Mrs. Foster, a teacher at my school, had a frustrating day with one of her first-grade boys. "You've been doing irritating things all day today. These things are some of my pet peeves," she said sternly. "Do you know what a pet peeve is?" The young boy shook his head no.

"A pet peeve is the thing that irritates a person the most. Do you know what my pet peeve is?" she asked.

The boy paused. "Ummm ... Mr. Foster?"