The narrator reflects on a childhood memory of watching a historical television program, which their mother enjoyed. At a young age, the narrator struggled to grasp the significance of the events depicted and dismissed them as mere fiction. The mother's attempts to clarify that these events were real didn’t resonate with the child, who perceived them as stories. This perception is common among children, as they often view history prior to their own life experiences as made-up tales.

This perspective allows children to distance themselves from the frightening realities of history. By thinking of it as just a story, they can feel safer and less intimidated by the darker aspects of the past. The narrator's experience illustrates a universal theme of childhood, where the lines between reality and fiction blur, serving as a protective mechanism against the complexities of the world.