The Jacob Interview

My grandson Jacob has been visiting us,along with his family, for the last two days. Jacob is a bright, active seven-year old who attends second grade at a Horace Mann charter school in Hyannis on the Cape. Horace Mann charter schools are part of the local school district (his is the Barnstable public schools) and do not take funding away from the school district, but are able to do things that are not part of the standard contract. I decided to interview Jacob, to try to get inside the mind of today's seven-year old.

Ed: Good morning Jacob. Who are those animals you're carrying?
Jacob: Blackie, Snauzer Baby, Dasher and Buster.
Ed: Wow. That's a lot of animals. What kind of animals are they?
Jacob: Blackie is a cat. Snauzer Baby is a dog. Dasher is a reindeer. And Buster is a dog.
Ed: Don't they keep you awake at night?
Jacob: No. They help me sleep.
Ed: So, what do you want for breakfast?
Jacob: I want Mickey Mouse pancakes.
Ed: And who's going to make them for you?
Jacob: Grandpa is going to make them for me.
Ed: Really? Are you sure he will?
Jacob: Yes, cause he always does.
Ed: Are they edible?
Jacob: Yes, they're really good and edible.
Ed: Flattery will get you everywhere, young man. So, what is your favorite video game?
Jacob: That's a tough one. I guess it is Kirby's Epic Yarn. You are this little pink guy named Kirby and you have to kill the evil guy, Yin-Yarn. He's the boss of the whole game. But I already beat him because I passed the whole game. 
Ed: Do you play video games with your friends?
Jacob: Yes. I played Kirby's Epic Yarn with my friend Ben. I also like Just Dance. It has popular songs like Monster Mash. There's a shadow and you have to copy the moves. If you do it better than the other guy, you win. I also play that with Ben. 
Ed: Do you ever get to higher levels in the games?
Jacob: Yes because in Kirby Superstar Ultra I got up to the last level, Helper to Hero. I got up to the thirteenth boss and his second form. I was just about to kill him with the rock guy. He had only a little health left. One more hit and he would die. But then he dropped jewels on me and I died.
Ed: I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sorry to hear that you died. I once got all the way to level one in a video game. Pretty good, huh?
Jacob: No. That's bad because you start on level one, so that means you've beaten no levels yet.
Ed: Speaking of sports, what is your favorite sport to play?
Jacob: Soccer.
Ed: How long have you been playing soccer?
Jacob: Three or four years. In the Barnstable Youth League.
Ed: Why is soccer your favorite sport?
Jacob: Because it's fun.
Ed: What position do you like to play?
Jacob:  I like to play defense and center.
Ed: You and I have played soccer a few times. Who usually wins, Grandpa or Jacob?
Jacob: Me. You never win. 
Ed: Ouch! So, Jacob, have you seen any movies lately?
Jacob: Yep. I saw Hop. It was about this guy who couldn't get a job and when he was a little kid he saw the Easter Bunny and the chicks flying the Easter sleigh. In one part of the movie the guy didn't want the bunny to live with him so he said "Great, I've got a talking bunny that can also poop out candy". You and Grandma should see it. It's really funny.
Ed: We'll put it on our list. So, what's your favorite subject in school?
Jacob: I like math and reading.
Ed: Well, you're a man after my own heart. What do you like about math?
Jacob: I like doing multiplication and logic puzzles.
Ed: And what do you like to read these days?
Jacob: I like to read the Kingdom of Fantasy books. There are many books in the series. I finished the original two and some of the newer ones. I also read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I finished the whole series and I'm reading them again.
Ed: Where are you going?
Jacob: I don't want to do any more interviews.
 
And that was the end of the interview. Jacob got his Mickey Mouse pancakes as usual. Next time, an interview with our four-year old, Maddy. As for me, I'm feeling pretty good, with the evil days 6-10 behind me. One more treatment and I'll be done with chemo, hopefully for good.