Instead

 

once on a summer night

 

I chased my children through the grass

in my glowing white nightgown

trying to brush their teeth

 

when the door opened, she asked if we'd like some

an impromptu dessert party with cherry pie and fancy popsicles ensued

instead of putting the kids to bed

 

we sat on the patio talking as the sky darkened

critters rustled through the untamed edges of my backyard

moonlight hit my clothesline in the same place the sun does

 

then the children said

we're tired

we're going to bed