Trying To Explain

"Mommy?  Why can't we fly?"

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back.  The sun shone right across my lap and the back of my knees were sticky with sweat. I risked a peek in front of me but the traffic still stretched ahead as far as I could see.  A haze hung in the hair.

"Because we don't have wings sweetie," I replied, tiredly.

"But why don't we have wings?"

"Because we just don't hon."

"But why?"

"I don't know," I admitted in defeat, "I guess because that's how God made us."  In the side mirror I saw a white SUV zipping up along side of me, totally ignoring the large flashing arrows warning that their lane ahead was closed.  Everyone else had merged over and sat, idling, in this sprawling mess.  But this car decided they were just too good for that.

"Mommy?  Why can't we swim underwater?"

I watched it approach.  It barreled past, then hit the breaks and angled its nose right in front of me.  I felt the beginnings of road rage swirl in my stomach.  Didn't even have the decency to signal.  Bastard.

"We can swim underwater if we hold our breath."

"But why can't we stay under like fishes?  Why do we has to have breath?"

I contemplated for a moment gunning it forward and sealing up the space in front of me.  The thought brought an evil surge of joy to my stomach but I squelched it.  Two little blue eyes were peering at me from the backseat.  They saw everything.  Heard even more.  Sealing my lips, I idled the car and let the SUV in.

"Well, honey, we have to have air to live.  The air feeds our blood and our brain and our muscles."

"But why mommy?"

The SUV finally merged in.  I sat now staring at its monstrous shape.  At least it blocked the view of the traffic jam.

"Well, honey, that's just how God made us."

The sky was blue above us.  The clock read 2:28.  We were late.  Very late.  Movement caught my eye.  Another SUV was barreling up my right hand side.

"Mommy?"

"Yes honey?"

"You don't know very much, do you?"

This one was black with dark tinted windows rolled shut.  It probably had A/C.  Lucky bastard.

"No honey, I don't."

"That's ok Mommy, I still love you."

It pulled up next to me and nudged its nose over.

"I love you too sweetness," I replied as I hit the gas and gunned my car forward.  The SUV tried scooting up on me but I blatantly ignored it.  My space buddy, find your own.