I am sat here collapsed in hilarity I'm afraid, which I apologise for, since this reminded me of when we got a book for our young son entitled [his name] and Santa Claus.
He had not then been diagnosed as autistic, and his reaction was "But I never did this stuff. It's a lie." Never let it be said I am not fast on my feet with kids.
"No, love, it's not a lie, it's a fiction, a lie is telling untruths for bad reasons, fiction is understood to be an untruth told for fun."
Eyebrows furrowed.
"So like the white lie about not saying bad things about what people are wearing even when they ask?"
"Um... well, you hope they don't realise it's a fiction, but fiction books, well, everyone knows they are fiction."
Long thoughts.
"So if it's got my name in, it's things I might have liked to have done?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Alright, Mummy, you may read it to me, and I'll tell you where I'd have done better things."
A budding fan fiction writer at the age of 4
