Scout has a lot of aunties, most of whom are fearsome feminists, but all of whom use the world "cute" a lot, to describe people and things. Generally, I think that, like "nice," "cute" is banal, a way to reduce everything beautiful and homely to the same general category, on sale for $29.95 at Tarjay.

Scout wasn't two yet when I started agitating her, asking her what "cute" means. It doesn't mean "beautiful," it doesn't mean "pretty." What is it then?  

Dad!

And now, after seeing this performance, "pretty" is on my shit list, too.