Noncents

   

Yesterday, Benjamin (7) came up and asked me, "Mom, what are the five centses called again?"

  

"Nickels," I answered quickly.

  

"No. We have five centses. What are they called?"

  

"NICKELS."

  

He began to get more frustrated, a bewildered look on his face. "I'm talking about centses."

  

I started speaking more slowly, looking directly at him. "If you have five cents, five pennies, then you have the same thing as a nickel. Are you talking about 'coins'? Or sometimes we call it 'loose change'?"

  

"MOM! I'm talking about the FIVE CENTSES!! S-E-N-S-E-S!!"

  

Oh.

  

It seems the change isn't the only thing a little loose around here. My head hurts from all the rattling.