It runs in the family

Before Calvin was old enough to go to school, it would just be his grandpa and his older sister, Halei making the trip.

One particular morning, Halei asked if, instead of going in front of or behind the local factory, they could go >under< it.She started giggling and suggested they would need to dig a tunnel to go under it. Grandpa reminded her how deep it would have to be because they would also have to go under the river, like the Chunnel in Europe connecting England and France. The following conversation then took place:

How long is it? How'd they build it, with sharks? England's an island?
They dress funny there.

What do you mean they dress 'funny'?

Big dresses.

They wear big dresses?

The guys don't, they wear tights. . . In all the books I've read, they do.

Not any more, that was back in the 16th and 17th century, now they dress
pretty much like we do.

Who's the Queen?

Queen Elizabeth.

How long has she been Queen? Who's next? Is she mean?

More than 50 years, and when she dies or retires Prince Charles will be
king, then his son Prince William. I don't know if she's mean or not.

There are 2 Princes, right?

Well, there are Prince William and Henry...

Will Henry be king next?

If William doesn't marry and have kids, Henry is next in line. If he has
kids then the kids are next in line.

If you were king who would be next?

Sean.

Then Ben?

No, you, then Calvin, unless you get married and have kids, then your
kids would be next inline.

So Cadie wouldn¹t get a chance?

Not unless you and Calvin and Aiden and all her older brothers and
sisters died.

What if she killed them?

Well yes, then she would be next in line, and sometimes that actually
happened in the old days.

How did they pick the first king?

I don't really know. Sometimes there would be different groups of people
that banded together and fought other groups of people and the winner would
take over. If they took over enough land and people, they would be the
ruler, or the king. Remember the story the sword in the stone? England had
no king so they set up a tournament, the winner got to be king. The main
challenge was to pull the sword from the stone, whoever could do it would
become king. Arthur did it. Do you know what Arthur's name was?

No

Arthur Pendragon.

Oh, oh, oh Arthur Pendragon... And Merlin. They're in Shrek 3.


And then they got to school, where it is doubtful they covered engineering, fashion, the british royal family, succession of a monarchy, political assassination, mythology and Shrek 3.

Well... maybe Shrek 3.