I have three grandsons who attend school in Stuttgart, Germany. About eight hour’s drive from where we live, in the south of France.

We would have driven up to Stuttgart a time or three this year — if not for the Covid pandemic, which has limited movement around Europe.

Luckily, we live in a time when we not only can connect by phone, but can see each other, too.

The boys — ages 9, 6 and 4 — missed at least a month of school, after Germany was knocked around by the second wave of the virus, and I was curious about how they felt about returning to school.

The oldest said it was cool. He could see his friends again.

The first-grader is very active — he showed me how he has learned to do a forward roll on the trampoline in the backyard.

At the moment, however, he is not an enthusiastic student.

I asked him what his favorite part of school is.

He paused for a moment and declared, “Our water break.”

He was not joking.

I said, well, sure, a few minutes to get some water … that has some appeal. (Especially if you’re a sports-oriented little kid.)

I could see the wheels still turning in his head. He was not finished with the question.

He changed his mind.

“My favorite part of school … is when it is somebody’s birthday.”

Meaning … cake! Which is even better than water.

He’s a fun kid and, yes, he makes me laugh. I hope to see him soon.