Cousins

The setting: a car ride home from seeing our "boy cousins" for the first time in a year and a half.

E: Hey, Dad - Jonah and I were having a long talk today and we were wondering...I know that I can't marry you, cause you're my Papa, and that's not allowed, and boys can't marry their moms, but do you think cousins can marry each other? We were just talkin' about it...

(pause. stifled giggle between the parents in the front seat. deep breath and...launch into long conversation about genes...if people who share genes..."jeans?"...no, genes...were to marry and then want to have a family, their babies would most likely not be very strong or healthy...[this is the very short version]...and so there are laws about cousins marrying too.)

E: Well, I'm not planning on having a big family with lots of kids, I mean, I guess if I were surprised and had a baby that would be ok, but...

Sigh.

E: Well, we were just wondering...