"Do people really live happily ever after?" asked the eleven year-old. He stared up at me with wide, eager eyes.

"Well…" I paused. I sucked in a breath. "That's a big question."

He continued to gaze at me, unwavering. I knew I had to give him an answer. It's rare nowadays for the young to seek advice from their elders, so I couldn't let him down.

I cleared my throat. "For many people, yes, they do live happily ever after. And if you believe enough in it, it will happen to you too."

That's too fairy-tale, I thought to myself. Need to give him some real world advice.

"Happiness is just a state of mind. There are people who will never be happy, no matter how much they have or how much they accomplish. For them, they never truly live happily ever after because their own minds are never satisfied. They are forever filled with an emptiness that leads them into a hollow, sad existence."

His cheeks trembled. A frown formed. Oops, too pessimistic. Need to be more optimistic.

"Then there are people who are happy with what they have. They know how to appreciate the little things. You'll see them on the streets, smiling and laughing and full of energy. They've had troubles in their lives too, but they know how to rebound from their troubles and enjoy the ups and downs of life."

The frown subsided. His brow began to wrinkle and he raised an eyebrow. Damn, I'm losing him.

"You see, life isn't always good. And it isn't always bad. There are always ups and downs, good times and bad times. When you buy a new toy, that's a good time. When you have to do your homework, that's a bad time. Both are inevitable—"

He scratched his head.

"Do you know what inevitable means?"

He shook his head.

"It means something that is sure to happen. So you can't escape doing your homework; you'll have to do it. Everyone does. That doesn't mean life is bad though. You'll also get new toys, especially on your birthday and Christmas. That's also something that is sure to happen."

I paused. Too idealistic. Can't paint him a picture that everyone gets presents.

"However, if you're from a poor family, then you won't always get new toys. Those families have to celebrate in other ways. Like… making their own presents out of dried macaroni or something…"

He wrinkled his brow. Getting off topic. Dang.

"So what I mean is, everyone has to deal with good times and bad times. It's the people who know how to be happy with these good and bad times that will live happily ever after."

He scratched his head again.

"Let me try it this way. The term 'ever after' is a pretty broad term. Some people find love and get married and have kids, and they're happy. But it may not necessarily be ever after. They may be happy for many years and then go through a messy divorce with crazy custody battles over their kids."

His jaw dropped and his eyes popped open.

"Oh, no no no, I don't mean to say that your parents will get divorced! I'm sure they're one of the couples who WILL live happily ever after. I'm just saying that not all couples do. But when a couple does, like your parents, then you all live happily ever after!"

He closed his mouth, but his brow was still wrinkled.

"Some marriages last a good long time. Until they die, which would be the logical end of 'ever after,' but that's—"

His jaw dropped again. Dang!

"I mean, not die! Well, no, everyone has to die. But don't focus on that right now! What I mean is, um, what I'm trying to say is that… uh…"

He scratched his head and shuffled his feet. "You don't really know the answer, do you?"

"Huh? Why sure, I just told you the—"

"Nuh uh, you don't really know."

We stared at each other in silence. My toes itched. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked.

He broke the stalemate first. "Gee, I thought that when you get old, you get smarter and know things. But you don't know anything. I hope that when I get old, I'll know the answer."

Then he shuffled away. I scratched my head and wrinkled my brow.

. . .

Do people really live happily ever after?