another short story

last night it was my turn to respond to little sister's mid-night waking and finish up my sleep in the girls room on the trundle bed. i did manage to get a few more hours of sleep, but sometime between 5:30-6:00, this was the scene -

big sister: "mom??"

me: "yes?"

big sister: "can i come snuggle with you?"

me: "i'm still sleeping... not yet." it was then that i glanced at the clock and hoped to snooze for just a bit more. then i started to feel guilty - i mean, all my baby wanted to do was snuggle with me. but before i could give in to the guilt...the silence ended again.

little sister: "mom??"

me (again): "yes?"

little sister: "can i come snuggle with you?"

did she not just hear what i told her sister?
me (again, feeling less guilty): "i'm sleeping...not yet."

there was a short silence. then big sister said to little sister: "you can some snuggle with me."

my heart just melted, and my guilt returned tenfold. little sister obliged, and there was some movement across the bed and shuffling of covers. i heard big sister say "come here, honey," and then little sister went back to her side briefly to find her puppy. i also began to faintly hear the TV in the next room. i continued to lay there, hoping to pretend to sleep for another few minutes...but had no such luck.

little sister: "mom??"

me: "yes."

little sister: "can i go see daddy?"

me: "sure." and so we all got up.