Here's why:
* Short Vowel Sound: The vowel "a" in "pail" makes a short "a" sound, like in "cat" or "hat".
* Long Vowel Rule: The long vowel rule applies when a vowel is followed by a single consonant and a silent "e" at the end of the word. This is not the case in "pail".
Let me know if you'd like to explore other words and their vowel sounds!