When did people first start living here? 

In this neighborhood, you mean? or on Earth? 

Both. 

I guess the Indians lived here for a long time, but I don’t know when they were first here. 

Why? 

Well, they didn’t keep written records. 

But why didn’t they just know what year they moved here? 

I don’t even know how they kept track of years back then.  It was different from the way we do now.

Well, so how long have there been people living on earth?

I don’t know, honey, but maybe we could look it up when you’re done with your lunch.

No, that’s okay, it takes too long to look things up on the computer and you always find other boring stuff to look at, and you never even find what you started looking for.

Yeah.  Sorry.

Can we play Barbies after lunch?

I guess so.  Would you like any more carrot sticks?

No.  I’m done.  Let’s play that Barbie is going to get married to a prince, so then she’ll get to be a princess.

Um, okay.  Let me finish my coffee first.

Come on.  You’re always too slow.  Barbie’s going to wear a pink nightgown on her honeymoon.  The prince is really just plain old Ken, but he’ll have to do.  He doesn’t have any pajamas, so he’ll have to sleep in his clothes.  Here, you be Ken, I mean the prince.  His name can be Gerald.

Gerald?

Yeah.  Prince Gerald the first.

Okay.  Are they already married, or are they getting ready for the wedding, or what?

No, silly.  Prince Gerald the first has to propose to Barbie first.

How did they meet each other?  How long have they known each other?

That’s not part of the story.  The story is that the prince proposes to Barbie and then they get married.

Oh, okay.  Maybe Barbie should have some clothes on.

Can you help me get this dress over her head?

Here.  Any shoes?

They’re mostly all lost, except for the purple sandals, and those might not be fancy enough for a proposal – do you think they are?

I’m sure they’ll be fine. 

Okay.  She has to wear shoes, because her feet are in this high-heel shoe shape, and so she can’t stand unless she’s wearing shoes.

Ready now?  Where should Ken –

Prince Gerald the first.

Yeah.  Where should Prince Gerald the first be when he proposes to Barbie?

I think they’re going to be at a grand ball.

Hmm.  Maybe Ken – Gerald – should change out of his surfer-dude outfit then.

Mommm.  That’s all the clothes he has. 

Okay.  Are we all set at the ball then?

Yup.  The maids keep coming by with refreshments at the ball, and so Barbie and the prince won’t get hungry.

What are they doing when he proposes to her?

Dancing, I guess.  There’s nowhere to sit down, so they just keep dancing.

“My dearest darling, although we have known each other for but a short time -”

No, they’ve known each other since they were five.

“It seems like a short time, since I cannot get enough of your loveliness.  Anyway, as I was starting to say -”

“Yes, my dear Gerald?”

“Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Mrs. Prince Gerald the first?”

No, she would be Mrs. Princess Barbie, mom.

“Then would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Mrs. Princess Barbie?”

“Okay.”  So, now we have the wedding.

At the ball?

Sure, they already have the food and people are dressed up, except for Ken, I mean the prince.  But Barbie has to change into her wedding gown now, before they can get married.

She can’t get married in her ball gown?

Mommm.  It’s not official unless she’s wearing her wedding gown, okay?  Be careful when you unsnap that skirt, it has a rip in it.

Okay.  She’s got her wedding gown on.

Not that one, mom.  That’s her old-fashioned one.  She has to wear her new one.

Does she mind getting married to a guy in surfer clothes?

No, because what he wears isn’t important.

So, they get married at the ball and live happily ever after.

Except first they have to say, “I do,” and then he has to kiss the bride. 

Okay.  “I do. Smack.”

“I do. Smack.”

So now they go on their honeymoon?

Yeah, except now I have to go to the bathroom and then I want to play something else.

Okay.

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