A
first grade teacher was trying to stimulate creative thinking in
her pupils. She stood in front of the class with her hands behind
her back and said, "I'm holding something behind my
back. It's round and it fits in the palm of my hand. Who can
guess what it is?"
Billy's hand went up and he asked, "Is it a
baseball?"
"No, Billy," replied the teacher, "It's not a
baseball. But you're thinking, and I like
that."
Suzy's hand went up and she asked, "Is it an
orange?"
"No, Suzy," replied the teacher, "It's not an
orange. But you're thinking, and I like that."
Then Johnny spoke up: "Hey, teach, I don't know what you
got in your hand, but I got something for you in my pocket.
It's long and hard and pink on one end."
Shocked, the teacher cried, "Johnny, that's disgusting!
You march yourself to the principals office right this
instant!"
"Hey, relax," said Johnny. "I was talking about my
pencil... But you're thinking, and I like
that."