After dinner, Papa carried a small lantern to the backyard and set it beside the little tent. Eli helped smooth the blanket inside, patting each corner flat. Baby sister Mae sat on the grass with her soft cup, watching with wide eyes. “Tonight is our quiet campout,” Papa said. “Close to home, close to bed, and just right for stories.” Eli liked the sound of that. The porch light glowed warmly, and the windows of the house were nearby.
Eli tucked his small pillow near Papa’s sleeping bag. Then he noticed Mae reaching for the lantern handle. It was not hot, but it was Papa’s job to carry it. Eli gently moved the lantern closer to Papa and handed Mae a smooth wooden spoon from the picnic basket. Mae smiled and tapped the spoon softly on her cup. “Good thinking, Eli,” Papa said. “You found something safe for Mae to hold.”
When it was time for a small campout snack, Papa gave Eli two apple slices and gave Mae one tiny piece cut just for her. Eli held his slices like two half-moons. Mae looked at them and made a hopeful little sound. Eli paused. He liked having two. Then he remembered how happy Mae had been with the spoon. “Mae can have the smaller one,” Eli said. He passed it to Papa, who made it baby-safe. Mae nibbled and beamed. Eli felt warm inside, as if sharing had made the snack bigger instead of smaller.