George and Martha

"The French Lesson" is a game of cat and mouse. But who is the mouse, and who is the cat?

As in many other cases, George *seems* to be the cat. He lures Martha toward a "trap." He wants to kiss, so he asks--with faux-innocence--HOW DO YOU SAY GIVE ME A KISS IN FRENCH?

Martha gives the answer.

A request! George must honor the request. He kisses Martha.

And the tables turn. Martha is, in fact, NOT the mouse. She is the cat. "Tee hee," she says. "I *knew* you were going to do that." And the curtain falls.

Suspense, disguise, a shifting power balance: All within nine or ten lines about two daffy hippos.

Also, yet again, the title "The French Lesson" seems to have a double meaning: This is a "lesson" about language, yes, but it's also a lesson about subtext and hidden agendas.

I still promise to return to the world of adult characters. One day. But a masterpiece is a masterpiece. Attention must be paid!

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