Quiet----a true story

Last week I was up to Lake Leota Park and stopped in the Upper Shelter to get some shade and a bit of cool water.

Some local parents and their children were there also, with the kids playing on the gym equipment.

Suddenly one of the parents exclaimed:

"Uh, Oh."

Always on the lookout for a breaking story, I asked, "What's wrong?"

"The kids have been silent for a full minute," the parent replied.

"Have you forgotten, Mr. Observer, that this is the universal sign known to all parents that the kids are a) playing with mud, b) playing with water or c) both.

Quickly I glanced at the play area. Sure enough---the kids had gotten some water and were mixing a special mixture of mud to cool their feet.

I could not believe how quickly I had forgotten "The Quiet Rule." It is really the same rule in business or government. When one is a supervisor and asks, "What's new?" and the reporting employee responds, "Oh nothing," or "NO REPORT" that is the universal sign to conduct a full audit.

Make a note of it.