Early Morning

Consciousness slowly penetrated her cocoon of sleep.  She became aware of her surroundings.  A quick glance at the clock and she confirmed the time.  It was early, more than an hour before the time she usually got up.  She listened; trying to determine what had brought her out of her needed rest.  Her room was gray with lingering night leaving the doorway a shadowy rectangle beyond the end of her bed.  Her mind foggy from the late night celebration began to clear and registered faint sounds of movement.

Unexpectedly from beside her bed her daughter and son shouted ‘Merry Christmas.’