Death Befuddles Us

The backstory to the following exchange: Beni and I had just returned from the memorial service for the wife of my favorite professor from grad school. We did our best to explain to Olivia the purpose and details of such a remembrance. She, in turn, had some questions.

Olivia: "After you die, are you sleeping?"

Me (pausing): "Uh huh."

Beni: "You sleep forever and ever once you die."

Olivia: "Did her kids say goodbye to her?"

Me (again, pausing): "Yes."

Olivia: "Did they give a hug and a kiss?"

Us (tearing up): "Yes."

Olivia (pausing, then blurting): "I’m thirsty."