Thank You, Everything

The day is over. The night is here. Before we sleep, let’s say our thank-yous.

Thank you, sun, for the big warm day. You shone and shone. Now you’re resting too.

Thank you, dal and rice, for filling the tummy. The tummy is round and happy. Pat, pat.

Thank you, water, for the splashy bath. You made the toes clean. All ten of them!

Thank you, red ball, for rolling and rolling. You never once got tired of it.

Thank you, dog downstairs, for wagging at us. We always wag back, in our way.

Thank you, Nani’s hands, for the ladoo. And thank you, Nani, for pretending not to see when we took the second one.

Thank you, chappals, for waiting by the door. You take us everywhere and never complain.

Thank you, moon, for switching on. Right on time. You never forget.

And now the closest ones, the softest ones:

Thank you, blanket, for the warm.

Thank you, pillow, for the soft. Pat, pat, pat.

Thank you, this whole day, for everything in you — the big warm sun and the round happy tummy and the ball and the wag and the ladoo.

So many helpers. So many thank-yous. And every single one is tucked in now, just like you.

Thank you, sleepy eyes, for closing all by yourselves.

Goodnight, everything.

Thank you, everything.