1 Mother 2 Another

Last night Cora was working at our
breakfast counter, doing her homework. The assignment was to
“write five words with a short vowel sound”, and Cora
was tired, at the end of a long day, and very frustrated.


Finally, she said, “This is too hard! I can’t think of
anything good!”


Trying to be helpful I began throwing words out. “Um, how
about ‘cat’? Or ‘pet’? Or
‘cup’? Do you see how they have short vowel sounds? Or
what about –“


“Mommy,” Cora said, exasperated, “Can you please
be QUIET? I can’t concentrate!”


Meek silence.


Then, a few moments later, Cora asked while busily writing,
“Does ‘octopus’ have a ‘k’ or a
‘c’ in it?”


Clearly I was aiming too low.