After reading the fable “Why the Bear Has a Short Tail,” a story about a bear who constantly bragged about his long, beautiful tail and then ended up losing it…

Me: “So what’s the lesson in this story?”
Kid: “Do not brag about your tail, or an otter will trick you and your tail will end up freezing off in a giant ice pond.”
Me: “Ok, but I mean the BROADER lesson.”
Kid: “What do you mean, broader?”
Me: “Like a lesson that a human could apply to his or her life.”
Kid (thinks for a second): “If you’re a human, and you have a tail, do not brag about your tail, or an otter will trick you and your tail will end up freezing off in a giant ice pond.”

(Sits back, crosses arms, completely satisfied with self)