Chivalry Is Not Dead

#3 has built a castle, a 2 1/2 foot tall and 7 foot long cardboard castle.  It sprawls across our classroom floor and has become the focus of all play for the younger children since he built it a week ago.  On Friday, when he received his allowance, he stated that what he really needed was knights and a dragon.  "What," he asked me "is a castle without knights and a dragon?"

Yesterday we went in search of knights, which are surprisingly difficult to find.  After 2 hours and 6 stores, we found them in our local craft store.  He sat in the aisle for close to half an hour looking at all the different choices he had before finally settling on the Duc de Bretagne. ( His little sister and main playmate, #4, had come along to give her expert opinion, but she proved to be no help once she saw the fairies.)

After further debate, he decided not to purchase a second knight for battle, reasoning that he could buy a knight next week, but chose a purple dragon for slaying instead. 

With $18 of his $20 spent, my boy made his way to the check out counter with his little sister in tow.  The young man at the register asked if we had brought a coupon with us and then, upon hearing my child's sad 'no', pulled an extra out of his pocket.  40% off of one item and 30% off the entire purchase.  Pure joy lit #3's face as he realized he could afford another knight and horse after all.  He turned and ran back up the aisle to the end cap and when he returned he slapped his choice on the counter.

A fairy for his sister so that she can play, too.  "I'll just save for another knight and horse.  I just wanted #4 to be able to play with me." 

Chivalry is not dead.  It is alive and well and playing with the cardboard castle downstairs in my classroom.