chopping leeks

We got home at 10:43 PM. For two-and-a-half hours before that I sat in a facilitation & logistics meeting (contributing nothing except an insistence that "people's mic" for open complaining and "human mic" for sound-off style communication would be too unclear). The Hero in the kitchen behind me chopped vegetables with the humane resources group, which is trying to feed the whole occupation. Occasionally the Hero wandered away from the kitchen, sat on a chair next to me letting me rub his back, or played with magnetic construction toys at my feet.

When we got home, as he climbed into the top bunk, he said, "Can I have a reward for being good tonight?"

"Your reward is getting to do important work to help save the world."

"Yeah, but..." he began to sniffle, "you said I could have a reward!"

"I did? What did I say you could have?"

"You said I could do it again tomorrow if I was good enough tonight!"

"Oh! Oh, yes. I will have to talk to the grown-ups in humane resources because I can't supervise you tomorrow, but I suspect they will be happy to have you back."

I was being honest. He really was good. I suspect they will take him right back happily. He helped. I love them, and I love him, and I love the work we're all doing. We've been waiting a long time for this, all of us.