What Are You?

On one of the rare occasions when I became exasperated with my middle son (then 3), my oldest (then 5) offered these words of consolation.

"Oh, Ethan," Justin said, quietly shaking his head.  "He doesn't know how the world works.  He doesn't know what to do or what he wants or what he is." 

Justin lifted his head and called to the next room,

"Hey, Ethan?  What are you?"

"Pretty," came the reply.

- 27 October 2006