Our grandkids are fans of Chuck E. Cheese. Their parents hate to mention the place in front of the grandkids because of the tantrums and crying and screaming that it causes if they don’t go to Chuck E. Cheese’s as soon as they hear it.

I suggested that we refer to the place as Charles Fromage since the grandkids don’t know that Charles is a form of Chuck and that Fromage is French for cheese. I was feeling kinda smug and brilliant for coming up with this.

At least, I felt smug and brilliant then. When we visited later, my son mentioned Charles Fromage and I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Really, Dad? You came up with it.”

I returned another blank look.

Out of the side of his mouth, possibly with an air of exasperation, sorta stage-whispery, he said “Chuck!”

Oh. What’s the opposite of smug and brilliant?
Never mind. Pam tells me that it’s “old and forgetful.”