waiting for the timer

 Mother made cookies 
as the old man and the boy laughed
at the way the bugs all dance
on the glassy smooth of the water
after sunset. 

She laid them out on a rack
to cool enough to eat
and waited to call them in.

She basked for a moment
in the scent of warm sugar 
then put on the kettle.

She could hear the boys
talking about rhythm
and the music of life
all around them. 

She hoped the boy would remember 
this night, when life grows more complicated.