The following is an actual translation of a conversation I had with Lucy and Sam the other day.

Scene: 
Lucy and Sam are sitting in their high chairs finishing lunch.

Amy walks in through the front door.

Lucy: Mommy came home.

Amy: Yes, of course I did!

Sam: Mommy at work.

Amy: Yes, I was.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because I need to make money.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because we need to pay our mortgage.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because we have to pay back our loan to the bank.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because we had to get a loan to buy our house.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because we didn’t have enough money to buy it. We had to borrow money from the bank.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because houses are very expensive in Vancouver.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because lots of people want to live here.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because it’s beautiful and a great place to live.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because we have mountains, the ocean and forests. And there’s a lot to do here.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because lots of people organize fun events for us to go to.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because they want to make Vancouver a fun place to live.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because the more people who live here, the more taxes the city gets.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because you have to pay taxes to live here.

Sam: Why?

Amy: Because you have to pay for things that the city does for you, like garbage collection and street paving.

Lucy: Why?

Amy: Because no one else will do it for free.

Sam: Why?

Amy: (takes deep breath) Because that’s the way the world works.

Sam: Oh.

Lucy: Oh.

(Pause for dramatic effect.)

Sam: Where daddy?

Amy: He’s at work.

Lucy: Why?

(Repeat above scene.)