Here's why:
* Short vowel sounds are typically found in words where the vowel is followed by a single consonant (like "cat" or "dog").
* Long vowel sounds are often found in words where the vowel is followed by a consonant and a silent "e" (like "make" or "cute") or when the vowel is part of a vowel digraph (like "rain" or "boat").
In "brushing," the "u" is followed by a consonant ("sh") and a silent "e." This combination creates the long "u" sound, similar to the sound in "flute" or "rule."