guide tell us how gravity helps fill the bogs with water.  "Mom, Gravity helps them!"

Back to the patch shirt walkie-talkie thing.  I learned about his communication device today when he told me "I talked to the Tall Gravities, to ask them if Gravity could come over for a sleep over."  

"The Tall Gravities?"

"Yes, they are Gravity's parent's."

"Oh, I see.  That makes sense."  *trying not to laugh

"Mom this is serious,  this is about Gravity."

Isaac enjoying a cider donut with Gravity.