place.
“Too tight!” Ellie complained.
I loosened it.
“How’s that?”
She touched both sides of her head.
“One’s higher.”
Nora leaned closer.
“She’s right.”
I looked at my sister.
“Whose side are you on?”
She grinned.
“Ellie’s, obviously.”
We both laughed.
For a brief moment, everything felt wonderfully ordinary.
From the hallway, Tom called, “Are we leaving today or next Tuesday?”
“Tuesday!” Ellie shouted mischievously.
He laughed.
“Then I’ll go back to bed.”
“No!” she squealed, jumping from the chair.
She ran toward him, asking whether we could stop for
