A New Word

For all of his 8 years he's said it the same way... AMANULS.

But things are a changing.  Today he got a new book to read for school.  It's a nature book and he reads along with plenty of AMANULS without missing a beat.  I'm listening to him read aloud when he comes to the word ANIMALS hyphenated between the syllabols at the end of the line. 

He stops.  AN-I-MALS?  He gives me his quizzical look with his head tilted and his eyes squinted. 

AN-I-MALS? 

I smile and nod.  And inside I'm a little bit sad. 

AN-I-MALS.  Huh.