The Boy Who Knows (Some) Charles Dickens

We were making popcorn. Mikah was performing his usual job of salting the popcorn in a big paper shopping bag. Then the lights went on (in his brain, I mean).

Mikah said, “Hey, Mom! Look! The popcorn is Mr. Smallweed and I’m Judy… okay? Watch!”

Then he shook the bag to distribute the salt while shouting, “Shake me up, Judy!”

I almost burned the next batch of popcorn, I was laughing so hard.

(Mr. Smallweed is a horrible, grumpy, wheelchair bound creep in Bleak House by Charles Dickens. He barks out “Shake me up, Judy!” to his granddaughter (?) Judy, which cues her to grab him from behind, under his arms. Then she lifts and shakes him as hard as she can. We get the idea he requires this for his bones because during the shaking he wails, “Oh, my bones!”)

I know, I just know, that we’ll be hearing, “Shake me up, Judy!” for years to come on popcorn night. And I will always be proud of my boy who knows (some) Dickens.