Author's Note:

It's even based on a true story!

Well, true except for Boromir and Faramir and the Nanny and the market. But one of my daughters did resolutely refuse to speak a single word until she was absolutely convinved that she had figured out all the intricacies of grammar and vocabulary. She spoke her first words at a Christmas Eve dinner party to a perfect stranger, who couldn't understand why we were so amazed by the conversation.

The character of the Nanny was created by EdorasLass and is used with her permission. Thanks, EL!