Sissy and Spike
I met Spike first, it was his fourth or fifth birthday.
Spike's little sister is called Sissy but her real name is Veronica. I love it
when kids have sweet nicknames like these. It seems like nicknames are so
endearing. I learned Spike is not Spike's real name as I made balloons for them
one day. I always try to use the birthday child as my helper if they're willing,
in everything I do. That day I instructed Spike to wave the magic wand. Later I
called Spike over to pass out the coloring pages. Once or twice I had Spike blow
the end of the poodle's tail to inflate it. When I finished making the poodle I
got out the marker to write Spike's name on his balloon.
"O.K. Spike, I said, how do you spell your name?"
"J-U-A-N". Spike said proudly.
I was bemused, and the whole party erupted in laughter as I wrote Spike spelling
it J-U-A-N on the balloon. Little did I realize that Spike had given me a cute
bit to use in my clowning routine. Now whenever I am spelling a name on a
child's balloon I always spell out loud something silly like, "C-A-L-L-A-T-T" or
"B-O-L-O-G-N-A", meanwhile I am really spelling out their correct name. Because
believe me a child will let you know if you have indeed spelled their name
correctly!