The Ocean is Deep

After giving him a bath and shampoo, I lay down with Noah at bedtime and told him

stories about his uncles, little Billy, young Jeff and, of course, his daddy, John.  I told
Noah how I accompanied Johnny to his first day in kindergarten, and his teacher,
Mrs. Williams, asked him, “If the ocean is deep, a pond is….”  Johnny hesitated, and
replied, “low.” I was present during that placement test and have never forgotten the
incident.  Noah was about to begin kindergarten, and I asked him what response he
would give to that question; after a moment’s thought, he answered, “shallow,”  and
I complimented him.

At breakfast the next morning, Noah whispered in my ear, asking me to repeat the

question, which he put to John; John smiled, hesitated, and quietly said, “low.” 
Noah seemed puzzled, or disappointed, and asked his father, “How come you grew
up and still don’t know the right answer?  It’s shallow."