Daughter: “Will you let me drive with Genevieve once she gets her permit?”

Mom: “When is she getting her permit?”

Daughter: “Soon.”

Mom: “What’s the definition of ‘soon’”?

Daughter: “When she passes the test.” (pause) “She’s having a little trouble with it.”

Mom: “How so?”

Daughter: “She failed it.” (another pause, this one pregnant with possibilities) “Sort of more than once.”

Mom: “More than once?”

Daughter: “Three times. So far. She keeps skipping questions.”

Mom: “You know how baseball works – three strikes and you’re out? Tell Genevieve not to throw her bat when she heads back to the dugout.”