He took the basket without asking whether that counted as helping enough.

I closed the drawer.

From the nursery, I heard him talking to the babies while he put their clothes away.

He described a sock as though it were a very interesting object.

Luna answered with a squeak.

Leo made a louder sound, determined not to be omitted.

I stood in the hall and listened.

Their father was learning that neither child belonged in the margin of somebody else’s plan.