It Is A Good Thing It Is A Short Ride Home From School

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Mom, when I grow up I think I need to buy a house because I don't know how to build a house," I hear yesterday from the back seat when driving home from school.  And then it is quiet, for a second.

"Mom, how long do I have to go to school?"

"Until you are 18, at least.  But I went to school for much longer than that."

"How much longer?"

"Until I was 24."

"Why would you do THAT?"

"Because I wanted to be lawyer?"

"WHY?"

"That is a question for the ages Michael."

"Mommy."

"Yes?"

"E. and I played bad guys outside and Miss C. said we should not play bad guys and I want to play bad guys and why can't we play bad guys?"

"What did your teacher say?"

"That we can't play bad guys."

"Then you can't play bad guys."

"But why?"

"Because that is what your teacher said."

"But why?"

"Because that is what your teacher said."

"But why?"

"Because you have to listen to your teacher."

"But why?"

"Because those are the rules of school.  And playing bad guys is not nice."

"But why?"

"Michael, I don't know how to answer this question any other way."

"But Mommy."

"Because we are home now and this conversation is over."