First Furlough

Today I woke up to the first furlough. It was calm, a little balmy. And my first thought was, "I can't go to work today." I thought of my students who've been long awake by now, cooking breakfast, dressing little brothers and sisters; some still sleeping, restlessly, I bet, trying to fight an internal clock nudging them to break slumber. I just opened my eyes, sat up straight and stared out the window. I should be working today.