Deep

Elijah: Mom, if you and Dad lost Julius, would someone else take care of him?

Me: What do you mean?

E: Like if you and Dad lost him, would someone else come and get him and take care of him?

Me: No, if we lost Julius, someone would find him and bring him back to us?

E: Why?

Me: Because he belongs to us and no one else.

E: Okay... but what if you and Daddy died... would someone else come and take care of me and Liv?

Me: Okay. If me and Daddy died, then Nana and Grandpa would take care of you.

E: Would they come really fast right away?

Me: Uh... uh... I could teach you to use the phone to call them.

E: Could I just run to another trailer and tell them my mom and dad died?

Me: Oh... of course you could, honey.

E: You could teach me to use the phone, too. Will you teach me right now?

Me: Uh... sure. First you have to learn Nana's phone number.

E: Can I have a piece of paper?

Me: Here you go.

E: Okay. What is Nana's number?

M: *dictates the number to him*

E: *writes down 'Nana: 7**-****'

Me: Got it?

E: Got it. *reads it back to me correctly* Now what is your work number?

Me: What?

E: Your work number.

*repeat whole process, writing down 'Mom Work', until Boo has a large print phone book in Crayola Brown and Type Paper White, including all grandmother's numbers and both parents work numbers*

E: Now I'm just gonna keep this on my desk.

Me: Inside your desk would be fine.

E: *frowns* No... can you get me a locker? Do you have any money?

Me: Well... not right now.

E: Well, when you get some money, can you go to Walmart and get me a locker? So I can keep this stuff safe? Unless you don't want to...

Me: Maybe we'll talk to Santa about getting you one for Christmas.

E: Or you could get me one for my birthday. Or you could get me two. To keep all my stuff safe.

Me, later: You know Mommy and Daddy aren't going to die, right?

E: *sighs* I know.

He's only 5 1/2... but he's deep. He's so precious. God give me wisdom and grace to know how to raise him up, please!