One of Kellen’s favorite book series is “Gregor the Overlander”.  Its a set of stories about a boy who accidentally falls through a NYC laundry drain (?) and discovers an entire under-world, where people live, and compete for survival, with various animal species.  Warm, cuddly, smurf-able animals, like rats, mice, cockroaches, scorpions, spiders, snakes, etc.  Many of these animal are human-size and can communicate with the humans, although pretty much every species’ survival depends on them carving out their own space in the underworld, even if that means fighting the other species to the death with their bare hands.  Or claws.  Or stingers.  Or whatever.

Very warm and fuzzy, no?

Kellen, well, he got a wee bit obsessed.  It started out innocently enough.  His second quarter book report requirement was a diorama and he chose this book, so we bought a few plastic animals, grabbed a shoe box, and he went to town.  He’s always been one for staging ginormous battles ….. when he was younger it was legos, blocks, and army men, then he got into Gormities (sp?).  He loves Risk, and after reading Gregor (reading the series twice, I might add, for fun) and seeing how much fun he had staging the diorama, he convinved us to take him to Party Bazaar to spend the bulk of his allowance money buying dozens more creatures so he could recreate the scenes in the book. 

I suppose some people might think that’s silly, especially for a boy who is almost 12, but personally, I love it.  Beats sitting in front of the Nintendo all day, playing video games, if you ask me.

The only problem is, he doesn’t quite understand why I am not equally as fascintated.  He will stage elaborate battles, and ask me who I think will win, or who I think will come in second, depending on strategy and location and fighting ability.  We must dissect in great detail the strengths and weaknesses of the animals and the Underlanders …… rats have claws, but not all rats are as vicious as Ripred. Do I think the Bain is fierce, or pathetic?   Do I understand that the cockroaches are not as lazy as the other species think they are?  Does Photo Glo-Glo bug me as much as he bugs Kellen?  Do ants have an advantage since they outnumber everyone else?  Surely bats have the upper hand since they can fly above the battles???   I’ve read Gregor, yes, the entire series.  And I enjoyed it.  But how do I explain to my son that I DO NOT GIVE A FLYING RIP WHO WINS THE FIGHT — ANY OF THE  FIGHTS.  

Especially when THIS is the view each morning as I sit down to breakfast???

The good news is after a week or so, the animals will go back in their rubbermaid bin, and won’t be seen again for weeks.  Or even months.  Until Kellen gets another urge to stage an Underlander battle.  Then he’ll drag them out and start all over again.

Remind me again, what I have against video games???