A few months back, I suggested the book Shane to my youngest son. It’s one of my all-time favorites. If you haven’t read it, call in sick, buy it online, and spend the day reading it. It’s a story of the old west, about a gunfighter named Shane and a family that he spends some time with. It’s really about a whole lot more than that, but I’ll let you read it for yourself.

Anyway, my son loved the book. It’s been coming up regularly in conversations.

Yesterday, he and I were having a slam contest at the ping-pong table when it came up again. During a slam contest, one person gently serves the ball to the other player, who tries to slam it back. Each player gets five tries, and whoever has the most slams wins.

“Wow,” he said to me after I missed yet another slam attempt. “You’re really fast. The ball comes up and you’re like wham!”

“Thanks,” I said.

“It’s too bad you miss so much.”

“Just serve the ball,” I said.

“You’re like Shane,” he continued, giggling, “but without the aim.”

Yeah. You know a book is a success when it works its way into your son’s smack talk.