Sweet Dreams

This morning I tiptoed down the hall at 6:15 to wake Nate for his morning, before-school, routine. He sleeps on the top bunk, Jack on the bottom. As usual I shake Nate gently until he starts shrugging me off. Sometimes it's with a loud whine and "But I just fell asleep one minute ago!" (That always gets a laugh. This from the kid who swears he doesn't really sleep--he just dozes.)

But this morning, he is lying on his back holding his stuffed Clifford (the big red dog), all cozy under his blankets. The moment he began to "come to" I whispered again, "Time to get up."

He blinked up at me, then closed his eyes again.

"Can I finish my dream first?"

Must have been a good one.