Everytime We Say Goodnight...

I come to Mabel's bedroom at 9pm.  She was singing 'Tomorrow' in bed for awhile,
now she's sobbing.

Me:  Aw, what's the matter Mabesy?

Mabel:  I was thinking about Annie, and how she was at the orphanage, and she was looking for her parents, and she found out she was a real orphan because her PA-RENTS-WEREN'T-COMING-BACK-FOR-HER-RER-RER-RER AHAHAHAH!

Me:   Oh Mabes, your Mommy and Daddy are here and we're right downstairs.
We love you sweetheart, don't be sad.

Mabel:  Mommy you and Daddy would never leave me at an orphanage, right?

Me:  No way Mabes, we'd sell you on Ebay!

Mabel:  Mom-mee!

Me:  No! No way Mabes, you are the most important thing in our lives. If Daddy and I didn't have you we'd go bananas. We love our Mabes!

Mabel:  Mommy, my tummy is telling me it doesn't want to sleep.

Me:   I know Mabes, but it's bedtime.
Now what are you going to dream about?

Mabel:  I'm going to dream about you and Daddy.
Mommy, do those lines on your forehead mean you're getting old?

Me:   Well, I wouldn't say old exactly, but old-er. 


Mabel:   But I don't have them, right?

Me:   Right.

Mabel:  Because I'm not old.

Me:   No.

Mabel:  Mommy, does getting old mean you're going to die soon?

Me:  Whoa. Okay, no. It's not as simple as that.
But after you're old for a long time you die, yes.

Mabel:  What is that?

Me:  Um...

Mabel:  Is Teita (Grandma) old?

Me:   Nope. Not our Teita, she's not old at all.

Mabel:  What about Gaga (Great-Grandma)?

Me:   Um, yes Gaga is old.

Mabel:  So she's going to die?

Me:   Some day, yes.

Mabel:   Annie's parents died.  But you're not going to die, right?

Me:   No. (I feel guilty) Not for a long time.

Mabel:  Good, because who would take care of me?

Me:   Well, you don't have to worry about that Mabes. You have lots of people around you who love you and who would take care of you.

Mabel:   It's okay, I would tell them they can't have me, because my Mommy's not going to die.  I'm NEVER going to be an orphan!

Me:  Now it's time to close your eyes and go to sleep.

Mabel:   You're not going to die, right?

Me:   Nope, I'm just going to go downstairs.

Mabel:  Okay, see you tomorrow...Right?

Me:  That's the plan.

Mabel:  Okay g'night Mommy. Remember...no dying.

Me:  Will do.

Mabel:  Okay Mommy, you can go now. I'm tired.

As I'm closing her door...

Mabel:   REMEMBER-WHAT-WE-TALKED A-BOU-OUT!

Me:   G'night Mabel.