On the way to church/preschool, with NPR playing in the background

C: Mommy, he said “killed.” Who’s being killed?
RM: switching off the radioSome people in another country far away from here.
C: Why are they being killed?
RM: Well, the United States is fighting people in a war.
C: Why are they fighting?
Hell if I know!
RM: Well, the United States thinks things should be one way and some people in Iraq want it to be a different way. Fighting is not the best way to handle it, but that’s what they’re doing right now.
C: Are they fighting here?
RM: The fighting is happening a long way away. It’s very unsafe there, but here, where you live, is safer.
C: Let’s not go there.
RM: Not planning on it.
…C, do you know what “killed” means?
C: When you’re killed, you die.
RM: Yes.
C: But we can see them again when they’re not dead any more.
RM: Well, when someone dies you don’t ever see them anymore. Often people will feel sad and cry when other people die, but you can remember them and think about them whenever you want. My daddy died right before you were born, and I think about him all the time.
C: I don’t want to die.
RM: Well sweetie, everyone will die someday, but it probably won’t be for a long time, not until you get very old.
C: When I die, you will cry?
RM: Yes.