Joe plopped down on his bed and tossed his boots into the corner. The day had been filled with one thing after another, and he was ready to call it a day. Just as he started to lie down on his bed, he realized he had not shut his door all the way. He might not have worried about it only his baby sister, who was closing in on sixteen months, was becoming famous for walking into any room that had an open door. Since his father and stepmother were already asleep, Joe stood back up and walked to the door, only to see his sister walking down the hall alone.

Afraid the young child would find her way to the staircase and down to an empty downstairs; Joe darted out into the hallway and picked up Faith. Thinking she'd found a playmate, Faith clamped her hands down on his shoulders and swung her feet upwards; her small feet landing on each side of him.

Joe grimaced ever so slightly. For a small child she sure had a lot of force in her limbs when she moved them. Thinking she'd settle down if he played with her for a few minutes, Joe took her back to her bedroom. Once inside her room, he found one of her rag dolls. "Okay, sis," Joe said as he sat down on the floor, "Miss Molly here wants to play for five minutes, and then she has to go to bed and sleep. Okay?" He made a funny face and Faith laughed.

Joe's reasoning was that when 'Miss Molly' went to bed, he could get Faith to go to bed with her. So, for five minutes he played with his sister and 'Miss Molly'; the whole time Faith laughed and giggled. Though, Joe was more than happy when five minutes was up.

"Play time is over." Joe told his sister, as he stood up and laid 'Miss Molly' on the side of Faith's small bed; the one her father had built for her the week before. He'd said that since his daughter was walking she might as well start sleeping in a child's bed. Joe then proceeded to lay Faith in her bed and pull the covers up.

A pouty look appeared on Faith's face. It was obvious she was not happy with the turn of events. "Now stop looking at me like that." Joe lightly scolded her. "It's time for bed. You can play some more tomorrow." He kissed the top of her head and walked out the door. There was only one problem; he forgot to shut the door.

Joe had no sooner opened his door and stepped inside, than he heard the pitter patter of feet going down the hallway. He growled softly, turned around and hurried out his door. He couldn't believe Faith was already to the top of the stairs before he reached her. How on earth had she moved so fast?

"I told you," Joe snapped as softly as he could; he didn't want his father or Joan to be woken up; they'd had a longer day than he had had, "it's bed time for you!" He picked her up and took her back to her room, trying to ignore the child's protruding bottom lip and disgruntle demeanor.

Again, Joe put her in her bed. This time he put 'Miss Molly' in her arms, thinking she would like the comfort of having something to hold onto. That thought went out the window when he heard the doll hit the floor and heard footsteps on the floor. He turned around to see Faith looking up at him. "...ear!"

Thinking she was saying air, Joe was confused for a moment. What on earth did she know about air? It wasn't until she practically flew past him and again headed down the hallway, that he remembered the toys Joan had received for his half sister the day before. There had been a bear in the box...Joe hurried out the door and again found that Faith had beat him to the stairs.

He picked her up and started down the stairs. He hoped the box, which was in the spare room near the kitchen, still had the bear; Joan had actually talked about giving it away, or it was going to be one very long night for him. He just knew it.