Jumanji

Tonight I read Jumanji to The Littles at bedtime. Annie has wanted this book from the library for some time since she had not read it before. Erin Leigh was fascinated by it, but "Poor Baby Ann"" fell fast asleep the moment she crawled into bed.
Annie was moved up to the 12 and under waterpolo team and her practice is now 45 minutes longer. Tonight was her first night, and she was extremely tired afterward.
Annie missed nearly all the story, but Erin Leigh was fascinated by it. She sat right by me in her room so she could see every picture. We talked about the snake bearing the same pattern as the furniture, and the monkey eating "a banana" in the kitchen.! When Erin saw the picture she said, "Mmmmmmm How delicious." I did not think it looked delicious at all, but thought it was the perfect depiction of what exactly should be eating a banana!!!!! A monkey! I can't help but really feel only monkeys should eat bananas. Any time I see a person eating one I always think, "Bananas are for Monkeys."
At the end of the story Erin Leigh said it was creepy and that she had better get in bed. She looked very frightened and got into bed very, very quickly. She was actually scaring me a little!
But the real reason I am writing about Jumanji is because it reminds me of Mary Kate, and Catherine. I remember Mom saying all the kids wanted to check this book out from the school library. I remember Mom showing me the pictures, and if I remember correctly Mom didn't like it. But, I remember Mary and Catherine did, and I remember them looking at the pictures and thinking it was a little bit scary, but exciting, too.
And, whenever I think of Mary Kate and Catherine as being little, I also think of Kelly Paul. Kelly Paul will always, in my mind be associated with Mary Kate's childhood. I think Mom and Mary Kate, and Catherine really liked her and thought she was funny. I just remember her always saying, "Mrs. Renouf." It seemed like she was over the house all the time, and that Mary thought she was great.
Maybe it was Mary Kate and Kelly Paul who thought Jumanji was great and that's why I have them all mixed up in this story together.
Jumanji isn't our usual summer reading material, but look what it's reminded me of. I hope everyone will get a chance to read this eery-banana-jungle-story and think of Mary Kate and Catherine running around in their bathing suits, jumping in and out of the swimming pool, and eating "Banana" popsicles. And don't forget to think of Kelly Paul, too.