Your mind powers will not work on me boy.

Jabba the Hutt: “I told you not to admit him!”
Luke:                “I must be allowed to speak.”
Bib Fortuna:       “He must be allowed to speak.”
Jabba the Hutt: “You weak minded fool! He’s using an old Jedi mind trick.”   [shoves Bib Fortuna aside]
Luke:               “You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookiee to me.”
Jabba the Hutt: [laughing] “Your mind powers will not work on me, boy.”
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

I watched our Sunday Morning Doughnut Buddies’ kids on Friday night while they were at a company Christmas party.  They kept themselves occupied for most of the night and it was a supremely easy gig. Until it was time to get them off to bed. Then the mind games began.

• “I’m thirsty.”
• “I can’t find my book.”
• “I don’t think my dad really meant for us to go to bed yet.”
• “I don’t brush my teeth. I just have to put some toothpaste and water in my mouth and swish it around.”

And then the creme d’ la creme…

• “I beat my mom at a video game today and she said that because I won, I could stay up for another hour. I’ll even call her so you know it’s true.”

So he grabs the phone, walks out of the room and starts pushing buttons. He gets his mom on the phone. I can actually hear her voice on the phone. He walks back in and tells me that he’s asked her and she said it’s the way he says. He tips the phone to me. OK, I’m starting to get nervous now. Did I mix something up? Did I misunderstand?

And then I take the phone and, despite himself, he gets the grin. You know the grin. The ‘I’m going to get away with this thing! ‘ grin. So I tell her about his story and she starts to laugh. And I mean laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh.

He was busted and we all knew it. But he still didn’t go down easy.

May the Force be with us all, Share!

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