He’s Ducking With You

(My four-year-old son loves stuffed animals and has a rather large collection of them. I have just arrived home from work and am about to pay my babysitter when this happens.)

Son: “Mom, can you get Ducky?”

Me: “I have to pay [Babysitter] first.”

Babysitter: “It’s okay; I can wait.”

(My son has two stuffed ducks. I get the one he likes more.)

Me: “I got him.”

Son: “That’s not Ducky!”

Me: “All right, I’ll get the other one.”

Me: *about five minutes later* “Okay, here’s Ducky.”

Son: “That’s not him either.”

Babysitter: “He was playing with Ducky outside earlier today. I’ll get it.”

(She goes to the back yard and returns with a stuffed cat.)

Son: “Thanks!”

Babysitter: “No problem. See you tomorrow.”

Me: “Thank you. Have a nice day.” *I pay her and she goes home*

Me: *to son* “Why did you name your cat Ducky?”

Son: “To mess with people.”

(I have since memorized the names of all his toys.)