It was a mystery: walking down the street in our home outside of Rock Hill, I found that no matter how I jumped, sprinted, or turned, my shadow stayed with me.

It’s a novel observation, but one we all experience. So ubiquitous is the discovery that are shadows are inescapable that it finds its way into our cultural imagination. Recall that in Disney’s imagination, Wendy first meets Peter Pan when he’s trying to capture his shadow.

Yesterday, the Girl discovered her shadow is relative.

“Tata, look! My shadow is big

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and then it gets really little.”

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The rest of the swing time, L kept her chin buried solidly in her right shoulder as she contemplated the mysteries of her ever-changing shadow.