Time to a child at the Cottage

Ode to Emily, Assemblage by Rosemary Whyte

I awake to the cry of the loon at the cottage.  It is shortly after 7:00 a.m. and my plan is to pad downstairs and sketch before the household is awake.  I exit my room silently and hear a child's whisper from the adjoining room and I recognize it is E speaking in his hushed tone  "Hey Helen, I am in here, upper bunk, can you see me?" His dark mop of hair is visible above the either-down.  He tells me his parents have strict orders that he does not get up until 7.30.  I ask what time is it now and he looks at his little electric clock and says 7:11. He is impatient and restless and tells me of all his plans for the day and how he wishes his parents would allow him to just get up when he wants and how rules are stupid.  I tell him the minutes will go quickly and I will stay with him.  He asks if his sister in the lower bunk is awake, which by now she is.

He then asks me if I would like to see him jump from the upper bunk and before I could answer, the game is on

Before we know it, it is almost 7.30 and we head downstaiirs, teddy bears and dolls included and repair to the couch in the den.   "O" effortlessly puts her toe in her mouth and  becomes self conscious when I remark on how great this is and how I wish I could do it.  She replied  "Stop It, Helen; just Stop-It"

I don't remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.