Momma, on the phone, sounds tired and overwhelmed, but still picks up when I call because she knows we need to touch base for sanity’s sake. And to share that three out of the five siblings who visited this weekend have fevers and bad coughs. My chest tightens a notch.
Student J, noticing I’m running Google Meets from a different room, asks me if Family and I finally moved over the break. He cheers when I say yes.
Sharing some of my secret ice cream stash with Boy. He says, “Dank you, Byed,” using his name for me.
Mister, interrupting my work, to bring me a hot chocolate because he hears the hoarseness in my voice and knows it’s been a long day.
Hound, hiding under the desk, because she knows she has made this a long day.
Boy, trying to join Hound under the desk, because–to him, at least–no day is ever long enough.
Baby almost asleep from her last bottle of the day, opening her eyes to look at me with such interest and intensity. And then she sleeps.
a scribble of jo 