Girls' Night In

By Audrey W.

After an evening of playing a variety of board games with Jennifer, Joanne and Roy opened up the couch bed in the livingroom. A few days before, Chris had made plans to spend the night at a friend’s house, so Jennifer wanted a ‘sleepover’, too. Joanne promised her six-year-old daughter that the night Chris was gone, they would have a special ‘Girls’ Night’ for just the two of them. The little girl had been looking forward to it all week, going on and on about how much fun it was going to be.

Once the sheets were on the thin mattress and the pillows were in place, Jennifer crawled on the sofa bed, bouncing slightly at the excitement of sleeping in a different room than her own.

“C’mon, Mommy! Let’s go to bed!”

“Okay, hold on. I’m coming,” Joanne said as she smiled down at her now beaming child.

Roy kissed his wife and little girl ‘goodnight’ and headed up to bed. This was Jo and Jennifer’s time, and the father wasn’t about to delay his daughter’s special night any longer.

Joanne turned out the lamp near the couch, leaving her and Jennifer in the dark except for a small night light near the kitchen. As she got onto the bed, her daughter laid down uneasily, glancing around the dimly lit room.

“Mommy, it’s kind of a big room in here. . .” Came a little voice.

“It just seems that way at night,” Jo assured. “Just close your eyes and go to sleep. In the morning, it’ll be the same ol’ room you’re used to.”

A few minutes of silence passed before Jennifer’s quiet voice sounded again.

“Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“Can you put your arm around me so I know someone’s close by?”

Joanne smiled. “Sure.”

With her Mom’s arm securely holding on to her, and feeling safe once again, Jennifer closed her eyes and blissfully fell asleep.