Escape Room
“Alright, she’s asleep.” Nia said, closing the door gently.
“Good. Ready for movie night?”
“Yup. Looks like I’m just in time, too.” She grabbed a handful from the popcorn bowl. “There’s barely any snacks left.”
”Heh, sorry.” Myles shook the box of sour candies directly into his mouth.
”So, what are we watching?”
”Uh, Max’s Adventure. It’s about a dog.”
”A dog movie? For our movie night?” Nia asked.
”There weren’t a lot of good choices. We’ve seen most everything else.”
”Oh well.” Nia shrugged and settled in against Myles’ arm. The movie began, establishing the basic plot and characters. Myles finished his snacks before the opening credits were off the bottom.
”Story!” Orchid said, appearing before the TV.
”How’d you get out of bed?” Nia asked.
”Story!”
”Okay, one more story.” Myles said. He picked Orchid up and carried her back to her room. “Which book do you want?”
”Mm!” Orchid jabbed a purple book with her pudgy finger.
”This one it is.” Myles settled in the chair beside her bed and cracked open the book. As he read, Orchid tugged on his ear through the crib bars. When the book was finished, Myles kissed her head, then slipped out of the room.
”Is she actually asleep this time?” Nia asked.
”I think so.” Myles grabbed more snacks before returning to the couch. “What’d I miss?”
”The dog made friends with a wolf and a raccoon. They fell off a waterfall, but seem to be unharmed.”
”Cool.” They continued to watch the movie. Nia felt herself dozing off.
”Play!” Orchid said.
”Nnnn. Go to bed.” Nia groaned.
”What are they teaching you at daycare?” Myles asked. “Extreme ninja training?”
”Nim-ja!” Orchid raised her arms and Myles picked her up. She sat on his lap and played with the empty candy boxes until the movie finished.
”I’ve been thinking, maybe she’s been using the chair.” Nia said.
”Yeah that makes sense.” Myles turned the TV off and followed Nia to Orchid’s room. He sat her down in her crib.
”Noooo.” Orchid whined.
”It’s bed time.”
Nia moved the chair away from the bed. “No more climbing out for you.”
”Nighty, night.” Myles kissed the top of her head.
”See you in the morning.” Nia said. After she left the room, Myles put the baby gate in front of the door. “Now that we’ve successfully locked the baby up, it’s bed time.”
”Alright, let’s go.”
Myles shut off all the lights and they retired to their bedroom. “Goodnight.” Nia leaned over and kissed him.
”Night. Love you.”
”Love you, too.” Nia flipped over, pulling the covers up to her chin. The only sound in the whole house was the sound of her own breathing. Nia adjusted her pillow, then rolled over onto her back. She was thinking about recipes, when she heard the door knob turning. “Hello?” Nia whispered.
Footsteps rapidly approached the bed, then the creature launched itself onto the end of the bed. “Momma play.”
”Orchid.” Nia let out a breath.
”Momma, Daddy play.” She said as Nia pulled her closer.
”How do you keep getting out of your bed?” Nia asked. Her daughter didn’t answer. She leaned over and bopped her father on the nose.
”Nnng.” Myles rolled over. “What’re you doing here?”
”She got out of bed again.”
”How?”
”I don’t know.” Nia laughed.
”Do you want me to put her back in bed?”
”No bed! Play!” Orchid climbed off her mother’s lap and bounced on the bed.
Myles grabbed her. ”Yes bed. Sleep.” He rolled onto his side, pinning Orchid down in the middle.
Nia lay down too, wrapping her arms around her daughter. She kissed her head. “Go to sleep.”
”No sleep.” Orchid said sleepily.
Myles fake snored. “You’re gonna wake Daddy. You have to be quiet and go to sleep.” Nia whispered. She pulled the blanket over Orchid and ran her hand through her fine, purple hair. Orchid blinked slowly. Then she stuck her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes. “We’re gonna have to figure out how to keep her in her bed.” Nia said quietly.
”Yeah.” Myles whispered back. “But that sounds like a tomorrow problem.”
”Okay. Goodnight.”
”Goodnight.”