Canon: Remove if not applicable.“I told you that you shouldn’t wear two ties at the same time.”
Solomon winced at the tone in his wife’s voice. “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he said. Sheba did not look convinced. “How?” she asked, confirming Solomon’s suspicion. “Well, it seemed fun and, you know,” he made wide hand gestures, as he searched for a way to explain himself. It simply fizzled out into another “fun.”
“Your logic is incomprehensible,” Sheba sighed. “Don’t you think so, Aladdin?”
“I like it,” Aladdin said, and Solomon’s expression turned triumphant. “See! I’m not the only one!”
“He’s eight,” she said. “And thinks that hand prints on a person’s stomach is first class art.”
“It’s totally first class art,” Solomon said, and he nodded sagely. “Aladdin is very wise.”
“Thank you daddy!” Aladdin beamed. He didn’t really understand the difference between first class art and other art, but praise was praise and if daddy liked his art then that was good. And he knew that it was good to be wise. He should make him another stomach painting. Solomon beamed back at him, and lifted him up in the air. He spun around and then held him to his chest. He nuzzled his cheek against his hair. “You’re such a good boy, Aladdin,” Solomon said. He opened his eyes and looked back at Sheba when she said his name to get his attention. “Yes, honey?”
“I just want to make sure,” Sheba said as she stepped in close. Aladdin looked at her with wide eyes, and Solomon smiled at her. “that you take your fashion advice from me, from now on. At least until the advice this little rascal gives” she puts a hand on their son’s head, “doesn’t include whiskers painted on your cheeks.”
Aladdin puffed up his cheeks. He could fit a lot of air in them. “But it’s cute, mommy,” he said. She ran a hand over his head. “I know it is, but it’s not the kind of makeup a person wears to a serious meeting, honey.” Solomon looked her with eyes filled of innocence. “Not even the faintest whiskers?” he asked. She glared at him. “Not even that.” Solomon puffed up his cheeks, his expression identical to Aladdin’s. “I’m a gardener, so why can’t I look a little eccentric?”
“It’s not professional. And if you want to design more gardens, you need to at least pretend that you actually have some sense. Nobody will hire you if they think you’re too strange.”
Solomon sighed and shook his head. “That’s their loss then--” He cut himself off when Sheba glared at him. “Mommy is so scary today,” he said. “Come, Aladdin, let’s run away!” Aladdin cheered, and Sheba shouted after Solomon as he pretended to escape her, out into their sparkling, colorful garden.