Mommy: We have something important to tell you.
Daddy: In a few weeks, Mommy and I are going to go visit Grammy and Grandpa Joe without you. We are going to help them get ready to move.
Mommy: This is a working visit not a play visit. That's why you can't come.
Rose: Is Mommom going to stay with us?
Mommy: Yes.
Rose: Yeah Mommom! Yeah Mommom!
David (standing on his chair and pumping his fist in the air): Yeah Mommom! Romio's! Romio's!*
Daddy: Romio, Romio, wherefore art thou Romio?
Rose: The Tin Man says "Romio" when he's in the woods. What's Romio?

Mommy runs upstairs for her college copy of the complete works of Shakespeare. A shaky explanation of the story ensues, glossing over the parts Rose finds incomprehensible: why would two families hate each other, why would parents make their daughter marry someone she didn't want to, why didn't Juliet tell Romio she was planning to fake her death.

Rose: I want to go see it.
Mommy: Ok, but we would have to do a lot to get ready because it's written in an English different than how we speak now, and it would take some getting used to.
Rose: Why don't they write a version in regular English?
Debby: Well, part of the reason people love it is not just the story but because the language is so beautiful. It's like poetry. But people have written modern versions.

A shaky explanation of West Side Story ensues, glossing over the parts Rose finds incomprehensible: what's a gang, why would people be rude to the police. John finds the songs on youtube. Rose likes "I Feel Pretty" the best, and David falls for "When you're a Jet!"


*A gluten-free pizza restaurant.