The other day I get this random text from Gavin: Hi Mom. What is the plural of rhinoceros?
Since no one is really ever prepared to receive, much less answer a question like that, I responded the only way I knew how: add an es
By this point, one would think I have my masters in English and know all phonics rules backwards and forwards since the reply came to me so easy. I was feeling pretty confident as I made my way through the grocery store after hitting 'send'. But then my over-analyzing brain kicked into the next gear and started making me question my automatic response. I don't know...could it be rhinoceri? just like octopi? How many times have I had to use the plural of rhinoceros? How should I know? Why in the world is he even asking me this question?
So, in typical fashion, I text him back and pedal backwards a bit, trying to save face incase I'm wrong: I'm not 100% sure about that answer...why don't you look it up.
Within seconds I get his reply: actually it's rhinoceroses
It didn't dawn on me until days later, that both Gavin and I originally spelled rhinoceros wrong in the beginning of this little adventure. We both thought you spelled it 'rhinocerous' - with a 'u', so then by adding the 'es' (which I WAS right, by the way! a huge boost to my ego) as the suffix, we thought it sounded like 'rhinoserusus'; but it's actually pronounced 'rhinocer oh ces'. Get it?! Well...now you know in case you ever find yourself in this same predicament.
The ONLY thing going through my mind through-out this entire exchange was Brian Regan's skit on "Stupid In School". Sooooo funny and so appropriate for this little life moment.
