Nothing particularly extraordinary had happened.
Nobody had received unexpected money.
No major problem had been solved.
The weather had not improved.
The television was still broken.
The bills were still waiting.
Yet the entire atmosphere of the room had changed.
The worry that usually occupied Carlos's thoughts seemed to loosen its grip.
Elena stopped folding laundry.
Mateo abandoned the imaginary race.
For several minutes, none of them cared about the tasks they had planned to complete.
They were simply enjoying being together.
Carlos eventually moved from the couch to the floor.
He picked up a pillow and announced that he was joining the rescue mission.
Mateo gasped.
"Dad! Are you a superhero?"
Carlos considered the question.
"No," he replied. "I'm the squirrel."
Mateo collapsed into another fit of laughter.
Elena laughed so hard that she had to cover her face.
Carlos placed the pillow on his head like an enormous hat.
