May 17. “Button, come, I’ll give you a spelling test.”

“I don’t like tests.”

“I assure you lots of fun.”

“But don’t make it too tough.”

“Spell FRIEND.”

“That’s easy: F-R-E-I-N-D.”

“Wrong. My younger daughter still remembers how she’d spell it the way you’ve just spelt it when she was in the 3^rd standard and get beaten up by me. It’s FRIEND and you get a zero on one. The next word is TELEPHONE.”

“T-E-L-E-P-H-O-N-E.”

That’s right. Your score is one on two.”

“It’s past 11 and I am sleepy.”

“Conveniently!”

“No, really. I don’t know why I am so sleepy today. Must be the rice I’ve eaten. Can we please continue with the test tomorrow?’

“Okay. We’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Goodnight.”

“Sleep tight.”