You know how some psychologists sometimes say abandonment by parents is a three-year old’s worst fear?

Well.

Gamma is five now, but nobody tell CPS all the same.

We were going to go dancing, as we do Fridays. Dance lessons I mean. We went to our friends’ house, the ones we go dancing with. We decided we were too tired and sat around talking instead – we’ll go to the Sunday lesson instead.

They opened a bottle of wine, it got late. Beta studied English with their daughter, who she goes to school with.

Gamma went to bed in their younger daughter’s bed, who’s a little older than her but not much. Fell right to sleep. When it came time to leave, we didn’t want to disturb her. They said they’d drop her off tomorrow morning.

Still, when we got home we were like, “Where’s Gamma?” for an instant. Then, “Oh, right.”

Maybe she’ll sleep like a log. Maybe they (and we) will have an interesting night. We’ll see.

I already miss her.