Stall Talk

"Mommy," Inwe paused to make sure I was listening, "houses are the only places that don't have stalls."

"Stalls?" I was slightly confused. What was making her think of horses?

"Bathroom stalls. Houses don't have bathroom stalls."

A light clicked on in my brain. "That's right. There are only stalls in public places . . ."

"So we have privacy when we pee," Inwe completed my sentence.

"Except for boy bathrooms." (Oh, crap, what have I got myself into with this line of conversation?)

"Yeah, I've seen one once when I was with Daddy." Inwe cocked her head, "Why don't boys need privacy?"

"Well, boys stand up to pee and only have to take out their peni$es. There are stalls when they need to sit down to poop." (I know. I know. Shut up now, Sarabeth. Trust me I was thinking the same thing as I said this.)

Inwe made a face as she said, "Yeah, they sit down because poop can't come out of a peni$. It comes out of the bottom." She pointed for extra emphasis.

I nodded my head along with her keeping my tongue silent when she added, "Boys have tentacles."

I know I shouldn't have, but I laughed. No, I guffawed. I managed to eke out, "Te$ticles, Inwe. They are called te$ticles."

"That's what I said."

"Okay," I conceded, seeing that she was insulted by my laughter, "I must have heard you wrong."

"You did."