சண்டை போடுங்க!

Because of our abundance love for C, we typically call her with different pet names. I say “panni kutti”, “kutti pappa”, and D says “pottu kutti” and Athai says “kutti thangam”, etc.

We have been aware of C’s “jealousy game” in which she would tell me that “நான் அம்மா பிள்ளை” and see if I get irritated. Some other time she would say “Chantel loves amma” and would explore my face for hints of jealously. It was a tacit understanding that I had to tell C either (a) “amma loves appa” or (b) “appa loves amma”. If D was nearby, she could participate in the game by giving similar responses.

Yesterday night, C told me that she was “amma’s pottu kutti”. When C didnt get any response from me, C turned to D and told her: “naan appa’s kutti pappa”. When D didnt respond, C looked at both of us imploringly and then said, “சண்டை போடுங்க!”