When I got home

I heard little voices on my way up the icy drive and they got louder as the clank of the gate echoed in the frozen dusk. Opening the door, walking in and stomping the snow off my boots He came zipping by taking double the steps a full sized person would take and squealing "Paaaappy". Miss Jane was right behind him, a little out of breath and smiling and welcomingly lovely as ever. We played "keep it up" with the balloon until it popped and then catch with the basketball pillow while Beatrice hid under the table probably muttering something like"stupid humans" under her dog breath. Papa showed up a half hour later and bundled up the boy for the short ride home. We had a nice hot dinner and I fell asleep on the couch, waking to sweet Jane's soft PJ's at my feet and remembering how I dreamed about hearing little voices on my way up the icy drive.