Looking out for the littlest

Like most young children, Pumpkin has a tendency to get on bedtime book jags.  Night after night, in spite of my attempts to entice her with all of the other lovely books on her shelf, she will select the same book from the pile.  Night after night I read the same words, with the same inflection, and try not to drift off to sleep before the exciting conclusion.  The past few nights the book of choice has been The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

The version we have of this classic story is really quite charming.  I enjoy the illustrations and it has been re-told in such a way that is very true to the original.  This particular book was also a fan favorite of each of my boys at various times and so I am quite familiar with its content.  But as we all know, familiarity can breed complacency which was why I was so delighted when Pumpkin opened my eyes anew to this well known little tale.

The other night, after the three billy goats had successfully gotten themselves to the lush meadow of green grass and daisies, I proceeded to close the book with a cheerful, The End.  Pumpkin, however, was not quite finished.

She took the book from my hands and studied its cover in silence for a moment.  She ran her small hand over the picture, pausing for a second on each of the three billy goats.  Then she slowly said, Mommy?  Her brow furrowed and her gaze became increasingly quizzical.  She said again, slowly and thoughtfully, Mommy?  Why didn't the BIG billy goat just go first?

Before I could answer (or start laughing) she said again, answering her own question, Yeah.  He should have gone first.  He was the BIGGEST.  Why did the little one go first?  He might have been EATEN!

I looked at the picture with her and said all that I could think to say,  I don't know, Pumpkin. But you're right, that would have made more sense, wouldn't it?

She nodded firmly, Yes.  The biggest one should have gone first.

I thought her new enlightened view of The Three Billy Goats Gruff might mean it would get relegated to the bottom of the pile again, but no.  We read it again tonight and she still wondered why that tiny little billy goat was sent to the wolves first when the biggest billy goat had the power to defeat the troll all along.

I guess I can take comfort in knowing there is no way Pumpkin will allow herself to be manipulated by her two older, much bigger brothers into being the first to cross any bridges occupied by trolls.