24-hour restaurant, breakfast time. Crowded. Mom, dad, 2 kids.

One in a highchair - about 2. Needs lots of help from mom.

The one in the lion shirt is 4 or 5, and bored. He's done coloring. He's hungry. He's thirsty.

I'm waiting for my breakfast. eggs. sausage. boring food, but I'm hungry enough to eat it.

I'm not dad. I'm two tables away; the one between us is empty. Dad is hiding behind the paper. Very important stuff. Mom's back is toward me.

The one in the lion shirt roars at his mom. He's learned to do so quietly. She told him to hush.

I caught his eye, and imitated a lion's roar back (voiceless).

He looks at his mom. She's too busy to see him looking. He roars back. so do I.

We trade attempts to see how wide our mouths can get. that kid can really screw up his face when he wants to. I wonder how screwed up mine looks. Mom knows.

She's happy 'cause the kid is active & quiet. We roar back and forth until the food comes. She focuses the kid on food.

I eat, pay my two bits and have something to grin about.