Distracted as I’ve been lately, I still realized that my oldest son was skipping cross country practice this morning.

I just didn’t know what why.

As his brother and mom were flurrying around getting ready for cross country, he and I had a more leisurely morning – until his mom noticed.

“What are you doing?” she said to him. “The whole reason you’re skipping cross country is so you can study for your tests.”

He looked outraged they she would say such a thing. “I was studying for my tests!”

“No,” I said. “No you weren’t.”

“Yes, I was.”

“Kiddo,” I said. “I’ve been here the whole time. You haven’t cracked a book.”

“I was studying!” he insisted.

“No, you weren’t.”

“Yes, I was!”

It was that last was that clicked the light bulb on. “This morning,” I said firmly, “I haven’t seen you study at all.”

“I know.” he said. “But I was, earlier.”

“You mean, like during the ten minutes or so before I came out?”

“Exactly!”

“Get your backpack,” I said. “Now.”

Who knew the word “was” could be so open to interpretation?