Illustration: Danger, Distance

The students in Mrs. Cotton's second grade class were fascinated with her newly pierced ears and started peppering her with questions.

"Does the hole go all the way through?" "Yes."

"Did it hurt?"

"Just a little."

"Did they stick a needle through your ears?" "No, they used a special gun."

Silence followed that answer, and then brave little voice called out, "How far away did they stand?"