Encouragement

Arianna and Colin are here for a playdate. Colin is in the family room having a truck and car extravaganza. Arianna and Connor are in the kitchen with me and we're drawing and coloring. Connor leaves the table and comes back and looks at Arianna with a forlorn, sad stare:

C: Arianna, you encourage me.
A: I what? (confused)
C: You E N C O U R A G E me. (still, the sad face)
D: Connor, do you know what "encourage" means?
C: Yes.
D: What does it mean?
C: It means she makes me do something.
D: Kind of. What is she encouraging you to do?
C: She's encouraging me to think about Buddy. (our dead cat)
D: Why is she ecouraging you to think about Buddy?
A: Because she looks just like a cute kitty cat.

Arianna smiles. So do I.