9 years old again

In Arithmetic class the other day I was reviewing: if you add 0 to a number, your answer is automatically the other number b/c you are not adding any more to it.

~ ~ ~

Me: If I turned 22 on my birthday, but then every birthday after that I didn't get another year older how old would I be??

class: 22

Me: (mumble) Unfortunately since I turned 22 I've had 6 more birthdays and they all counted ... glad you can't add that much.

Student 1: You're not 22.

Me: *laugh* No, you're right, I'm not

Student 2: (had been thinking in the back of class) .... *shouted out* You're 28!!!!

Me: :O Yes, you're right, wow! Didn't really think anyone was paying that close attention to what I was saying. On my next b-day, I'll be 29

Student 1: And after that you'll be 30!!!

Me: Yes, thank you for that

Student 3: That's not even possible - you look like you're 9!!


---- Oh my word!! I laughed so hard I think I snorted ... but all the other kids were laughing also. I don't know if 9 just seems "old in kid years" of if he just took the 2 out of the 29 to be dramatic, but whatever the reason, he totally took me off guard and made me laugh really, really, really hard. It was hard to get back to the lesson after that, but we did.

This is the same student, that said "I'm almost as tall as you" when we were outside walking down the sidewalk. I don't know if he meant in shadow size?? Part of me thinks he really thinks that - bless his little heart he's the youngest and the shortest in my class - but he's definitely a firecracker!