Making and receiving phone calls

When Nathaniel was really little, my sister was trying to adjust to the idea that one day he'd grow up and be a walking, talking person. She said, "I just can't believe that one day he'll be telling jokes. He'll have friends. HE'LL MAKE AND RECEIVE PHONE CALLS."

I agreed, at that time it was hard to believe that he'd be all grown up and be able to make the really tough decisions ... like what flavor of Pop-Tart he wanted to have for breakfast.

So really ever since he could talk, he's been willing to talk on the phone in bits and pieces, just to say hello or I love you to relatives. In the past couple of years, he's even been able to elaborate a little bit with stories and things ... like what flavor of Pop-Tart he had for breakfast.

But Friday night when we got home, he was in a huge hurry to make a phone call. Really, his first phone call with purpose, to a non-relative.

Nathaniel: "MOMMY. I need to call Patrick as soon as possible."

Me: "Why?"

Nathaniel: "We said at school that we were both going to play Wizard101 tonight, and we're going to meet online. So I have to call him and tell him I'm getting online RIGHT NOW."

[Patrick is a fellow Cub Scout in our den, and he also goes to school with Nathaniel, although they aren't in the same class. We gave him the number, and he called.]

Nathaniel: "May I speak to Patrick?"

[pause]

Nathaniel: "PATRICK. I'm getting on Wizard101 RIGHT NOW. Can you get online right now? OK. Bye."

[So then there was this whole dramatic thing where he got online, there were two more phone calls in which the boys tried to figure out where they were supposed to meet up, and what followed can only be described as Epic Frustration when they couldn't find each other in Wizard World. Next, Patrick called back and we couldn't get to the phone quickly enough, so he left a frantic voicemail that cracked me up.]

Patrick: "HEY NATHANIEL. CALL ME BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN. 'CUZ I AM NEXT TO GAMMA, AND I WANT YOU TO COME STAND ON ... DADDY, WHAT SIDE AM I ON?"

Patrick's Dad: "YOU'RE STANDING NEXT TO GAMMA."

Patrick: "I'M STANDING NEXT TO GAMMA. Bye. I love you. WAIT."

Patrick's Dad: [exasperated] "Hang up the phone."

From that, Grayson and I deduced that -- much like Nathaniel -- Patrick's new to talking to people on the phone that (1) he's not related to, and therefore (2) that he doesn't automatically tell he loves them.

I thought it was so cute that I saved it and I've already listened to it six times. I giggle every time.