Power of the Imagination

Last night I was playing outside with two Lilys, both 3-year-old daughters of two of my dearest friends in the whole wide world. We were playing Pirates, and after a tumultuous voyage in which we encountered not only whales but also Jedi Knights, we finally made port and came ashore. We began our hunt for hidden treasure, and what did we find? Besides orange shards of plastic (gold dubloons), a few bouncy balls (magic pie), we found a pink fluffy shoe. Lily R. cupped it in her hands and looked at me gravely: "This must be a witch's shoe. If you put it on, you become a witch." I nodded.

Lily A. came running up to us with her own found treasure, saw the shoe, and moved to put it on her foot. I covered my eyes and play-shouted "No! Don't put it on!" I looked over at Lily R. who was also shouting, she was screaming: "NO NO NO! DON'T PUT IT ON!" She was terrified and near tears - she literally thought Lily A. was going to turn into a witch. With all her heart she thought her cousin was going to become a witch. I snatched her hand and said "Lily - we are playing pretend! She won't really become a witch! It's okay honey!" She regarded me with true 3-year-old incredulity. "Maybe it's actually a princess shoe? Maybe she's actually turned into a princess instead?" Then I groveled at her feet while murmuring promises worthy of the most humble servant, and that did the trick.