Aaarrrgghhhhh!
My daughter has three 'best'-caliber friends, two girls and one boy. She has been friends with all since we moved here two and a half years ago, and it is fun to watch them grow up together. Fi also has quite the collection of toys and costumes, and loves to put on 'plays' for me when friends are over. The well-beloved dolls regularly frequent the plays in supporting roles, and since the two favorite costumes are queen and pirate, those often figure in as well. I find it quite amusing to note that only when the male friend is here playing (as today) do the dolls end up executed - hung from the mast by the pirates. "We're pirates after all, mama, what do you expect?" asks my darling girl, after generously sparing one lucky little fellow to be cook, "unless he's no good, then he can walk the plank". :) I guess pirates will be pirates...