It starts with "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for "Pokemon"

Every day after school, my son goes down the street to play with one of his best friends, whom we shall call M-downthestreet (because that's how his cell is listed in my contacts list).  M and his older sister B-downthestreet are good kids (not like the little terrors at his old school on the other side of the state!) and D and I have been thankful that E had children like them with whom to play. 

And we still are, but the thankfulness has been tempered somewhat.  Why, you ask?

Because my son came to me the other day and told me "M-downthestreet said he knew a boy who went to H-E-L-L because he watched Pokemon."

Now, if you know my son, you will know that he is a collector.  His little hoarder's soul was delighted by the discovery of Pokemon.  I mean, they've got an endless, rotating set of product, they're easy to carry around, you can trade them with your friends without your mom freaking out, and they've got a nifty tv show to go with them (although, since he hasn't been doing his chores, he's also been tv-less recently...but that's a different story).  One of my cousins was similarly obsessed with the little Japanese things when he was E's age about 10 years ago, so he graciously passed on many of his Pokemon-centered possessions, and E has immersed himself deeply in the Pokemon culture.

So at this news, his little heart was teetering perilously close to breaking.

I thought I behaved fairly well.  I didn't show him how angry I was, and I didn't say anything snarky.  So basically, I responded like an adult.  Which shouldn't be that shocking, but if you know me....(kidding. Kind of.)

"What did you think about that?" I asked carefully.  He shrugged, but his brow looked decidedly furrowed.
"Did that hurt your feelings?" He nodded slowly.
"Do you know what h-e-l-l is?" He nodded vigorously, but then paused: "No, not really."

(Note: fail, Catholic religious education.  What do I send him to you for an hour every week if not to learn about the penultimate destination of children who watch animated Japanese television shows?  I'm going to have a word with the bishop.)

"Well, it's the opposite of heaven, and people who are bad go there after they die." (Now, don't judge me, I was not about to go into the intimate details of my beliefs on who does and doesn't go there with a seven year old who just wants to be reassured that he is not in the running for the spot.)
"So does Pokemon make you do bad things?" He shook his head.
"Then watching Pokemon will not send you to hell."

To critics: I don't know what will and won't send someone to hell.  But if little boys are getting kicked out of heaven because of Pokemon, then I'd rather be an atheist because that would mean that my fate is completely arbitrary.  So there. (Sorry, God, didn't mean to drag you into this, but seriously!)

So that's why we're a little more wary of the family downthestreet.  Because M didn't make that up himself.  E still plays with him, because I make no judgements on his parents and the way they choose to raise their son.

However, they'd better watch out if I ever actually hear their son talking that way to mine.