Posted 9/19/01 The ëwhysí and the ëhow comesí ... Sunday Night, by MaryHelen Swanson He grabs the stuffed red dog from its perch on the top of the couch, the one with the white ribbon around his neck. On the ribbon are red hearts. ìWhy are there hearts on the bow?î he asks. He skips lightly, carefree to the door, toy dog tucked tightly under his little arm. ìHow come you let me take him with us?î With a hop and another heís down the steps running to Grandmaís car, looking longingly at the empty front passenger seat where heíd really like to sit. ìWhy do I have to sit in the back?î ìHow come big people can sit in the front?î ìHow come your car is blue.î ìWhy is there a scratch on the door?î ìWhy do we have to go to the store?î ìHow come they have food there?î ìWhy do we need to eat food?î ìHow come potatoes are so yucky?î Tucked securely into his carseat he hugs the red dog close to his tiny body. ìHow come the dog is red?î ìWhy does he have a ribbon around his neck?î We drive away down the road. ìWhy are the birds sitting on the wire?î ìHow come they donít fall off?î ìWhy is the sky blue?î ìHow come your house is so far from the store?î ìHow come Grandpa stayed home?î ìWhy is the road so long?î The how comes and the whys never stop, and some require unique responses because this little boy wonít settle for a ìjust because.î The questions continue until a weary three-year-oldís eyes begin to droop. ìHow come it takes so long to get to the st......... The innocent inquiries have ceased. A little blond head rests against the red dog with the white bow - with red hearts. In peace the little boy naps, lulled to sleep by the motion of the car, by soothing words and Grandmaís patient answers - because, because, because.....always followed by a succession of explanations each followed by another question from the youngster. On the planes last Tuesday were three-year-olds and at least one four-year-old. Over and over we watched the bottom of the TV screen repeat their names with those of the others fallen in the terrible tragedy. These little ones were probably very much like my grandson- filled with ìwhysî and ìhow comesî as they boarded the planes with their parents. They probably asked them of the flight attendants, maybe even the pilots as they passed by on their way to their seats. While waiting for the plane to take off they probably had a few more whys and how comes about the pending trip. Maybe they began to annoy nearby passengers with their incessant questions. Maybe they even asked why and how come of the soon-to-be terrorists posing as a ordinary fellow passengers. Like other three- and four-year-olds, they were probably filled with awe and wonder as they asked away about all the new and exciting things that were happening on the morning of September 11, 2001. In a very short while, however, their inquiries were to cease -forever. There will be no more whys and how comes from these children or the other 5000 plus souls who lost their lives last week. Now itís time for our ìwhysî and ìhow comes?î Why did they have to die? How come people are filled with such hatred? Why those planes? How come no one knew it was coming? Why last Tuesday? How come no one stopped it? Why, why, why? How come, how come, how come? I canít imagine what it must have been like holding and comforting little ones while trying to explain why and how come this unthinkable deed was unfolding right before their innocent eyes. And now, we struggle to find the answers to our childrenís whys and how comes, especially when we donít have any reasonable words to come after ìbecause.î When we stop in the parking lot at the store, Grandmaís little guy opens his eyes and sleepily starts again with the whys and how comes. How will I ever find the answers if some day he asks how come we went to war and why people kill each other for the power. I guess all we can do right now is place our trust in our national and world leaders to find the right answers - clear, direct answers. I, for one, simply wonít accept ìbecauseî as a suitable response. Stuffed red dogs wear white bows on them with red hearts for a reason. ©Post Review