Symbiosis At Its Best

Symbiosis is defined as "any interdependent or mutually beneficial relationship between two persons, groups" (this is one of the only science terms I remember from high school and I don't know why it stands out, but it does).  My relationship with Joel could be described as symbiotic.  Besides the obvious parent/child benefits, there's an added bonus to our relationship - Joel has a full-time, live-in stand up comic to entertain him and I have a willing audience with which to share my complete goofiness.  


Take this morning, for example.  As I was telling Joel what I was packing in his lunch, he asked for some "doo-doo muah" (his word for love).  His request came at the same time as I was grabbing a muffin.  My response?  I pretended to lick the top of the muffin followed by a quick (fake) swipe against my butt and said, "There's your doo-doo muah".  Needless to say, he cracked up.


Or maybe last week is a better example.  Joel had been complaining that his right leg was sore.  After I had gotten him into bed, I pulled off his sock and my charade began.  I told Joel that it didn't look good and our only option was to immediately cut off his leg, below the knee.  I grabbed his nail clippers and shushed his fears with a quick, "It's okay - I know what I'm doing.  I got a 55% in Biology 101".  I explained that there might be some blood after I was done clipping off his leg, but it would feel much better.  I asked him to close his eyes and count to three.  When he got to two, I swiped the edge of the clippers across his leg and shrieked.  Joel screamed the girliest scream I've heard in a long time.  As soon as he saw that I was laughing, he let loose with a belly laugh of his own.  Sometimes he is just too damn gullible, but it's so much fun.


One of the most common pranks I pull on Joel is that I spin an outlandish tale, but convince him it's true.  Last week, as Joel and I were discussing his upcoming eye surgery, I had him believing that he was actually going in for more leg surgery and because his cast would be too big to come home in, he would have to live at school until January.  No detail was omitted as I told him how he would sleep on the high jump mats and have full run of the cafeteria for breakfast.  When I finally told Joel I was kidding, he laughed so hard he farted.


I love that kid.