We Don’t Even Know What Word She Was Aiming For

I am sitting in an airport on my way to visit family up north for the holidays. I am sitting by my gate, watching all the planes as they come and go from their spaces. Next to me is a little kid, around five, and her grandmother. The kid is excitedly watching it all happen with childlike wonder when she asks a very good question.

Five-Year-Old: “Grandma, how do the planes move like that?”

Grandmother: *Very seriously* “They’re anthropomorphic.”

The little girl nodded solemnly, having learned such high wisdom. I nearly choked holding in my laughter.