Six Outsmarts Me

the child is six, and sharp I knew this when he said “that looks like a DNA tester.” What is a DNA tester? I asked. “You know. You test blood, saliva and urine with it.” I was impressed. I had been asked to let the child know we cannot speak of guns in school. Apparently he made the mistake of sharing a video game story of violence. “Did you know we cannot say gun in school?” I asked him. He stared at me. Then he said “Can I say pistol?” He is six, mind you, in first grade. I shook my head “no”. “Can I say assault rifle?” “Is that a gun?” He grinned. He is bright, I will give him that. Probably way too bright for his teacher. I am the school counselor. My job is to not appear bright. “We cannot talk about any weapons at school,” I said. “What about machete?” “Not any weapons,” I warned him. “Okay?” “Not even pink nun-chucks?” I was running out of poker faces.