In his book, "The Mother Tongue: English and How it Got That Way," Bill Bryson discusses the common childhood fascination with the concept of absence and the idea of things being "gone." This phase is a natural part of growing up, as children explore their understanding of existence and loss.
Bryson highlights that this curiosity about what it means for something to be absent is universally experienced by children. It reflects their evolving comprehension of the world, as they grapple with notions of permanence and impermanence, contributing to their cognitive and emotional development.