A Little One’s Guide to Exploring Earth

July 5, Wednesday. Weather: The sun is smiling brightly.

My name is Little Rice Cake. My full name is Lin Qiunan, and I’m three and a half years old.

Daddy says that three-and-a-half-year-olds are big kids. Big kids can eat ice cream. We just have to eat it secretly, so when Dad finds out, he won’t take it away right away. He’ll sigh first.

I got into trouble again today.

I took apart Dad’s alarm clock because I wanted to know why the little rabbit inside kept running. But then the rabbit stopped running, and I couldn’t put the clock back together. Dad crouched down and looked at all the pieces scattered across the floor. He didn’t get mad. He just rubbed my head and said, “Little Rice Cake, you’re in your taking-things-apart phase.”

I don’t really know what a phase is, but I knew Dad hadn’t scolded me, so I hugged his neck and kissed him. I got drool all over his face.

Daddy laughed beside us and said, “Shen Yi’an, you spoil him too much.”

Then I kissed Daddy, too.

That night, I heard Daddy and Dad talking in the kitchen. Daddy said, “This kid has way too much energy. We can’t keep up with him.” Dad said, “How about... sending him to preschool?” Daddy was silent for three seconds. “Okay. We’ll sign him up tomorrow.”

What’s preschool? I don’t know.

But Daddy says there’ll be lots of kids to play with. Dad says there are slides and blocks, and teachers who tell stories.

I pressed my face to the crack in the door and listened. A big question mark popped into my head.

Will there be lots of alarm clocks at preschool?

Whatever! Little Rice Cake is coming! Tomorrow I’m off to explore a new place!