I SAW A little boy and girl playing on the beach, digging in the sand. They must have been about 5 years old. The boy said, with great earnestness, “We shouldn’t stay in the sun too long or we’ll grow claws.” The girl was astonished. “Really?” she said, staring at him. The little boy nodded solemnly. “It’s true.” He held up his hands and pantomimed pincher movements. “My mom told me.” This vignette is charming because the boy so obviously misunderstood a common metaphor. His mom must have told him that he’d turn into a lobster—meaning, he’d get a sunburn. His mind went to the claws instead of
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