The Taming of the Room
A telling of how I got my daughter to clean her room but with a Shakespeare twist......cause why not?
Act I, Scene I — The Realm of the Stuffed Beasts
Lo! Upon entering the chambers of mine six-year-old heir, I didst behold a tempest of toys, a most foul tangle of dolls, garments, and glitter crusted into the very earth.
Mine soul cried out, “O chaos! O sticky floor of doom!”
But she, the Lady of the Room, spake thus:
“I’m not cleaning. It’s... too much.”
I, being but a humble father with snack dust on his tunic, did ponder mightily.
Then came a most cunning stratagem.
Act II — The Great Quest
“Dearest child,” quoth I, “a dreadful curse hath been cast upon thy kingdom! The floor is lava. The toys? Trolls in disguise. Only a brave princess may banish this blight, but she must gather each enchanted artifact (in alphabetical order, preferably).”
She blinked. Then gasped.
Then grabbed a tutu and charged.
Act III — Victory & Fruit Snacks
With broom in hand and a tiara of resolve, she didst vanquish the mess.
I offered her a fruit snack chalice. She accepted, as nobility does.
And thus the realm was restored. For now.
Epilogue
Was it bribery? A touch.
Manipulation? Perchance.
But by my beard, the room was clean and no mortal shall question the methods of a desperate father at bedtime.
Fin.
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