I closed the Narnia story before I finished a chapter tonight. I had already read a few verses in the Bible, a library book, and braided three girls’ heads with their ‘night hair.’ I dozed a little in the chair with the relaxed toddler in my lap. Imani leaned in to kiss Chanya goodnight, rousing me. I started singing the (Spanish) Lord’s prayer and the babies joined in. Chanya was singing around her fingers in her mouth, in tenor, Imani leaned over her in loud soprano.

I gently pushed Imani back and we kept singing. Then we launched into the song the babies had helped write years ago, Thank You Lord, for this day, day, day, day, etc., also in Spanish. I kind of fell asleep singing this song. The room grew quiet after the children finished singing. I was asleep. Chanya was relaxed in my arms.

“Mommy! I know what bed I can have! It’s the bed that was my crib!” I opened my eyes abruptly. They looked around wildly. I began to itch all over. Imani, in her excitement about moving into the room with her big sister had awakened me.

She didn’t know I was asleep. I played it off and put the four of them to bed. More or less awake, I came downstairs, returned a phone call to my cousin, called a friend that Chanya had probably dialed a few minutes earlier, and typed this incoherent post. Maybe I should call it a night?