(Untitled)

[maxthemonkey]

[at the table, concentrating on homework]

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[maxthemonkey]

[returns to the table after looking at Charlie's picture book; picks up his pencil and writes his last word]

I am done! [gives Garrett a big grin]

[maxthemonkey]

[his eyes go wide] Really? [he looks at the page] What let-ter?

[garrett_cain]

Let's take a look at your list. [points to the first word] On this one, you have all the right letters but the last two should be 'el-ee'. It does sound like it should be 'ee-el', but it's one of those sounds that ends in 'el-ee.'

[maxthemonkey]

[watches Garrett's mouth as he speaks, then looks at the word; Leora's name starts with 'le' but it sounds different] Ap-lee? [makes a face and looks at Garrett] Pull... pull.. puul [makes another face] Are you pov-stive?

[garrett_cain]

[smiles] I'm positive, kiddo. If you want, I can see if Mommy has a dictionary and we can check it.

[maxthemonkey]

[shakes his head] I bel- [makes a face, because that's one of the words that always trips him up] -eeve you Daddy. [pats his arm] How do you spell brother?

[garrett_cain]

Brother is b-r-o-t-h-e-r. Vowels can be difficult because there are so many rules for how they should sound or if they're silent.

[maxthemonkey]

[looks at what he wrote; makes a face] I bet-ter get more paper. [nods and climbs down from his chair; runs to his room and returns a moment later, with a piece of blank paper]

[writes 'apple', taking care to make sure he flips the E and L; starts 'brother', pausing to look at what he wrote again] Broo-ther [makes a face and repeats the O] B.. r.. oooooo.. Bro. [looks at Garrett and gives him a half-nod] Right?

[garrett_cain]

[nods] Yep, that's right. [smiles as Max tries to sound it out]

[maxthemonkey]

[smiles and looks at his first word] Bru-ther Broo-ther. Ther... th-tha [makes a face and starts writing again; he knows it's TH] urrr [looks at Garrett again and makes a face] Urr?

[garrett_cain]

It's the same err as in her, h-e-r. [takes a sip of his coffee]

[maxthemonkey]

[looks at the table] Broo-th-herr [makes another face as he tries to see the letters then shakes his head when his eyes cross; points to each letter he's already written, then writes another H] B-r-o-t-h-h-e-r.

[garrett_cain]

One 'h' in brother. [nods] How 'bout we take a break from all this learnin' stuff, my brain is hurtin'.

[maxthemonkey]

[makes a face and scribbles through one of the Hs] I think this is a good idea.

[he did finish his homework, so he can play now]

[garrett_cain]

So, you wanna watch a movie or play one of your video games or play catch or chase chickens?

[maxthemonkey]

[eyes him and points to the book] Did you fin-ish all your work? [he doesn't want to get Daddy in trouble... even if he knows Mommy won't be able to stay mad]