I had two separate obligations the next day.

One was to report for duty when my leave ended.

The other was to stop making my son search a room to find out whether I had been allowed into it.

PART 5 — A Chair on the Wrong Floor

On Sunday morning, Noah woke before either of us.

He appeared beside the bed carrying the crown and wearing one sock.

He had put the other on his stuffed dinosaur because birthdays, he explained, required everyone to make an effort.