today i rode the city bus home with eleven children, aged about 5, and their two young female day care teachers, who were smiling and encouraging, but quite obviously exhausted.

"we're going to try something new," said one of the teachers, who had an eyebrow piercing that seemed more in place on her face than those i'm used to seeing. "let's all close our eyes, and imagine... imagine a place... a place that's very..."

"that's very quiet," said the other teacher with a chuckle.

"imagine we're in heaven!" said the little boy next to her.

"yes, a very quiet place," said the pierced one.

"imagine we're in heaven! imagine we're in heaven!" insisted the boy.

"imagine this bus when it blows up," said another boy.

"no!" protested the pierced one, "you don't want it to blow up! we'd blow up!"

"i do!" said a third boy, enthusiastically. "i want to go off a cliff, and...."

a few children laughed, and added their own violent, self-mutilating details.