It's Friday and I'm tutoring Jing, one of the most adorable little attention deficit poster children you could ever meet. We're talking about grammar when she suddenly remembers something she wants to ask me.

Jing: You know Shel Silverstein?

Me: Of course.

Jing: When did he die?

Me: Umm. I can't remember when exactly. I know I was still a kid, though. I think I was in middle or high school when I read that he died suddenly. I can't remember of what...

Jing: Oh, I know! [Grave pause] He died of an infected beard.