“ME!”

This experience is probably not funny to anyone who wasn’t there but I just need to record it as it was one of the funniest things that has happened to me in a long time…

A little background: For as long as I can remember when I am putting Sam and William to bed (they share a room) I will say, “Who wants to say the prayer?” and the first person who volunteers gets to say it. They both shout “ME!” but William is ALWAYS first. This is the boy who practices during the day and who also will come up to me and “call” saying the nighttime prayer hours in advance (which we disallow for the sake of fairness). I am thrilled with both boys’ willingness to pray, and both say such beautiful heartfelt prayers. Frequently, even though William is always faster than Sam at volunteering, I have to let Sam say it since he needs to have a turn too. Also sometimes I say, “Who wants to… (William says ‘ME’)…clean the toilets?” (insert, sweep the floors, do the dishes…)

Now tonight: We are on vacation at my dad’s house and last night we got home from Charleston very late. (11:30). Tonight I put William and Anna to bed at 7:30 as they were both exhausted, yet still in pretty good moods. They fell asleep almost instantly. Then the rest of us played games until around 10. Just now I put Sam to bed and said, “Please say your prayer.” To which he responded, “Oh please just ask, “Who wants to say the prayer?” (William was deeply asleep and no longer competition.  A contest Sam would surely win!) So I said, “Who wants to say the prayer?” Silence. “Anyone?” then William rolls over and sleepily exclaims “ME!” (I’m not kidding) and then slips back into dream land. Sam was awestruck, nearly speechless. And then we both laughed so hard we cried.