Tracie and Stacie are waiting for J.C. to get home from school.

Tracie asks, "How was school today, J.C.?"

J.C. politely answers, "Fine, Mom, how are you both doing?  How was work today, Stacie?"

Stacie replies briefly, "Fine."

Tracie takes a deep breath, "Stacie and I want to talk with you about something."

J.C. is used to each of them just talking when they have something to say, so this comes across as sort of different, "Did I do something wrong?"

Tracie quickly reassures, "No, son, we just want you to listen close to something we think is important."

J.C. is attentive, "I'll listen close."

Stacie takes her turn, "Well, your mom and I would like to get married."

J.C. is confused, "I like the way things are now."

Tracie explains, "Nothing will change with that, it will still be the three of us, just the way it is now.  You'd like that, right?"

J.C. hesitates, as he is even more confused, "I like the way things are right now, ...I'm not sure I'm ready for a change."

Stacie speaks up again, "Nothing will really be that different, we will live the same way we are living now, it's just that I want to get married, so it will be sanctioned by God."

J.C. looks to Tracie, "If I marry Stacie, who will you marry, Mom?  I know a man sometimes has two wives, but I never heard of one of them being his own mom.  I just like it the way it is ...why do things have to change?"

Stacie and Tracie both smile, trying not to laugh.  Tracie explains, "No, we don't want you to marry ...you're too young.  Stacie and I want to marry each other."

J.C. frowns, "I thought marriage was supposed to be between a man and a woman?"

Tracie puts her hand on her son's shoulder, "Not always.  Marriage is a commitment between two people who love each other."

J.C. laughs, "I know that!  That's why I thought you wanted me to marry Stacie.  I love both of you, but since it's between two people, and no one marries their mom ...I thought I'd have the two people I love, a mom and a wife."

The three of them laugh together.

J.C. adds, "I'm glad that's not what you meant, because I'm too young to get married.  But I still don't understand ...what does sanctioned mean?  You said you want your love to be sanctioned by God."

Stacie explains, "Sanctioned means approved ...approved by God."

J.C. looks to be in deep thought, "I'm sure God approves that we all love each other."

Tracie thinks she is beginning to understand what her son is really saying, and she doesn't know quite how to respond.

Stacie explains, "Marriage is a special kind of love ...I mean, I know that all kinds of love are special, but it's a different kind of love."

J.C. looks confused, "I know there's different kinds of love ...we all know Mom loves ice cream.  But I've read that marriage is between a man and a woman."

Stacie asks, "Where did you hear that?  Is that what they are teaching you at school?"

J.C. points, "No, I read it in that book over there."

Stacie asks, "What book is that?"

J.C. goes over, and picks it up, "This one ...written by God."