Maxime and Papa playing "Say I'm the King"

Maxime likes when we wrestle in his bed. He tries to pin me down so he can tickle me under the arms, which is when I can't stop laughing, and apparently I have a funny laugh at such times, and I suspect this is why he likes to pin me down and tickle me.

On occasion, the shoe is on the other foot, and I have him pinned down. Then we play a great game called "Say I'm the King." I love this game.

It goes like this. The other person has to say "You are the King." If they do not say this phrase — with all due respect, and in the proper tone of voice — then they get tickled like crazy. The best part is when you detect even the slightest bit of incivility or impertinence in their voice. This, of course, is not a satisfactory way in which to say "You are the King", and so they get tickled even more.

Sometimes, however, Maxime has been known to outright refuse to say "You are the King" entirely. Instead, he might say, for example:

"You are the court jester."

or,

"You are the King of the Dustbin."

I know you are concerned, but you may rest assured that this disrespect does not last long. Things are put straight soon enough.

So last night, when I have him pinned down:

Papa: "What am I?"

A pause. Then,

Maxime: "The King."

Papa: "The King of what?"

I have my hands under his arms, ready to tickle him. He must be selective with his words at this juncture.

Maxime: "Of whatever you want".

Papa thinks about it.

Papa: "King of the Country."

Maxime obligingly repeats: "King of the Country."

Papa: "What country? Could be anywhere!"

[pressure now increasing under Maxime's arm, a friendly warning]

Papa continuing: "Like some little island in the middle of nowhere? Is that what you had in mind!? Some dinky place?"

Maxime, with wide eyes, and laughing like crazy, even though I am not even tickling him, desperate as he is to avoid me squeezing my hands down under his arms, exclaims through tears of laughter: