Why

She sits in my lap and watches Elmo.

With big blue eyes turned toward my face she asks,

"Why is Elmo red?"

"Because Elmo's mommy and daddy were red."

She tosses leaves and jumps out of swings.

A mess of blonde hair pokes out of her hat,

"Why do leaves fall down?"

"Because leaves like to fly away."

She cleans her plate and asks for more.

More of anything but green beans.

"Why do we have to eat veggies?"

"Because you'll grow up to be big and strong like me. "

She runs down the hall in time to hear the protestors.

Her big eyes turn toward the TV,

A grainy video of an angry chant,

"What do we want? Dead cops!"

My whole world turns her face to a room full of family.

"Mama?" she asks so quietly you can barely hear her.

"Yes, baby?"

"Why do they want to hurt Papa Ted?"

My sister, her Mama, always has an answer.

There is always a reason to give.

"Because...

Because...

Because..."

My sister looks around.

Aith a stutter in her voice and pain in her eyes she says, 

"Because sometimes people are afraid."