My five-year old hit me with a surprise quiz the other day. “Do you know why the e at the end of a word changes the sound of the other vowels?” he asked.

I didn’t, but that didn’t seem like a very Daddy answer.

“Why don’t you tell me?” I said.

“’cause it’s angry they won’t let it make a sound.” He gestured with his hands.  ”It’s not a silent e,” he said. “It’s an angry e. So it changes the way the others sound. ”

Makes sense to me. If someone made me stay silent, I’d be mad too.