The Stevenson family was having dinner. The family ate without talking for
several minutes, then Tom said,#
"Daddy, do you know how wars begin?"#
Mr. Stevenson thought for a moment, then he said, "Yes, I think so. I'll give
you an example. We'll take two countries, Britain and America. If Britain
fought with America ..."#
Mrs. Stevenson laughed. "That's crazy," she said to her husband. "Britain and
America have been friends for over two hundred years. They'll never fight."#
"Yes, I know that," Mr. Stevenson said. "I was only using them as an example."#
"But they're not a good example," Mrs. Stevenson said. "France and Germany are
a better example."#
"Britain and America are the best example," Mr. Stevenson replied. "They are
friends now but they were enemies in the past. They fought a war!"#
"But that was a long time ago," Mrs. Stevenson said. "You should use more
modern examples."#
"And you should let me answer my son's question," Mr. Stevenson said angrily.#
"Not when you give him wrong answers," Mrs. Stevenson said.#
"I am not giving him wrong answers!" Mr. Stevenson shouted. "I am giving him
perfectly good answers."#
"Don't shout at me!" Mrs. Stevenson cried. "I'm not one of your stupid
friends."#
"My friends aren't stupid!" Mr. Stevenson stood up and walked angrily out of
the room.#
"Now I'll answer your question," Mrs. Stevenson said to her son.#
"It's all right, Mom," he said. "You and Dad already have."&