Billy loved to play hide and seek with his shadow.
He used to lose all the time, because his shadow would always find him again when he’d walk into the light, but Billy wised up, and beat his shadow by staying in the shade.
On overcast days, Billy was lonely.
“What was mankind’s effect on its environment, in the grand scheme of things? (50 words or less)”
Young Billy thought about the question, then began a few sentences but soon crossed each one out.
Then, suddenly, everything fell into place in his mind.
His final essay read, in full:
“Mostly harmless.”