No!

My nephew Jerry has come to the age when his favorite word is "No!" As in:

"Jerry, take a bath na!"

"No Jerry take a bath!"

"Jerry, shoes off!"

"No shoes off!"

The answer to any question is ostensibly "No!" To test his resolve, I asked him a set of questions:

"Jerry, do you like Dumaguete?"

"No."

"Jerry, do you want to go home?"

"No."

"Jerry, do you want ice cream?"

"No."

"Jerry, am I handsome?"

"No."

"Jerry, am I ugly?"

"No."

Each time, the reply comes with a mischievous knowing smile, visible even as he chewed on the pillowcase.

Finally, I thought I would deliver my coup de grace:

"Jerry, do you understand the meaning of 'no'?"

"Yes!"