So a few days ago, we sat Katherine while Margie was, as they say, ‘under the knife’.
I use ‘we’ in the royal sense, as I wasn’t around most of the day. That’s alright, because I was there for what I think was the best part.
After Katherine had dinner with us, Justin offered to read to her. They went through his book collection, which stretches back to his toddler years in some cases, and she picked out the Disney Jumbo “Jungle Book” (no surprise here; it’s a favorite of hers on DVD as well). Selection made the pair retired to the back guest room — within earshot but out of sight, which was enough distance to let me concentrate on my own reading.
For awhile, that is.
See, Justin’s seen the Jungle Book before (at least while over at the Consortium). He knows how it’s supposed to sound.
And goodness knows, if he hasn’t learned anything else from his aunt and uncle, he’s at least learned to put himself out there and perform.
When he got to King Louie and Baloo singing their scat duet, I thought I was going to rupture something. He did it; really did it, at some length, and it was good. Improvised, random, in tune (shocking, that), and fun. Katherine sang along. It went on for a good minute. (Meanwhile, in front living room, Jackie and I leaned toward the sound and wiped silent laughter-tears out of our eyes.) It was great.
Hearing him do the elephants “Companaaaaaaaaaaaay… HAAWWLT!” was pretty funny too.
