Have you heard the news?

Today, while biking home from preschool, Mary asked me, "Did you read the news in the paper this morning?" And I replied, "Yes." Mary said, "Isn't it sad? The news that Emma's grandfather died." And I asked, "Emma from your class?"


And she repeated, "Yes. It was in the news." And so I inquired, "Who was her grandfather?" thinking he must have been a public figure to have his death make the news. And Mary said, "Mom, I told you. He was Emma's grandfather." And I said, "Well, why was he in the news?"


To which she replied indignantly, "Because he died! Our teacher said she got the news today that Emma's grandfather died and we all said a prayer for him."

While I was trying to decide how to explain to Mary the multiple definitions for the phrase "the news," she asked if she could call her grandfathers to see if they heard the news and make sure they were not dead. She figured that if I didn't get the news about Emma's grandfather, I might be missing other news stories, as well.

Fortunately, Mary's grandfathers are happy to avoid any news coverage of that variety for a very, very, very long time.