Give her a simple, but honest version.

I COULD tell her that it was a magic box that held tiny people in it. Given how incredible it would seem either way, Mai might actually believe me. Then again, why tempt fate? Besides, lying to her just seemed wrong. She trusted me after all. "It's difficult to explain. Basically a TV is a box that shows things that are either happening right now or had happened already," I said. "It's a way to not only entertain, but spread information...but mostly to entertain."

Judging from her expression, she was having trouble grasping the concept. "It might be better to just show you," I said, picking up the remote. It made me wonder what she thought the TV was before. Odd decoration? In any case, I turned it on. Mai looked more amazed then I ever thought possible, all from something I used every day. Well, almost every day.

"This is...I can't believe it..." Mai mumbled. That's when I realized what it was I was watching. A horror movie. I better explain this quick before I horrified her. I quickly turned it off, much to her disappointment. "I almost forgot to mention," I said. "In order to properly entertain, companies produce convincing methods to simulate violent acts. Explosions, dangerous stunts...things that look horrific are, for the most part, always just modern make-up and technology. What we were just watching contained some violent stuff...I didn't want you thinking it was real."

Mai quirked an eyebrow. "This time period is weird..." she mused. I turned it back on and Mai tilted her head, trying to figure out just HOW this person could be sliced in half...and not really be sliced in half. "We can watch some other kind of program, if you want," I offered, wondering if this was too much for her.