Charlie began yelling, "Where's my Mommy? Where's my Daddy?"

I arose and approached him. His volume increased. I began calmly explaining what was happening. His volume continued to increase. I told him he could sleep in the bed with me if he wanted.

He shouted, "That's my Mommy and Daddy's bed."

I explained, "Yes, they said I could sleep in it. Do you want to get in with me?"

Louder and louder, Charlie began crying frantically, "That's my Mommy and Daddy's bed. Where's my Mommy? Where's my Daddy? Where's my Mommy? Where's my Daddy?"

I continued speaking slowly, calmly, and in a low voice. I even tried explaining childbirth. Charlie didn't hear a word I was saying. At least I didn't think so.

I asked, "Would you like to watch a video?" I used the same tone and volume as before.

He stopped everything immediately, smiled and said, "Yes, I want to see 'Dumbo.'"

"Okay, let's go get it." I thought all my problems were solved.

We went down to the family room and searched for the tape. We couldn't find it anywhere. I asked Charlie if he would like to see another video.

Charlie began to sputter.

I quickly suggested expanding our search. We went upstairs and looked through all the bedrooms. We even went up to the third floor and checked the guest room and the office. We couldn't find it. We searched the livingroom, the diningroom, and the kitchen. I looked in all, and I do mean all, the cabinets, high and low. Still no "Dumbo." The only place left was the basement. We trooped down to the basement. We searched the storage area, and I checked over the washer and dryer.

I said, "Charlie, I can't think of any other places to look. Can you?"

He shook his head, "No".

I said, "Why don't we watch a different movie, and when your father calls, I'll ask him where "Dumbo" is, okay?"

Charlie chose "Pinocchio" as his replacement video. When it was over he wanted to see another video.

I said, "No, now we're going upstairs and lay down. If you want we can sleep in your Mommy and Daddy's bed."

We went upstairs. Charlie fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. I put my head down and closed my eyes. After awhile I was starting to drift off.

There was a bell, I thought they had forgotten to turn off their alarm. No, it was the telephone.

"Hello."

My brain was stuffed with sleep. My brother, Michael said, "It's a boy. Can you call Mom?"

"What?"

He said, "I don't have time, will you call Mom?"

"I guess. How many pounds?" I think I asked some other questions, everything was hazy.

I do remember that I asked about "Dumbo." They had borrowed the videotape from friends and Michael had returned it to them the evening before. He hadn't told Charlie he had returned the tape.

I called Mom and left a message for her to call me.

After about a half an hour as I was once again entering dreamland, the telephone rang. I told Mom what I remembered. Of course she had questions I didn't know the answers to, but, hey.

I laid back down. I could feel the cushion of sleep beginning to envelope me. Michael bounded up the stairs. Charlie awoke. My eyes fluttered open. Michael took Charlie downstairs to make breakfast. He told me I could sleep. I told him I could only sleep a little bit, as I had to leave by 10 o'clock. We had a matinee performance.