She’s supposed to work on her spelling tonight

I really should make her do that–

but we’re listening to O’ Holy Night

more than a month before Christmas.

I shouldn’t have wiped my eyes and turned away when she

lifted her voice and dramatically raised her hands to the kitchen ceiling

(not knowing that was the moment there would be no homework).

The boys have gone to their wrestling

and so we listen to Jewel;

her stuffed bears (too many to name)

are forming a circle around the kitchen table.

She whispers their words to each other

so that I cannot and do not want to hear.

She fidgets to intermingle their arms

let the phone ring

do not answer the door

we insufferably yell the lyrics and laugh,

yes–

her homework can wait.

Over the sound of the oven cooling,

and the music,

and the smells of dinner clinging to our clothes

we have found something in the kitchen

far more important.