A Very Odd(apus) Child

(My sister and I take a trip out of town for a few days and stay with some relatives. To thank me for babysitting their three- and five-year-old daughters, they tell us to pick any restaurant and we’d go there for dinner. I ask the kids what they thought and they insist on a Japanese grill and buffet. Once we are seated, the following exchange takes place:)

Cousin: “Okay, girls, what do you want to eat?”

Five-Year-Old: “I want pizza, rice, and chicken!”

Three-Year-Old: “I wan’ oddapus.”

Cousin: “You want… octopus? Are you sure?”

Three-Year-Old: “ODDAPUS.”

(My cousin comes back from the buffet with a plate of tiny octopi in some kind of sauce. I look on in horrified fascination as she eats them with gusto.)

Me: “Are… are those good, sweetie?”

Three-Year-Old: “Yep.” *sticks another octopus in her mouth*

(She is a much braver person than I am!)