Does Everybody Get a Prize

Will everybody get a prize? The kindergarteners ask me. I am substitute teaching in art class. There is an art contest, and I am explaining it to them. "Not everybody," I say. Thinking "not most bodies." This concept is foreign to them. "No fair!" One of them yells. They all jump on the "no fair" bandwagon. I wish now I had never mentioned this contest at all. The art teacher could have done it next week. "Maybe the prize will be a Lego!" an optimistic student suggests. There is loud cheering. They are back to thinking that everybody gets the prize.