Heads or Tails or Tummies

Ellie has been fascinated with coins ever since she saw her cousin Tommy carrying some around all during Christmas vacation. She thinks every coin she she sees around the house is actually his and is always asking if she can play with them. Today while I was getting ready in the bathroom, this is the conversation I overheard in the bedroom, where Ellie had found some coins and Brady finally agreed to let her play with them.

Brady: Here, let me show you a game. See this side? This is called "heads" because it has a head on it. So this side is called "tails." So when I throw it in the air, you guess which side will land up by saying "heads" or "tails."

Ellie: No, I want it.

Brady: Just a minute. First you have to guess. Say "heads" or "tails."

Ellie: Heads or tails. [who didn't see that one coming?]

Brady: No, you have to pick one. Say "heads," or say "tails."

Ellie: No, I'm gonna pick tummies.

Brady: No, look. There aren't any tummies on the coin. Just heads or tails. See? I'm going to toss it and guess heads. Look--I was right.

Ellie: Now I'm going to teach you a game. It's called "Krauger aaannd . . . Snails."

At this point I had to rush off to choir practice, but I'm willing to bet that Krauger and Snails is a lot like Head and Tails, only with Ellie throwing all the coins but still getting to keep them all in the end, no matter how they land. We've already decided she's coming with us to negotiate terms when we're ready to buy our next car.