Call Me Clifford

The other day in the car, out of the blue, Hannah told me that she'd told her babysitter I call her Clifford.

"I call you Clifford?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Yes," she said, with an air of impatience. "You always tell me I'm Clifford."

I had to think. I had to translate something that sounded like Clifford into something I might actually have said. And then I had it. "Ohhh, like when I say you're smart and I call you clever?"

"Yes! See? You do call me Clifford."

Here I thought I was complimenting her by telling her how intelligent she is. I thought I was building her self-esteem. And she thought I was calling her a big red dog.