Did I See A Bouquet?

How'd you sleep? is Claire's favorite question in the morning.

She asked her teacher every day last year.

I'm not sure what his answer was.

Mine is usually, "Pretty good, honey."

I know it's middle of the road; but it works whether I've slept like a lamb, or wrestled at three am. with one of the many, who live in my head.

After me, she taps Michael, always in mid-yawn, reaching for his first cup of coffee.

"How'd you sleep, Dad?" she says, leaning into him for a hug.

"Pretty good, Claire," he says, wrapping his arms around her, another huge yawn.

This morning I heard Claire, upstairs, surveying her grandfather.

"How'd you sleep, Pop?" she asked.

"What?" he said.

"Did you sleep okay last night, Pop?!"

"Did you see a bouquet?" he said.

"NO, POP. SLEEP! DID YOU SLEEP OKAY!?"

"Did I see a bouquet?" he said.