Joe, quite innocently and suddenly, one morning: …Ball.

Morrison: GET IN HERE. JOE SAID A WORD, HE SAID BALL.

I run into the room like the rest of the house is on fire.

Morrison, to Joe: Do it again!

Joe: ….Ball.

Me: HE SAID BALL!

Morrison: I KNOW.

Me: Is he a genius?!

Morrison: I don’t know. Maybe? Probably. Yes.

Joe:….Ball.

Me: wait, what do we do? We need to call someone. We need to tell someone.

Morrison: I KNOW, this is revolutionary —

Me: Who do we call? Do we call the government? Do we call Science?!

Morrison: Science, I think?!

Joe:….Ball.

Me, on the phone: HELLO, SCIENCE? WHAT TIME IS IT, 5 AM? SORRY TO CALL SO EARLY. OUR 8 AND A HALF MONTH OLD SON JUST SAID BALL.

Morrison: tell them that he said it while holding a ball.

Me: He said it while holding a ball.

Morrison: WE WOULD JUST LIKE CONFIRMATION THAT NO BABY IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE HAS EVER SAID BALL, BEFORE.

Me: Would you like to study him? Do you need to send him to space?! (to Joe) Would you go to space, for your country?

Joe:….Ball.

Me: (into phone) HE WANTS TO GO.