Dena fox searches for Aurelia squirrel beneath a comical crowd of stuffed animals on the bed.

A TIDEMARK BEDTIME STORY

Room for My Head

1/12

Aurelia proudly holds her second orange while Dena wipes sticky paws in the warm bedroom.

Aurelia ate one orange. Then she ate another orange.

“Why two?” asked Mama.

“Because,” said Aurelia, “it is somebody’s birthday, somewhere.”

Mama could not argue with that.

2/12

Aurelia carries Bunny toward bed while Dena holds a washcloth after the bedtime cleanup.

A little water. A little more water. Wash the hands. Wash the face. Wash the orange off the chin.

“Now,” said Mama, “bed.”

“Now,” said Aurelia, “bed.”

Aurelia did not go.

3/12

Aurelia holds Dena’s paw with both hands beside the bed.

Mama said, “I will lie right here and hold your hand. Then I have to go check on Cosmo.”

Aurelia held on with both hands.

4/12

Aurelia reveals a second book underneath the first while Dena gives her a knowing look.

“One book,” said Mama.

Aurelia brought one book. Under it was another book.

“That is two,” said Mama.

“It is one,” said Aurelia, “and one more.”

Mama read both books.

5/12

Dena tucks two blankets around Aurelia while several stuffed animals wait nearby.

“This blanket,” said Aurelia. Mama tucked it in.

“Not that blanket. The soft one.”

Mama got the soft one.

“And the first one. For my feet.”

Mama tucked twice. Mama was very good at tucking.

6/12

Dena accidentally kisses a toy duck while awake Aurelia peeks through a crowded bed of toys.

Then came the animals. Eight animals. Maybe ten. They sat all over the pillow like they paid for it.

Mama leaned down to kiss Aurelia’s head.

Mama kissed a duck.

7/12

Aurelia points gravely to a pillow completely occupied by stuffed animals as Dena listens.

“Mama,” said Aurelia, “there is no room for my head.” She patted the pillow. “And no room for your hand.”

“Hmm,” said Mama. “Who let all these animals in here?”

Aurelia sighed a very big sigh.

8/12

Aurelia places the stuffed animals into their own bedtime basket while Dena watches.

So Aurelia did it herself. One by one, into the basket by the bed.

“Goodnight, Bear. Goodnight, Duck. It is your bedtime now.”

She kept Bunny. Bunny was small. Bunny fit.

9/12

Dena presses her paw to the sheet to save her place before stepping into the hallway.

From down the hall came one small squawk. Cosmo.

Mama had to go. Aurelia let go of her hand.

Mama pressed her palm flat on the sheet. “I am saving my place.”

10/12

Dena returns her paw to the saved place while Aurelia and Bunny wait and Nick sits quietly nearby.

Aurelia and Bunny guarded the place. Daddy came in and sat in the chair, quiet as a sock.

Then Mama came back and put her hand down.

“Still warm,” said Mama.

“Bunny sat on it,” said Aurelia.

11/12

Awake Aurelia rests her head on the clear pillow beside Bunny while holding Dena’s paw; the other toys remain in their basket and Nick switches off the lamp by the open door.

Mama came back and placed her hand in the warm spot.

Aurelia laid her head on the pillow. Bunny fit beside her. Mama’s hand fit too.

The other animals stayed tucked inside their basket. Daddy switched off the lamp and left the door a little open.

For once, nobody needed one more thing.

“Goodnight, Bunny,” Aurelia whispered.

And bedtime was finally finished.

12/12