The sunlight makes a crisp yellow square on the wall. I’m lying there with my chin on the edge of the mattress and my pillow wadded up under me when Ariel comes tiptoeing in, holding her hands behind her back. “I have something for you.” I roll over but don’t raise my head. “What is it?” She turns her palms up to show empty hands and smiles slyly. Then she jumps on me, hugging me around the neck and pressing her face into the top of my shoulder. I laugh because I can’t help it. We wrestle together, rolling around until I’m flat on my stomach with the comforter wrapped around my legs and the sheets in a mess on the floor. Ariel is lying flopped across my back. “When you get dressed, you should wear your big boots,” she says, playing with my hair. “Is that right?” She nods and flips over so she’s staring up at the ceiling, still holding on to my hair.
