Fun House
Boy tickled by tumble on the stairs

By Carrie Christman
Niu Valley resident

My son Matthew, who is about 3 years old, is the youngest of three boys and has taken more than his share of hard knocks trying to keep up with his older brothers. Thankfully, he was born sturdy.

One day, Matthew and I were visiting a friend of mine. She has three girls, and we often talk about the difference between raising three boys and three girls. A perfect example of this soon presented itself: My friends' youngest daughter appeared with a frantic look on her face, holding Matthew by the hand. She said she had been walking Matthew down their long, carpeted spiral staircase when Matthew tripped and tumbled down the stairs. My friend gasped. Matthew just stood there with eyes as big as saucers.

My friend said to me, "My gosh, I cannot believe he is not crying. If that were one my girls, they would be hysterical."

I looked at Matthew and said "You're OK, right, Matt?"

He didn't answer, so I picked him up and asked him again if he was OK.

He looked at me with his wide eyes and exclaimed, "Mom, it was just like I was Jackie Chan!"

Send your humorous short story to: Fun House, 'Ohana Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; e-mail ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 535-8170.