who's the boss?

this post has been a long time in coming ...

most who read this blog already know this story, but since a big point of this exercise is to record things for posterity (read: for publicly embarrassing our progeny at an opportune moment during their adult lives), it is today that we share the story of jarges.

let us begin with a statement of fact: many young children have imaginary friends. this is not uncommon and quite normal. in fact, it may even be positive according to no less an authority than wondertime magazine.

however ... and we acknowledge we have no empirical evidence with which to back this assertion ... having an imaginary *boss* is -- ahem -- less common.

and yet, that is exactly what jack has.

jack's boss is named jarges.

we have adopted a french spelling, though we have also entertained the possibility that it is a more kyrgyz spelling of zhargh.

jack's imaginary boss can be something of a tyrant. he is apparently a concert promoter who requires jack to perform many dancing concerts a day. usually a whistle blows, and jack must begin to dance.

jack only seems to catch a break when jarges goes on vacation. jarges has recently traveled to china, mexico (multiple visits) and new york city on the vamoose bus. however, while he is on the road, jarges is always sure to check in with jack by email on his blackberry.

jack also gets a break from the constant mandated performing when jarges is sick and injured. jarges took ill in mid-may when he fell into poison ivy and ate rocks which caused him to throw up. we are told he was hospitalized for these maladies.

but, jarges is also apparently something of a benevolent despot -- on july 1 he turned thirty-eleven (because he is older than daddy). he was going to have a birthday party, however in this case the post office ran out of stamps, the mailmen all got sick and were instructed by the doctor to stay in bed for 11 days, and -- bad news -- the party was canceled.

which was really too bad since we had a present all ready to go! jack said that since jarges was old (older than daddy, so that's saying something) he wanted furniture. mommy suggested a bed but that was apparently a terrible idea, per jack. jarges, he declared, wanted a refrigerator for his birthday.

how long will jarges be in our lives ... only time will tell. for now he's is a constant presence and as long as he is ... we're gonna keep on dancing.