Why?

I thought I had more time before the why? stage began. I was wrong.

A sample from today's shopping trip:

"Why nutmeg, Mommy?"
"We need nutmeg to make pumpkin bread."
"Why?"
"Because that is what the recipe calls for."
"Why?"
"Because it makes it taste good."
"Why?"

One aisle later:

"Buy nutmeg Mommy?"
"No they didn't have any Samuel."
"Why?"
"Because it ran out."
"Why?"
"Why no nutmeg Mommy?"
"Mommy, Nutmeg?
"Mommy, why not buy nutmeg?"
"Mommy, where nutmeg?"
"Nutmeg."
"Mommy, mommy"
"Yes, Samuel."
"Why nutmeg?"
"Samuel, if you ask about the nutmeg one more time I'm going to scream."
"Why nutmeg, Mommy?"

At the checkout:

"Mommy no buy pretzels."
"I have to Samuel."
"Why?"
"Well, if you want to eat them, I have to buy them."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't buy them and we leave the store the police will come get me."
"Why?"
"Because those are the rules. If you leave the store with something without paying for it, the police will come arrest you."
"Why?"
"Because those are the rules. You have to buy things if you want them."
"Why?"
"That is our societal construct."
Pause.
"Mommy no buy pretzels." ...