A Child's Questions

Little Johnny asked questions.

"What does 'normal' mean?"

"I guess it means 'regular' nothing unusual."

"Mom says my dad died in the war, in Italy,

but the war is over."

"Yep. Things are back to normal."

"Yesterday, Bobby said he's gonna kill me.

Does that mean Bobby and me are having a war?"

"No. No. It's just play. Just words.

He's not going to kill you."

"Did my dad fight Roman soldiers?

My teacher said the Roman soldiers were from Italy

and after Christmas they came to kill the children."

"No. No. Your dad was not a Roman soldier

and nobody is coming to kill children.

We are protected.

There was a war, but it's over.

It was a mistake, an episode."

"What's an episode?"

"It's part of a story.

The war is over.

Everything is fine now. Safe. Things are normal."