Mazzy, at 3, has seen many a movie in her day. So many, in fact, that a large part of her everyday dialogue is the recitation/dramatic performance of scenes from her favorites. It's sometimes hard to tell whether she's talking to you or performing for you. She's also got a few go-to scenes she uses in particular scenarios. A common example:
Maz: "Mom, I'm hungry."
Me: "Can I make you a snack?"
Maz: "I really am hungry, mother."
Me: "What would you like?"
Maz: "I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole elephant."
So, it turns out, she's doing "Rolly" from 101 Dalmatians. She really is hungry, is the thing, but she has to say it with dramatic flair. Another one we hear a lot comes when we're calling the dog back to the house.
Me: "Stella! (whistle, pause) Stella!"
Maz: (busting through the door) "What do you think you're doing out there?... I'm going to have to get you before another fish does...Get back here!...I said, get back here NOW!... STOP!...You take one more move, mister (Stella runs into the yard)...NEMO!...(Mazzy follows her into the house) You're in big trouble, young man."
And there we have the memorable boat scene from Finding Nemo.
My personal favorite, though, because of the timing of its execution, has to be the Cinderella scene she does when she gets sent to her room. If it's been a while since you've seen the movie, there's a part where the Evil Stepmother realizes that Cinderella really did dance with the Prince and she follows her up to her room in the tower (?) and locks her in and slinks away with the key like only the cruelest of villains can do.
So, in this one, I assume the role of heartless villain, naturally.
Me: (closing door to Mazzy's room) "You can come out when you're ready to be nice."
Maz: "Let me out!... Oh, please let me out. (dramatic sobbing and banging on the door) You can't keep me in here!...Oh-ho-ho pleeeaase!"
Don't get me wrong, I don't delight in her anguish, but I usually find myself laughing at this point because I'm amazed at her dedication to the craft.
Anyway, of all these films she's watched, none have ever brought her to tears. This is not because we shield her from the sad ones. She likes those the best, actually. She went through a big Old Yeller phase, and Charlotte's Web, Bambi, Finding Nemo. Early on, I would be waiting in the wings when Bambi's mom gets shot, ready to console Mazzy. No crying, though. Not once. Until yesterday.
We have a winner, folks. Mazzy finally crumbled watching My Dog Skip. Will's mom gives him a puppy for his ninth birthday and his dad takes the puppy away and says "Maybe next year." I was actually excited when Maz turned around to me with those teary cheeks and big eyes with the grief-stricken puzzled look.
It was a big step for her. And now she has some new material to work with.
Maz: "Mom, I'm hungry."
Me: "Can I make you a snack?"
Maz: "I really am hungry, mother."
Me: "What would you like?"
Maz: "I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole elephant."
So, it turns out, she's doing "Rolly" from 101 Dalmatians. She really is hungry, is the thing, but she has to say it with dramatic flair. Another one we hear a lot comes when we're calling the dog back to the house.
Me: "Stella! (whistle, pause) Stella!"
Maz: (busting through the door) "What do you think you're doing out there?... I'm going to have to get you before another fish does...Get back here!...I said, get back here NOW!... STOP!...You take one more move, mister (Stella runs into the yard)...NEMO!...(Mazzy follows her into the house) You're in big trouble, young man."
And there we have the memorable boat scene from Finding Nemo.
My personal favorite, though, because of the timing of its execution, has to be the Cinderella scene she does when she gets sent to her room. If it's been a while since you've seen the movie, there's a part where the Evil Stepmother realizes that Cinderella really did dance with the Prince and she follows her up to her room in the tower (?) and locks her in and slinks away with the key like only the cruelest of villains can do.
So, in this one, I assume the role of heartless villain, naturally.
Me: (closing door to Mazzy's room) "You can come out when you're ready to be nice."
Maz: "Let me out!... Oh, please let me out. (dramatic sobbing and banging on the door) You can't keep me in here!...Oh-ho-ho pleeeaase!"
Don't get me wrong, I don't delight in her anguish, but I usually find myself laughing at this point because I'm amazed at her dedication to the craft.
Anyway, of all these films she's watched, none have ever brought her to tears. This is not because we shield her from the sad ones. She likes those the best, actually. She went through a big Old Yeller phase, and Charlotte's Web, Bambi, Finding Nemo. Early on, I would be waiting in the wings when Bambi's mom gets shot, ready to console Mazzy. No crying, though. Not once. Until yesterday.
We have a winner, folks. Mazzy finally crumbled watching My Dog Skip. Will's mom gives him a puppy for his ninth birthday and his dad takes the puppy away and says "Maybe next year." I was actually excited when Maz turned around to me with those teary cheeks and big eyes with the grief-stricken puzzled look.
It was a big step for her. And now she has some new material to work with.
1 comment:
"Dumb dog, why are you following me...I ain't got a crumb dog..."
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