Mischief loves company

The kids have just learnt to form an alliance whenever either one gets into trouble. I’d like to think that it’s because of their deep love and affection for each other but it’s more likely that they’ve discovered this gets them out of trouble decidedly faster.

It’s probably hereditary because I used to do it with my brother and it worked brilliantly for us. We would devise elaborate plans just so that we could go out gallivanting when we were supposed to be doing project work at a friend’s house. My parents had a rule where we had to call home from the said friend’s house to make sure we were actually there and we’d take turns to conveniently happen to pick up the phone to report that the other one had reached safely and was not in fact, loitering at Bedok Interchange.

That was until my little sister came along and snitched on us so we had to lock her in the storeroom for an hour to help her learn the importance of sibling solidarity. Then we all lived happily ever after. Sort of.

Now I’m actually looking forward to the day that I can bust one of their elaborate little schemes. Depending on how impressive it is, I might even pretend to be fooled and let them get away with it. But it would have to be truly ingenious, is all I’m saying.

So back to yesterday. In trying to prevent his sister from touching his precious trains, Tru hid them in my bedroom and locked the door behind him. This would have been ok if I had spare keys lying around the house but from the last locked-bedroom debacle, you probably already know I don’t, which meant it was hammer time again.

Generally, for misdemeanors, I make him face the wall for 5 minutes but he gets fidgety and starts to inch away after 5 seconds. This one required something more severe so I put him in a little corner behind the door and held it in place with the sofa (it’s a very complicated setup) so he couldn’t make a getaway.

Truett was peering out with his face stuck between the gap going “Excuse me, let me out!” and I had to ignore him because it was his timeout to reflect on the error of his ways.

Fortunately for him, he had a sister to come right to his rescue. She dropped her toys and came running like “DON’T WORRY KOR KOR I HELP U OK!!!”

Kirsten: Are you stuck, kor kor?

Tru: Yes I’m stuck, can you let me out please?

Kirsten: Ok wait, I help you, don’t worry. *yanks at the door* Aarrgghh, I got no strength.

Tru: Mei mei, you can do it! Pull harder.

Kirsten: I CAN DO IT!! *more yanking and grunting*

That little tag-team move earned him an escape from the naughty corner after a minute and a half. I gave him a 1.5 minute discount for teamwork and the other 2 minute discount was for having an adoring little sister.