What you said?

In an attempt to give John a break, I let Joshy tag along with me to Target to pick up a few things we were running low on. He has had quite the burst of energy today, probably, in part, due to the Oreos someone let him have after lunch. When we get to the store we head over and pick up an icee before heading to the aisles. This is not because he needed any additional sugar but because getting an icee is tradition. Every time I have taken him since he was old enough to remember, we have gotten a blue raspberry icee for him to drink and distract him from wanting out of the cart. I had gone to the pillow aisle as when I buy sheet sets for our king bed, they always come with king size pillow cases and I never have gotten around to buying king size pillows. So, I am perusing my options and he has hopped out of the cart to "help me choose". As I am pulling out an extra firm I hear the sound dreaded by mother's world wide. Thud. Whoosh. "Uh oh". I told him that I knew it was an accident and ushered him back into the cart, telling him that I needed to go find someone to tell them about the mess. Upon hearing this, he acknowledges the plan and then at the top of his lungs starts yelling "SOMEONE... SOMEONE... WE NEED SOMEONE..." frantically looking to and fro. Completely taken off guard, I am shushing him, laughing and looking for the people who are sure to come running expecting some kind of medical emergency. Thankfully the only one in ear shot was a Target staffer who called for cleanup on aisle 17. The spill under wraps, we finished up our trip and headed to check out. Knowing that he likes to put things on the conveyor belt, I asked him to stick the toothbrush package he had already opened and the toothpaste up there. He sets it down and then pulls it back off stating that it isn't sticky. Not making the connection, I tell him to stick it up there. But it isn't sticky. Just stick it up there. It doesn't stick. It was then it dawned on me what the problem is, so I changed the phrase to "put". They are so literal, but that literality makes you rethink the meaning of the phrases and words you do use. I will never casually throw out "stick it up there" again...