But tiptoeing outside the prison of a room must be done carefully and quietly. The blanket with the yellow moons makes a good parka, and once it is put on, it is easy to escape—one foot out of the prison, then two, look left, look right, then scurry like a great explorer down the hallway to the baby’s room. It is easy. There is nothing to it. The baby’s door is open, and perhaps the baby is awake now and wants to fly like an airplane around and around and around. This is a game that needs to be done when no one is looking; otherwise, there are gasps that the baby’s shoulders will come unhinged and warnings of never to do that again unless a punishment is wanted. But the baby is so giggly and happy and holds tight, and it is worth the risk of getting caught to see the baby laugh like that. Still, it is important to stop spinning before someone falls to the floor and hits their head on a sharp corner. But this is easily done. It is easy to stop in time—to come gently careening to the floor in a brother-sister heap.

But then there is a noise. It comes from the stairs. It creeps slowly—heavy work boots on hard wood. It comes closer, and it is necessary to crouch behind the door in the baby’s room and listen. The work boots fall one behind the other, moving forward, forward, forward, and although it is hard to remain silent, the blanket makes a good gag for heavy breathing. The work boots open the bathroom door and then, moments later, they are peeing. It is the loudest sound in the house, and it is very funny. It is hard to be quiet, but giggling into the blanket helps, as does thinking of sad things—like when the cat was almost chewed up by the neighbor’s dog—and soon the work boots are scuffing back down the stairs, forgetting to wash their hands.

Behind the door, the baby’s room looks like a huge dark cave. It is much darker than the prison room. The shades are pulled, and only a tiny stream of yellow sunlight creeps in. It lies like a skinny tree across the floor. The baby is fast asleep, and only soft breaths can be heard from the crib.