Mad about boxes

I came in to the kids bedroom awhile ago to Max and Darwyn embroiled in a heated argument.  Darwyn had acquired a box and Max was fighting for his right to it.  The whole fight struck me as a little odd.  The girls love boxes.  They offer no end of craft opportunities.  But Max, who isn't much into crafts, hasn't shown much interest in boxes in awhile.  

Surprised by this, I asked "Why do you want a box anyway, Max?"

"I want to sleep with it."

"Sorry?"

"I want to sleep with it."

"You want to sleep with it..." I said slowly.  

"Yes," Max replied evenly.

I know boxes are supposed to be the toy where your imagination is the limit, but they never struck me as particularly cuddly.  Max explained to me that he wanted to sleep in the box, which was only a minor improvement.  He already sleeps in a claustrophobic bunk bed with a roof so low he can't sit up, but apparently it is too spacious.  He and Darwyn decided that he could have the next two boxes if she got this one.

Unfortunately for Max the next box that arrived was rather small.  It was just barely large enough to fit his head, and shallow enough that it was more of a hat than a house.  But he was not to be deterred.  He insisted that this was his box.  Ada, who had not been in on the previous bargin, felt she should have a turn with the box.  What's more, she felt that sleeping with a box was just about the best idea anyone had ever had.  Even a box that was more of a hat.  After further lengthy negotiation they agreed that they would take turns sleeping with the box.  

Can you spot Max sleeping in his box?

Max got the first turn and took the box to bed.  He set it up at the top of his bed and slept with the top 1/4 of his head inside.  Ada and Darwyn found this inadequate.  Ada resorted to sleeping with the box beside her as a cuddle toy.  When I came in to wake up Darwyn on the third morning she was fast asleep on her back with the box perched precariously on her abdomen.  I wish I had thought to grab my camera.  

For the following 2 weeks the kids took turns sleeping with the box until it was so destroyed it was (apparently) not even adequate for sleeping with.