Pre School Propositions About Death

"Open this."

"Why?"

"Because I said so.  Just do it."

"What's in it?"

"Just open it.  Then you'll know."

"I don't like opening presents."

"In my entire life, I never heard anyone say that.  Ever."

"Well, I'm not like anyone else, Mother.  You know this.  You birthed me."

"What makes you are the way you are, Rachel?"

"I don't know, Mother. What makes you are the way you are?"

"You.  I didn't used to be like this."

"Like what?"

"Happy."

"What is the opposite of happy, Mother?"

"Unhappy."

"Were you unhappy?"

"Very much so, yes."

"Why?"

"When you get older, you'll start to bury your family members.  Your friends.  Little by little."

"I will?  Are you sure, Mother?"

"Yes.  You will.  We all will."

"And then what happens?"

"And then, my child, you sober up about mortality and you teach yourself what President Lincoln always said."

"What did he say?"

"He said that the best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time."

"And then what?"

"And then you smile."