Liam has a favorite toy, Mr. Pepper. He has an inner squeaker and because of this, falls into the toy category frowned upon by animal trainers. The fear is that the pet will eventually break through the outside casing, seize the squeaker, chew, swallow and choke on it. The squeaker is usually a tube sealed inside the toy. It makes noises appropriate for its species. If the toy is a duck, it will quack, a goose will honk, a bird will chirp, a cat meow, and so on. What noise would one expect a toy pepper to make? I guess noises evocative of real peppers: when chopped, a crunch, when fried, a sizzle, when inhaled by a novice eater, a howl. Liam's Mr. Pepper had a deep, almost chuckling sound when rolling down the stairs. Liam's Mr. Pepper made loud grunts when tossed in the air. No sizzles, no crunches, no howls. We all loved to hear him talk. He was the toy of choice when Liam went to day care or on vacation.. Mr. Pepper journeyed through every room, he was a traveling toy
Most often escorted against his will by Liam. We thought of his noises as not emanating from his voice box but more from his heart. What intrigued Liam most, resulting in hours of intense play,was his desire to win Mr. Pepper's heart. Liam has thrown, poked, prodded, chewed
licked (of course)
his beloved toy. Mr. Pepper has responded with loud grunts and incredible durability. Mr. Pepper, earned the title of Mr. because he arrived from an elite East Side Manhattan pet shop, not just any chain pet store (not that there is anything wrong with them). All other toys are called "duck," "kitty""goose" etc., but Pepper is always Mr. Pepper, not Pep, Peppy or Pepper.Early this week Liam seemed to focus on his pet with an intensity and concentration that has been reserved for peanut butter and lime tortilla chips. He went after Mr. Pepper. The following pictorial illustrates the scenes as they unfolded. I had the crisis of conscience that all photojournalists have. Do I become involved by stopping the story as it unfolds; do I drop my camera and intervene? Or do I allow this event to go forward? I choose to record it and observe. I think Bloggers are in a different group-our standards not yet defined.
Liam looking for Mr. Pepper
Liam thinking: aah, here is Mr. Pepper, he is hiding behind the love seat
I'll get him out and we'll play
got him, now for some fun 
let's make Mr. Pepper talk, shake him up 
ooh, what is that? cotton balls?
I think I found a way to his heart; is that his heart to the right?
oh no! It is over, those are not cotton balls, those are his stuffing's-aroooooooooooo :(
What have I done?
silence
Liam's hiding spot after or during mischief-behind the couch-has a piece of Mr. Pepper's heart
Take another piece of my heart now, baby
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling,
Hey! Have another little piece of my heart, now, baby, yeah
You know you got it if it makes you feel good.
Janis J-a long time ago
woof, woof
