After slogging through the dictionary for six months as a bed-time story, Coco and I moved on to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Since Coco was small, I’ve collected books at garage sales and used book stores. Though I’ve found a few here in Costa Rica, most I’ve tossed into my suitcase while traveling to the States and lugged them back home.

Coco shed tears after the dictionary was finished. She couldn’t part with the ritual. I on the other hand, was ready to move on. I long ago gave up my selfish little fantasy of Coco reading at three and stunning the world with her brilliance. I’ve even seen sights on in the Internet that - with their reading program of $99.99 - my Down Syndrome son will too be reading before kindergarten. On the other hand, I read this story about a mother that watched her son struggle and refuse to read until he was 16. Now, he’s probably read more than me in five years than I have in all of mine.

Still mourning the end of the dictionary, Coco cracked open the first page, and I began reading. Occasionally I have to simplify the language structure due to the British English and the fact Fleming wrote it a few years ago. After the first chapter, the dictionary became just a another reference book. Now we’ve looked up the song on the Internet and Chitty is a daily part of our lives. She sings the song and recounts the tale often during the day.

Last night, Commander Pott and his family blew up the warehouse with the stockpile of guns. After many chapters, I had to call it a night, though of course she wanted more. I stopped at a place where I hoped she wouldn’t have trouble getting to sleep. Ten minutes later, Coco appeared in my room.

I’m afraid.

Of what?

Joe the Monster.

I’d tried my best to downplay the fact that Joe the Monster was on the horizon, but it didn’t work. We took my flashlight and went back to her room. I tucked her in and diverted her attention away from the drama yet to come between the pages. We scoped our her room with the flashlight. After she was calm, I told her just to keep the light and tuck it in her pillows when she felt tired enough to fall asleep.

I went to my room and heard not a word from her until the sun came up.