He found comfort in a world where all the characters who had been smart children grew up to be really fascinating, unique adults.

Like all sick children,' he answered dispassionately, 'you say you don't want pity, but your very existence depends upon it.

One swing set, well worn but structurally sound, seeks new home. Make memories with your kid or kids so that someday he or she or they will look into the backyard and feel the ache of sentimentality as desperately as I did this afternoon. It's all fragile and fleeting, dear reader, but with this swing set, your child(ren) will be introduced to the ups and downs of human life gently and safely, and may also learn the most important lesson of all: No matter how hard you kick, no matter how high you get, you can't go all the way around.

The nature of the love between a parent and child really is literally stronger than death. As long as either person in that relationship is alive, that relationship is still alive.

In general, watching children's television is a dark and surreal descent into madness where the characters on the screen talk directly to you.

That's the great thing about being in the third grade. If you've got one polysyllabic adjective, everyone thinks you're a genius.