My mom had to work late the next day.
My dad did, too.
So Natalie stayed late.
And that was bad.
It was bad because
Natalie ran my bath
and checked the water
and checked it again
to make sure it wasn’t too hot.
Just like Bibi.
When Bibi stayed late.
And,
Natalie turned back my covers
so my bed was all ready for nighttime.
Just like Bibi.
When Bibi stayed late.
And
I could tell
I could just tell
that after my bath
Natalie planned to read to me
and tuck me in
and kiss me good night
and wish me sweet dreams
and turn down the lights
and tiptoe down the hall.
Just like Bibi.
When Bibi stayed late.
Natalie
was not
Bibi.
And
I
wanted
Bibi.
So when Natalie said,
“Your bath is ready,”
I said,
“I don’t need a bath.
I’m very clean already.”
Natalie looked surprised.
She thought for a minute
and said,
“At least wash your face and hands.”
I washed my face and hands
and went in my room.
Then Natalie pulled open my pajama drawer
and said,
“Would you like to pick out some pajamas?”
“No,”
I said.
“I’m not sleeping in pajamas tonight.”
Then I slammed that drawer shut.
I had to sleep in something,
so I opened my shirt drawer
and pulled out the very top shirt
and put it on
and turned to Natalie
and said,
“Good night.”
“Goodness,” Natalie said.
She pointed to the pajama drawer.
“We don’t slam drawers,” she said.
“Please try again, more gently.”
“Fine,” I said.
I tried again.
“Are you sure you’ll be comfortable in that shirt?”
she asked.
“I’m sure,” I said.
“I could read you a bedtime story,” she said.
“I’ll read to myself,” I said.
I got a book
the first book I saw
and climbed with it into my bed.
It was a very big book.
I opened it
and started to read.
That very big book had very long words
that I didn’t understand.
But I kept pretending to read.
“Well, then,” Natalie said.
“Good night.”
She dimmed the lights
and closed the door
and went off down the hall.
I waited a minute.
Then I dropped the book on the floor
and put my face in my pillow.
I closed my eyes
and decided
to move
to Florida.
