#bergen_county

Demetera tends to CJ, the old sayteress is reading a story to him

"Once upon a time, there was a young prince, named C.J..." She begins to read to him

"That's MY name" The boy gasps

"Truly?" The old goat smiles "What a crazy unforeseen happenstance.... must be a good name"

"It is!" CJ is sure and waits for her to go on

Sam... lurks, ostensibly playing video games

Totslly not paying atention and sussing out Demetra!

"Now Prince CJ was very small compared to some princes, and he couldn't wait to grow. Because every member of his family was so very tall and it can be hard being the smallest"

CJ nods sagely "yeah"

Her voice is engaging, and her smile gentle as she tells the story. "Now CJ's family was full of good people. They were kind and wise and were known to share pancakes"

CJ's eyes widen "MY family makes pancakes too!"

"Ooo, now this is just getting weird, isn't it?" Demetera says acting surprised "What are the odds? Still, weird can be fun sometimes?"

The boy nods

"But there are always those who do not like others sharing, and they don't like the shadows big kind people cast... for it makes them feel small, not in height, which is perfectly fine truly, many fine people are short. But because it makes them realize they're small in their hearts. And they don't like that. Rather than get bigger hearts by being nicer, or helping, they try to take down others who ARE nice."

"Why?" CJ asks

"Why indeed. Maybe they just don't want to put in the work of being nice? Maybe they are scared to try?" Demtera tuts "One of Life's mysteries you'll have to learn I fear. Anyway, one of these smal lhearted people was a WITCH... now there are good witches, and bad witches, and there are even witches who aren't good or bad but they don't bother anyone and are saving their pennies until they can get the money to get a proper cat, a rocking chair, and a book shelf to fill. Life goals, you know?"

The three year old did NOT know, but is fascinated

"But this witch was small hearted, and short, and mean. And she got jealous that the big hearted royal family was drinking up more sunlight even though she herself got plenty of sun all over herself if she just went out and said hello for the ten minutes or so each day that does you good. So, she took a piece of red tape, and cast a wicked wicked spell on it. She went to the castle where Prince CJ and his family lived, and used magic words...."

Brow?

"Homa Owna... Ech Em Oh.... I won't let you live the lives you love and know. Bound up in red tape you shall be. Until you're as miserable as miserable as me!" The nanny reads, then advises CJ "Then she cackled. I would show you how it sounded, but it was a scary cackle and I don't want to frighten you."

CJ Lifts his jaw "Ain't fraid"

"You sure? It scares me... if I do it, and get scared, will you tell me it's okay and that you'll protect me?" She asks

He nods somberly.

Demetra gives a pretty good aproximation of a wicked witch cackle

CJ's eyes bug out. THat WAS scary

Apparently his nanny thought so to, for she looks left and right and then goes "See, scared myself again."

CJ is scared too, but seeing someone else scared, and remembering his promise, he puts his tiny hand on the nanny's arm "its okay. I tect you"

Instantly the fear seems to leave the nanny, "Oh thank you. Fears are always easier to face with a friend. Oh but where was I?"

"Evil spell" the boy reminds

"Oh yes...the red tape gathered and wound ALLL About the house, trapping the doors, gumming up most of the windows, and more. And strong though they were, CJ's family could not get out. Why his princess sister could not break out, and ... she was very strong."

THIS is so WEIRD, CJ realizes. For he too, has a strong sister!

"But the witch did not think the Prince CJ was a threat. So while the tape that could not be broken went all around the castle.. it did not cover every square foot. For the royal father, the King, and his wife, the Queen, and yes, his sister, were so big they could not even do more than stick an arm out. They were trapped, trapped forever..." The Nanny explains

"Oh NO" CJ says

"Unless...." Demetera starts to say "But.. oh, well, it takes a lot of courage for Prince CJ to save the day. Do you think he could be brave?"

Unaware the stories do not normally change on audience votes, the toddler bobs his head up and down in affirmative.

"Well you are right. CJ was very brave. He said to his father who was so sad, and his mother who was tearful, and his sister who was so frustrated, 'Wait here, I will go out, and save us all, for I can save us with still small body, and my big big heart.' and he went through the sticky stuff.. and it snared at his shirt, and yanked at his shoes. But still he went! If he had a bigger body he'd not have been able. If he had a smaller heart? He'd have given up! But still he had trouble! "

"What'd he do?" CJ was sure that trying alone would be enough

"His sister could not get through, but she was strong, and so he looked back and said "Push, sister, push" and she did.. She pushed him through, and he came out the other side! Nearly falling, but he was not afraid of heights even though his mother warned him to be careful on them, as all good mothers do. He went to the land and tried to think of how to get the sticky stuff off from the outside. Because muscle was not enough!"

THe boy is flabberghasted. Trollish might seems to salve EVERYTHING "you SURE?"

"Evil magic spell," Demetera shows him the book he can't read "it's all right here. Very sure."

Well, can't argue with the book.

"Now, " the Nanny continues "he was outside, with sticky tape keeping him from his family. He had always thought his family was great because they were tall, and strong. But tall kept them trapped, and strength did not break the tape. But he knew they were great. And... he did what heroes have to do when courage and strength aren't enough . He used his brain, and he thought, and thought and thought. He took his time. And he thought of things his father and mother and sister were great at without tallness and strength. And how they ddealt with things that took more than that. The stuff was sticky. How had he seen folks get rid of sticky stuff before?"

CJ thinks, thinks, a long time... like... twenty whole seconds which is more than he can count it's so long!

He thinks of his father at the store, mopping up a mess. He thinks of his mother, getting stuff off a dish. He thinks of his sister, getting that stuff out of her hair by taking a shower...

"A bath?" CJ says

"Oh CJ, that's brilliant" The Nanny says "And Prince CJ had the same great idea. Really, I'm starting to think the Prince is a distant ancestor of yours at this rate. It's uncanny. " She goes on "Now this witch didn't like good people, or happy people. So Prince CJ realized that happiness could only help. SO... he turned on the sprinklers, invited all the local dogs to play with him, and got really really wet! The sprinklers splashed and the dogs tried to leap through the water, andthey got really really wet. And what do dogs do when they get wet?"

CJ grins and makes a frentic motion

"That's rihgt, they shake.. CJ got them all to shake.. and he shook too, and the water hit the red tape... the stickiness started to go off the trap, and the tape got loose!"

"Yay!" CJ said

"Oh yes, and Prince CJ called out with his big heart, and his little frame, and his mighty thinking brain and said "Father King, Mother Queen, Princess Sister, you can come out now! Let's play outside in the sun and mock silly witches who could have played too if they'd only tried."