After Janna and I get the laundry taken care of, I go in search of Kookie. He is lying flat on his back on top of his bed, which miraculously has no clothes on it. As I enter his bedroom, I discover what has happened to all of them. They have taken an unceremonious leap off his bed, apparently. For they are now cluttering the floor.
I navigate my way over and around mountains of smelly shirts, holey jeans, and unmentionables. Finally, I stand over his bed looking down at his sweet face. He is breathing deeply and evenly. From the rhythmic sounds erupting from his chest, I determine that he really is asleep.
I gaze down at his face for a few moments, recalling a tiny infant sleeping soundly on my chest, the gentle rise and fall of his breath passing quietly through his wee mouth. What is it about slumber that makes people so beautiful? I think of all the hours I spent memorizing the curve of his eyelids and the lovely display of his eyelashes against his cheeks when he was little. I remember studying his rosebud lips and rounded chin. There is nothing sweeter on earth than a child asleep in his mother’s arms. This sleeping boy below me makes a close second. Noticing a chill in the air, I cover him with a blanket before quietly braving Mt. Holey Jeans again on my way out.
Kookie must have been wiped out by the crazy events of the morning. He is still asleep when I have to leave to pick up my younger kids from school. We all pile back into the house right before Emmie walks through my front door. She’s been Janna’s best friend since kindergarten. The girls make their way back to Janna’s bedroom to hang out. A few minutes later, I am carrying a load of laundry back to Janna’s room when I overhear a very interesting conversation.
Janna is lounging on the bed, and Emmie is sitting in a chair looking at one of Kookie’s old photo albums. Emmie’s golden hair is clinging tightly to her scalp in a perfect French braid. She absentmindedly pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she peers down at undoubtedly cute pictures of Kookie as a toddler. Her slender legs are drawn up against her chest as she balances the book on her knees. Emmie’s backpack, which she’d set against the wall, suddenly falls over, drawing Janna’s attention to it. Janna narrows her eyes before jumping off the bed.
“Is that?” She reaches into Emmie’s backpack and unearths Kookie’s green hoodie. “Emmie, YOU took Kookie’s sweatshirt?”
Emmie jumps up off the chair, slamming the photo album shut. “I-I-I.” But then she falls silent, clearly speechless.
“You know he knows, right?”
I watch from the doorway as Emmie turns white. “He knows?” she whispers, clearly horrified.
Janna nods her head vigorously. “He knows his hoodie is missing. He’s been looking all over for it for a couple weeks.”
Emmie audibly breathes a sigh of relief. “I thought you meant he knows…”
“That you’ve been in love with him forever?” Janna whispers. Then she shakes her head. “No. When it comes to you, Kookie is blind. He cannot see what has clearly been in front of his face since kindergarten!”
“You mean, clearly written on my face!”
Janna shakes her head again. “Nah. He can’t tell.” She glances at the hoodie. “But you better put his sweatshirt back before he figures it out. Even he might figure out how much you like him if he discovers you with his sweatshirt.
Emmie’s face falls. “I know. I’m sorry. It just…it just smells so good!” She walks over to the backpack, pulls out the drab green hoodie, and hugs it to her chest before burying her face in its folds.
My heart turns over in my chest. I remember all too well the bittersweet pangs of an unrequited first love. I recall just such a scene from my own youth, except in that case the boy loaned me his sweatshirt because I was cold. I washed it and was then reluctant to return it. I held on to it a little bit longer than necessary.
At this point I am lounging in the doorway when Janna suddenly looks up and notices me.
“Mahmmmm, are you eavesdropping?”
“No,” I say, in wide-eyed innocence. “I’m returning your laundry, and I didn’t want to interrupt your very important conversation.”
Emmie pivots towards me as she turns bright red.
I take pity on her. I put the laundry basket on the floor and then reach out my hand to take Kookie’s sweatshirt from her. “I’ll take it. I’ll tell Kookie I found it. He doesn’t need to know where I found it.”
She sighs in relief. “Thank you. I…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it.” Emmie places it in my hand.
I just smile at her as I turn to leave them in peace.
“YOU took my sweatshirt!” comes a cry from the doorway.
It appears Sleeping Beauty has awoken from his nap.
