MAN!

Here are (just) three examples.

#1 Toy store
Spotting a very attractive castle set, complete with knights and horses, and all too reminiscent of Shrek, Jackson adeptly, with intense focus, makes his way through a maze of toys, climbs through a bookshelf opening and positions himself perfectly in the front window display of the store, thinking, I am sure, "I made it. Let's play!" The clerk says to Drew sternly, "There are very breakable things in there," referring to a porcelain chess set. Right.

After a little struggle, they come to collect me. (I am taking my turn waiting for our check from breakfast. A half-hour exercise in Australian service I will go on about some other time.) Together, we admire the castle from outside. "Castle. Papa. Nope," Jackson keeps repeating.

Then suddenly he is off, making a beeline for the counter where the clerk is standing safely. In his loudest voice he insists, "MAN. MAN. HELP. CASTLE. MAN. MAN!!" Luckily for Drew and I, the clerk completely ignores him.

#2 Subway
Jackson (happily eating his 100th Subway kids pack): "Toy?"

Drew and I: "No. You didn't get a toy this time. Maybe they are out."

Jackson (as if a light bulb suddenly went off): "ASK. MAN. ASK. HELP. TOY. MAN!"

Now he is tracking down the poor teenager who is restocking the drinks. This time, Jackson's efforts are more acceptably rewarded with not one, but two toys.

#3 Baskin Robbins
Drew: "What color ice cream do you want, Jackson?" (Yes, it's not a flavor. It's a color.)

Jackson: "Green." Then very quickly, "Yeahm. MAN. MAN. GREEN. ICE CREAM. GREEN."

The youngster behind the counter is thankfully not offended and promptly serves Jackson with a laugh.

Bottom line:
We are obviously working on replacing the 'MAN' with a quieter 'sir' but until that takes Brissie service workers beware.