Dear Ivan:

Having just tucked you into bed, the issue of bedtime stories is fresh on my mind.  Here’s what I think about that: if I say one story, I mean one.  If I say “that’s it” I mean “that’s it.”  If you pick a story, that’s the one.  It doesn’t mean a medley or potpourri or smorgasbord of stories starting with the one you chose and ending with the Brothers Karamazov.  Bedtime story connotes “bedtime.”

Now, that’s it.  Go to bed.

Love always,

Daddy.