A Bedtime Duel

Goodnight, my child. I hope you sleep good
No talking tonight. Right to sleep, understood?

Just one more thing, Dad, I've got to tell
How many pennies are in the wishing well.
You know, the one we saw at the zoo.
I counted them all while I waited for you.
There was six hundred and fifty two!

That's great, honey, but it's time for sleep.
Now not another word, not even a peep.

But, Dad, listen, do you know what?
I can keep one eye open while the other is shut.
I can switch them real fast like this, see?
Things move when I do that. How can this be?
I bet you can't do it faster than me!

Sweetie, you're right. Now get some rest.
It's very late. To sleep now is best.

Hey, Dad in the morning, if you're not busy,
Can we do somersaults? They make me dizzy.
Especially when I do a whole bunch,
right before breakfast and just after lunch.

Yes, maybe so, but not tonight.
It's time to rest, though tomorrow we might.

And, Dad, if we could I'd like to play
That new game you taught me the other day.
What was it called again? Do you remember just now?
Pin the tail on the pig? No, horse? No, cow?
Oh ya, Donkey, that's right. I'd forgotten somehow.

Okay! Alright! That's enough. No more talk.
Open it once more and in goes a sock!

Ah, Dad, I'm sorry. I like talking with you
And thinking of all the stuff that we do
And all of the things we can do tomorrow
Like taking a ride in our big wheelbarrow
And pretend it's a rocket ship headed for space
Or the fastest car in the front of a race
Or maybe a chariot that we ride through Rome
and wave to the crowds on the way to our home.
It's a great big house on the highest hill.
We probably couldn't afford it, but still,
In my mind it's all true and that's okay.
That's what we do when we both play.
But ya, I say we call it a day.


Dad?


Dad?


Pssh, Dad, I knew you were sleepy.