Over the Hedge

Until my son was 4 years old, we had lived in the very arid climate of Albuquerque, N.M.

It was not uncommon for me to hold him tight after our bedtime story while he fell asleep.

One night after finishing our story, shortly after our move to humid St. Louis, Daniel looked up at me and said, "Hey, Mom, what do you say we cuddle for a little while?"

It suddenly occurred to me that with all the many details of the move, it had been several weeks since our last special time together.

"That's a great idea," I said, happily accepting the invitation.

As we lay in his bed all bundled up together on a warm September night, I was thoroughly enjoying this opportunity to be close with my little boy again.

After a very short time, however, he turned to me and said, "OK, Mom, I think that's enough now, because I'm starting to melt."

Laura K. Fisher

Orange, Calif.