Shhhhh... Resting

9:24 p.m.

The Girl was very tired. Her eyelids heavy with the pull of sleep.

A usual sleepless night.

The normal 8:30 a.m. start time at work.

A reduced four hours of labor.

Roughly 7 hours behind the wheel. Facing rain and hoping the lane was unfolding before her. Faith.

At this hour, the Girl could not give into sleep. Despite the fact that it was an hour that would have been bragged about later in life. Tonight she had to wait. She had to wait for Sister to get home to celebrate the Girl's overdue birthday.

What self control. The Girl held her birthday celebration, presents, cake and wishes in for almost a week. Now she was face to face with a mountian of presents and already sneaked a peak at the baked good that would later satisfy her sweet tooth.

This self-deprivation was exhausting.

The Girl's posture out on the couch started erect. The warmth of the blanket on her lap pulled her legs up into her chest. It wasn't long before her recline became a stretched out sleeping position.

Mother told her to rest her eyes for Sister's return. Mother could resist the constant conversation and said she would finish tidying up for the nearing Holiday.

The Girl's eyelids fluttered and conciousness faded in and out.

Mother's tidying started with turning on everylight in the living room. Including the one inches from the Girl's resting head. Mother was not going to make this easy for the Girl.

The vacuum roared into life. Mother vaccumed the way we all do. Slamming the machine into the sofa's edge, thinking it would pick up what's underneith. Shuffling the remaining furniture and covering each area twice.

The vacuum was turned on and off several more times before the Girl was woken by her Sister. Sister sat perched on the Girl's hips.

Resting was no longer an option.