a little sister’s wisdom

Someone once told me that owls have ancient wisdom behind those big round eyes. If only we could decipher their calls we’d know all the secrets to the universe. I wish they’d communicate this ‘wisdom’ a little quieter because I’m a light sleeper.

It wasn’t a wise decision to go on this trip. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. If I were an owl, I might have known better. I thought I could become someone I’m not for the week. But I’m ‘indoorsy’. Camping is not for me.

I’m standing on the front porch of the log cabin we’re staying in, looking up at the moon, peeking through the trees. I think it’s a waxing crescent, but I’m not sure. I was never an expert on such things.

There’s a creak from behind me and then a soft voice.

I turn around and lock eyes with Lily, who’s wearing my hand-me-down pajamas.

“I can’t sleep,” she whispers.

“Me neither,” I whisper back.

“They’re so noisy.”

“The owls?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re just talking to each other - kinda like us.”

“About what?”

“Ancient wisdom.”

“Can you understand what they’re saying?”

“No. Can you?”

“Yeah.”

When I ask her what they’re talking about she proceeds to hoot like an owl.

I laugh and roll my eyes at her.

“Can I have some?” She asks, pointing to the mug I’m holding.

“I guess,” I say and hand it over.

I know her well enough to know she’ll hate it.

She sips it and makes a face.

“Ew,” she says.

“You say that now, but when I’m asleep and you’re still here with the owls, you’ll wish you had this.”

“It makes you sleepy?”

“It’s supposed to.”

“I’m already sleepy, but I can’t sleep.”

“Same.”

There is a moment of silence before Lily speaks again.

“Do you want me to tell you a story?”

“About what?”

“What the owls are actually saying.”

She whispers, as if not to let the owls know that she’s aware of their secrets.

“Sure.”

We head back into the cabin and lie down in our sleeping bags, huddled close together.

In moments like these, I selfishly wish that I had an older sister, someone like me who I could tell stories to when I was 8. But then again I am grateful to have her all to myself, which might be a little selfish, too.

I feel stupid for being angry when my parents announced I’d be having a sister. I was a melodramatic mess in the months before I met her.

But now, I wouldn’t give her up for a million bucks or all the wisdom in the world.

Lying there in our sleeping bags, Lily starts telling me about the owls. I don’t remember what she said because I fell asleep about five minutes in.

Lily is one of the best storytellers I know, so I know wasn’t boring. Maybe she knew the magic words to make me fall asleep.

I bet that’s what the owls taught her.