After School

I scold Annie for running near a moving car. As we're walking up the stairs to the apartment she says:

"Do you hate me?"

Me: "No, I don't hate you."

Annie: "Well you act like you do."

Me: "I was angry, I was scared, that's not the same as hating."

Annie: "Could you ever hate me?"

Me: "I could never hate you, not even if you...strangled a bunch of monkeys."

Annie: "Even if they were NEWBORNS?"

Me: "You wouldn't strangle a bunch of newborn monkeys, would you?"

Annie: "No, but if I did, would you hate me?"

Me: "I wouldn't hate you, but I'd wonder where I went wrong."