Rest in Pieces

Me: “Are you done with your dinner?”

Danger Monkey, age 10: “Yeah, you can eat it.” (slides plate)

Me: “Oh, no. I’ll save it for leftovers.”

DM: “Please eat it for lunch tomorrow.”

Me: “Actually, I think I’ll probably have it for breakfast with a fried egg and some avocado.”

DM: “No, have it for lunch. It was really delicious and it deserves an honorable burial.”

(long pause)

Me: “As you wish.”

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Life is Fragile

(front door opens)

Little Miss Thing, age 7: “Dad, I found something walking home from the bus today.”

Me: “Yes, what’s that dear?”

LMT: “I found this.” (shoves leaf-wrapped and very dead mouse within inches of my face)

Me: “Oh my…”

LMT: “It was on the front porch. Last week we found a dead bird.”

Me: “Yeah, things die. We only live for a while, and animals live even shorter lives.”

LMT: (heavy sigh)

LMT: “We buried the bird in the yard, so I’m going to go bury the mouse, too.”

Me: “OK. If that’s what you want.”

LMT: “I think that’s what she would want.”

LMT: (walks out somberly)

Me: (to myself) “It doesn’t get any easier, kiddo.”