Just Write {72}

A whisper, Asher! Get back up there!

I tip-toe over to their doorway and look up at the top bunk. Asher opens one eye and quickly closes it again.

Caught.

Asher, don’t peek over the edge. Leave your brother alone so you don’t get in trouble. I half whisper half hiss this and then take a deep breath, trying not to get angry over bedtime stalling. There are much bigger things to need big breaths over, if I can only remember that.

I sit down again and listen to the dog snore for a minute, waiting for any more stalling or messing around from the boys’ room. Elsie starts to call out. Mama, Mama, Mama…

I hear one pacifier hit the wood floor and I wait to hear the other.

Nothing.

Quiet. Except for the snores from the dog, who has plopped herself down in the middle of the living room on Ryan’s  fluffy brown robe. I have no idea why it’s in the middle of the living room floor, but I’ll leave it there for the dog for now, since her favorite guy owns it and is gone for work this week.

Asher calls out again and tells me he’s scared. His eyes are big, shining in the light from the hallway. I tell him I’m right in the next room and remind him that I’ll keep the light on in the hall. He puts his hand on his chin and is obviously trying to think of The Next Stalling Tactic. Water. Water is next.

No, no more. I just gave you water. That’s it now, go to sleep. You’ll be so tired tomorrow if you don’t go to sleep. He asks for my hand and kisses it. I take a deep breath, blow a kiss and leave him and I know he’ll fall right to sleep now. I don’t know how I know, I just do.

:::::

This is the 72nd installment of Just Write, an exercise in free writing your ordinary and extraordinary moments. {Please see the details here.} I would love to read your freely written words so join me and link up below. You can add the url of your post at any time. Just be sure it’s a link to your Just Write post, not to your main page, and please don’t link to posts that are not freely written in the spirit of capturing moments–you know, don’t link to how-to lists or sponsored posts. I want people to remember that this is about writing and not about traffic. Also, please link back to this post in your post so people know where to go if they’d like to join in. 

Please take a moment to visit someone else who has linked up! It’s a really good way to meet new writers and get inspired by the meaning behind their moments. Word? Thank you!