“Language, young man!” She shook her finger playfully at him. “That’s one of the behavior rules, by the way, that you’ll be receiving tomorrow–but I won’t punish you ‘ex post facto’ for it now.” She smiled affectionately. “Don’t be offended, honey, but it’s rather amusing to hear a five-year-old boy proposing biochemical analysis of his drink, rather than just reacting to its taste.” She tenderly ruffled his soft blond hair.
“Well, I’m still a medical officer,” Carlton responded, “In my own inner perception, anyway.”
“But you’re physically a young child,” Rebecca reminded him, “Pretty much emotionally, too.” She gently guided his boyish body into a prone position on the bed, then pulled the bedcovers over him as Carlton laid his head on the plumped-up pillow.
“Thanks, Mommy–it feels better already.” The itching sensation upon his recently-strapped rump had diminished to a slight tingling, and he began drifting into slumber.