Liam Discovers Egypt

2.16.11

[Repair man in kitchen fixing refrigerator; Liam and Gavin sitting at table during lunch]

Liam: Mommy, do you want a newspaper?

Katie: Yes, please.

Liam: [Reaches for The Economist]: Oh, wait, this has too many words. [Hands her copy of NY Times.] What's that picture on the front?

Katie: That's people cleaning up a mess.

Liam: Cleaning up a mess where?

Katie: In Egypt.

Liam: Egypt? Why is Egypt a mess?

Katie: Well, the Egyptians have been fighting.

Liam: Oooh, are Egyptians mean people?

Katie: No, Egyptian is just a word for a person who lives in Egypt; Egypt is another country. Like, you're American, because you live in ...

Liam: Overland Park, Kansas.

Katie: Yes, you live in Overland Park, Kansas, but what country do you live in?

Liam: Linden [our street]

Katie: No, you live in the United States of...

Liam: Oooh, America.

Katie: So you live in America, so you're American; the people who live in Egypt are Egyptian.

Liam: Why are the Egyptians fighting?

Katie: Well some of the Egyptians didn't think their president was doing a good job so they were upset and they got into a fight with other Egyptians.

Liam: Well that's not good, you're supposed to do a good job.

Katie: So that's what the people were fighting about.

Liam: Why was the president doing a bad job?

Katie: Well, people have different opinions about how good or how bad he was, just like some people think our president does a good job and some people think he does a bad job. Do you remember who our president is?

Liam: Our neighbors.

Katie: No, not our neighbors. Do you remember who McKay told you who to vote for?

Liam: Oh, Obama.

Katie: Yes, Obama's our president.

Liam [looking at picture in newspaper]: Why are they wearing masks to clean up the mess?

Katie: Why do you think?

Liam: Because they probably have to go take care of sick children after they clean up the mess.

Katie: Maybe.

Liam: So are the people done fighting now?

Katie: Hopefully.

Liam: Yeah, hopefully. 

[Repair man walks over to table]: You can't be more than five.

Liam: I'm not five, I'm only four, I'll be five when I have my Star Wars birthday. My birthday is on the spring. [Pointing to Gavin] Gavin's birthday is on winter.

Repair man: Ma'am, you have your hands full.