Leon Alirangues

Dr. Alirangues

English 1, Period 1

12 October 2012

Tucking Michael In, Draft 1

Like most families we had our rituals. Ours was TGIF and a line-up of pre-teen and teen shows on ABC that made us laugh. A simple way to unwind and be together as a family on a Friday. The best part for me was tucking in Michael and Gabrielle at the end of the night. There would be the usual kisses, stories, snuggles, and delays. I loved routines. I love knowing things won’t change. But life does not always cooperate.

By the time Sabrina was done he was exhausted. “Bed time,” I said.

“Carry me,” he said. “Carry me like when I was a baby.”

So I wrapped the blanket around him, squatted, slid my hands underneath him and picked up my five-year-old like he was a baby. “I used to hold you like this, Michael, when you were a baby. And I’d give you your bottle and snuggle you,” I said.

He asked, “Did Uncle Fig hold me like this?”

“Lots of people held you like that: Mimi, Uncle Paul, lots of people.” He was so tired that I brushed his teeth in bed. I got him his Pooh and tucked him underneath his Buzz Lightyear comforter and Aunt Lucy’s cotton-knitted blanket.

Michael said, “Let’s pray together.” I was surprised. Usually, I would be the one to lead prayer. So we prayed and I held his small, bear-cub hands, and squeezed him to warm him up. We prayed, and I kissed him goodnight. This is the routine. This reminded me that life was normal. That all was right with the world. That God loved us. But he wouldn’t let go of my hand. He’d wiggle around trying to find just the best spot. I’d kiss him and pet his hair back. I went to pull away again and he said, “ I wish I could be glue and tape, on our hands and mommy’s and we’ll always be together.”

I didn’t knowWe’ll always be together, Michael. There’s a rope that’s woven from my heart to yours, to mom’s, and Gabrielle’s. It goes through all our hearts and minds and binds us in our dreams. He said, “Dad, it’s just in our hearts. That’s where God is.” I was amazed by Michael’s words. Here I’ve spend years studying and thinking about life when all along the simple truth of life is in my heart. Our hearts keep us together.