"cooties"

background: bernie and i have both been sick this week.

setting: driving the boys to drop them off at daycare yesterday. 

earlier that morning: ben informed his grandma that he was "buzz" today when she went in to get him from his crib. 

benny: hey eby'body, where's daddy?

me: he's at home sleeping, honey. he's sick. 

benny: ohhh....

me, jokingly: you were supposed to protect us from the cooties, "buzz."

benny: (quiet for a bit, then)...i was s'posed to pwotect you fum duh booties, mommy?

i, personally, enjoy trying to visualize the image he had in his head those few seconds before asking this clarifying question.