A childhood belief about tv

When I was a little child, I used to think that the way the little people living inside the TV made their living was that my parents had to pay them according to the amount of time we watched TV. My mother was talking about having to go back to work, so I started watching TV less so my parents wouldn't have to pay the little people a lot of money. I'm embarrassed to say that I also used to talk to the little people inside the TV when it was off. I especially liked to talk to Uncle Al and Lucille Ball. They never answered back, thank goodness. I didn't think my parents had to pay them when I talked to them and the TV was off. They were my friends, and salary didn't cover what you did in your leisure time. My grandma caught me talking to the TV and thought I was barmy. She advised my mom to have another child instead of going back to work because I was obviously lonely.