bedtime follies. a drama in three acts. playing every night.

I

The scene opens with four children all tucked in bed for the night.

Helen: but Daddy, why can't I sleep in my princess dress? isn't that how a princess should sleep??

Thomas is out of bed. Tim puts him back in but he won't stay.

Tim: Thomas, you'll have to sleep in your crib if you can't stay in the big boy bed.

Thomas: (hysteria)

Tim: ok, I'll give you grace this time. Back in bed, I'll tuck you in.

Thomas (complying surprisingly quickly): ok daddy, where are my grapes?

Peter: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

II

Helen: HELP! HELP! HELP!

Tim goes in to find that Thomas has somehow sneaked into the big kids room and wiggled into her bed. Back in his bed he goes.

Thomas: grapes, daddy! I want the grapes! where are the grapes?

George (gets out of bed): Mommy, I have a big problem.

Me: what's that?

George: I need to know the difference between a hotel and a motel.

Peter: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

III

George (gets out of bed): I have another problem!

Me, with a sigh: What is it now?

George: I have an itchy tooth. And I can't scratch it.

Thomas (sadly): grapes? grapes?

Peter: waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

catch up...

George is 6! He still loves kindergarten, reading, and anything related to science, space, anatomy, robotics, and engineering. His biggest wish is for a pile of junk to make inventions.

Helen is learning to read. Her ballet recital is in a month and is she ever excited! She loves to do arts and crafts projects all day long and goes through incredibly quantities of tape.

Thomas is obsessed with diggers and dump trucks. He is very chatty, and he has some fantastic mispronunciations going on these days, too precious to correct. "Elmo" = "yoyo." "cement mixer" = "mixer mixer." "helicopter" = "really-copter."

Peter can roll over and play with toys now. He is doted on by his big sibs and they always get the hugest smiles. His sleep is just terrible, but then again no one expected any different.