One day while we were sitting at the dinner table, Winslow suddenly pointed to Ben and said "That Gus." Then a week or so later he pointed to me and said, "That Eliah." Since then, he periodically points to us and hails us with these new names. At first, it was a bit spooky. We have no idea where these mysterious names came from, since we don't recognize them from friends, songs, or books. Were they just sounds that he was playing with that we, in repeating them back to him, translated into the identifiable names Gus and Eliah?
Winslow seems to be experimenting with the power of the new names to transform us at will. He looks at us closely after calling us Gus or Eliah, as if hoping to see some manifestation of a different identity, which I oblige by taking on a funny squeal and accent that have become Eliah's signature. He sometimes uses his powers to change us back into ourselves, pointing to Ben and saying, "Not Gus, that Daddy." I think he finds this reassuring.
Winslow seems to be experimenting with the power of the new names to transform us at will. He looks at us closely after calling us Gus or Eliah, as if hoping to see some manifestation of a different identity, which I oblige by taking on a funny squeal and accent that have become Eliah's signature. He sometimes uses his powers to change us back into ourselves, pointing to Ben and saying, "Not Gus, that Daddy." I think he finds this reassuring.
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