It was early evening on a Friday at the Dawsons. Rose was giving Max his bath, and Jack was keeping Audrey occupied downstairs.
"Max, hold still. I need to clean your back. It's filthy." Rose giggled as he tired to reach his back with the soapy washcloth.
"It tickles, Mommy. It tickles!" Max squirmed and giggled, getting Rose wet.
"Hey, Max. Come on, hold still for Mommy." Rose laughed as she pulled Max towards her. Max then held still as Rose cleaned his back. "There, now you can play. Mommy will be right back, Max."
Rose left the door a little open as she left the bathroom to peer downstairs. She saw Jack in the chair asleep with Audrey also asleep in his arms. Rose smiled, and then entered the bathroom. Max was playing with some of his bath toys. Rose placed a handful of bubbles on Max's nose. Max and Rose giggled as bubbles dangled from his nose.
"Are you ready to get out?"
"No, not yet."
"Okay, just for a few more minutes, and then it will be time to get out."
"Mommy, Mommy, look at my hands!" Max held up his hands, which were pruned.
"Oh, my goodness, Max, your hands are all pruny!"
"Why is like that?"
"Well, when you leave your hands in warm water for a while they get all pruned."
"Oh. Mommy?"
"Hmm?"
"Do your hands get pruny?"
"Yep."
"Does Daddy's?"
"Yep."
"Does baby Audrey's?"
"Yep, but they haven't yet."
"Why not?"
"Because she hasn't been in the water as long as you, daddy, or me have." Rose took the bubbles off of Max's face. Max smiled. "Well, you better play. I'm pulling the plug, and when all the water is gone, it will be time for you to get out."
"Okay."
Rose opened the closet, which contained bath towels, washcloths, and other bathroom necessities. "What color of towel do you want tonight, Max?"
"Blue!"
"Okay." Rose grabbed a blue colored towel, and closed the closet. "Is the water gone?"
"Almost."
Rose watched the last bit of water go down the drain.
"All gone!"
"Okay, get out."
Rose opened up the towel for Max to come into. Max got out, and Rose wrapped the towel around Max. She started drying his hair, and then his body.
"Okay, let's go put on your pajamas."
Max and Rose walked across the hall. Max opened his bedroom door, and Rose walked over towards his dresser. "Okay, Max. Do you want to wear your shorts or your pants to bed?"
"My pants."
"Okay." Rose pulled out his underwear, his long sleeved shirt, and pants. Rose got Max dressed, and tucked him into bed.
"Mommy, can you read me a bedtime story?"
"Sure, honey. Which one?"
"The one that Daddy made."
Rose knew which one he was talking about, and she grabbed it from the bookshelf. Rose read the book to Max, and by the time she read page eight, Max was asleep.
"Good night, Max," Rose whispered, and kissed his forehead. She closed Max's door softly, and went downstairs.
Rose approached the chair to see Jack and Audrey still asleep. She took Audrey, and went upstairs to her room to put her to bed. Rose gently laid Audrey into her crib, and kissed her good night. She again softly closed the door and headed downstairs. Jack twitched as Rose sneaked up behind him. He turned around, and saw Rose.
"Where's Audrey?"
"I put her and Max to bed."
Jack smiled, and kissed Rose.
"I'm going to bed. Good night."
"I'll come up with you."
Jack stood up from his chair, and started to walk up the stairs.
