Shell-Shocked

(I’m a student teacher in a prep class. During morning play, a few of the children have picked up shells we’ve left out for discovery and held them to their ears.)

Child #1: “I can hear the ocean!”

Child #2: “I can hear a bathtub!”

Child #3: “It sounds like a toilet flushing!”

(The mentor teacher – who was walking past at the time – and I burst out laughing. I had to excuse myself as I was laughing so hard. Then just as I come back into the room…)

Child #2: “It sounds like a monster’s breathing!”