Recovering
April 13, 2025 — 8:00pm
Dear Reese,
You were a trooper today. With me and MorMor recovering from a stomach bug, energy was low this morning — doubly so since you woke up at 5 am and were very much awake.
We got through it. I’m worried you’ve been feeling off too, or maybe the 2-hour and 45-minute nap you took this afternoon was just due to your restless sleep last night. It was a long enough nap that I got some of my energy back at least, and in the late afternoon we went outside to swing and walk down to the dock. I set you in the grass and you explored the leaves and pine cones in quiet concentration.
Most of this evening, you just want to be held. It makes kitchen clean-up post-dinner a little difficult (also note to self: babies get couscous everywhere). After dinner, we sort through a few Easter items, preparing for an egg hunt next weekend. I put a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cup in a purple plastic egg, and you pick it up and shake it over and over.
You cry in the bath tonight and I don’t know why, but then you fall asleep in my arms before I put you to bed. I’m tired too, darling.
Love,
Mama
The Knight & The Cursed Forest, Part 6
With the three fairies cured of their curse, and soaking in the rain once more, they all thank you profusely.
“Now, will you help me with my curse?” you ask.
“Oh yes,” one says.
“When the time is right,” another agrees.
“We’ll definitely send some help along,” the final fairy finishes.
You look at them dubiously. How will they know when the time is right? “I could use some help now,” you say. “For starters, a troll is hunting us on the main trail.”
All look to the green fairy and her vanguard troll. “Oh, alright,” she says grouchily. “I’ll let the trolls know not to go after you. But be warned, I only know the trolls in this part of the forest, and there are all sorts of dangers on the path ahead.”
You nod and follow the vanguard troll back to the main trail with the duck at your side. At the edge of the trail, the enormous troll rears his head back and lets out a ground-shaking roar.
“There,” he says in his low booming voice. “That will let all the trolls know to leave you alone. A roar like that will stay on your skin for a day or two.”
With that, he disappears back into the forest, and you and the duck continue down the forest trail. Finally, it stops raining, and the duck sings a little tune as the day turns into evening.
You choose to stop for the night. The duck leads the way and flies up on a tree branch, and you follow, climbing a tree until there’s a little notch just your size to curl up inside.
To be continued.