It’s only around 10 p.m. and we hear the all too familiar sound of little feet pittering and pattering out in the hall. Then a sleepy Madeline peeks into our doorway.
Daddy: Honey, go back to bed. It’s too early to come in here.
Madeline, sniffling: I can’t.
Mommy: It’s Mommy and Daddy’s time now. Go to bed.
Madeline, sniffling more: I can’t.
Mommy and Daddy in unison: Yes, you can.
Madeline, sobbing now: I can’t. I can’t.
Mommy: You can and you will. I’m walking you to bed now.
Madeline: NO! My bed is too lumpy for me.
She composes herself, so she’ll be taken more seriously and then continues: I’m not kidding. I’m really telling the truth, Mommy and Daddy. It’s way too lumpy to sleep in there.