June, 1956

In which the Stegglings stay up past their bed time.


As Steve moved along the hall to join Peggy in the living room, he heard a small voice coming from Michelle's room that he recognized as James's. He veered toward the bedroom door, reaching it at the same time Peggy did coming from the other way.

"Sounds as though someone is out of bed," she said.

"It does, doesn't it?" Steve agreed. James had been a little difficult about going to bed since the summer started—he was having trouble believing it was time for bed when the sun was still up, though this was the first time he'd snuck into his sister's room when they should both be sleeping.

With James talking, Steve doubted Michelle was asleep either, but he pushed the door open quietly, just in case. James was sitting up in the window seat, leaning against a pillow with his sister in his lap. Michelle was leaning contentedly against her big brother and holding her stuffed tiger.

"Oh," Peggy said quietly. "It's almost a shame to send him back to bed; it looks so sweet."

Steve smiled, agreeing with her. Then James raised a little finger and pointed to the window.

"See, Michelle?" he said, pointing outside. "There's one."

The backyard beyond the window was mostly dark now as the sun sank below the horizon, and Steve wondered what they were looking at.

"I don' see," Michelle complained.

"Right there," James said, moving his finger, and this time Steve saw a little dot of light floating through the dark.

"I see it!" Michelle said gleefully. "What's it is?"

"It's a flierfly," he told her.

Peggy bit her lip and smiled, and Steve smiled too.

"Flierfly," Michelle repeated in awe.

"It's a little bug," James explained. "An' it comes out at night an' shines in the dark."

"A shiny bug?" she asked, puzzled. Then she gasped. "It's a other one!" she exclaimed, pointing to the window. A second spot of light had joined the first.

"It's his friend coming to play with him," James said.

"Flierfly friends," she said happily.

"There's some more," James said. "Can you count them?"

"One, two, four, five!"

"You missed 'three'," he told her.

"It's not free, it's five," she insisted. "See?"

Peggy giggled into her hand.

"Look, dere's more!" Michelle continued. As the night grew darker, more fireflies appeared in the yard. She relaxed back against James. "So shiny," she said happily.

"They come out and shine up the dark so you don't hafta be scared of the dark," James told her.

"Where dey come from?" she wondered.

"The sky," James said, after thinking for a moment.

"Like stars?"

"Like stars," he agreed. They both watched the fireflies dance across the yard for a minute. "Shiny flierflies, shining in the sky," James started to sing. "Shiny flierflies, shining in my eyes. Shiny flierflies, shining in the dark. Shiny flierflies, that one's name is Mark."

Steve turned away into the hall to snort into his hand. Peggy was right behind him. "I was going to ask if you'd taught him another one of your future songs," she said. "But I suspect he's making this one up himself."

"He is," Steve agreed. "Not bad for a rhyme on the spot, though."

"Indeed not," Peggy agreed.

Evidently, Michelle thought so too. "Sing more," she said as Steve and Peggy turned back to watch them.

Undaunted by the spontaneity, James continued. "Shiny flierflies, shining all around. Shiny flierflies, shining on the ground. Shiny flierflies like to shine and dance. Shiny flierflies aren't wearing any pants."

Michelle giggled, which was loud enough to hide the snort Steve was unable to contain.

"Oh, my," Peggy said, shaking with silent laughter.

"Shiny flierflies, underneath the moon," James sang on, smiling. "Shiny flierflies, shiny like a spoon. Shiny flierflies, all in the night. Shiny flierflies, making lots of light. Shiny flierflies, they twinkle and they glow. Shiny flierflies out of the window. Shiny flierflies, shining very well. Shiny flierflies, shining for Michelle." Michelle squeaked in delight at this final declaration, and James hugged her closer and kissed her cheek.

Quietly, Steve stepped back, pulling the door shut and leaving them to watch the fireflies together. "I think they can stay up a little longer, don't you?" he whispered.

"I think so," Peggy agreed. She was smiling warmly.

"Do you think they'll spot us if we go sit on the porch?" Steve asked, nodding back at the bedroom. "We could go enjoy the flierflies ourselves for a few minutes."

"We should be safe if we stay on the steps," Peggy said, still smiling.

Steve slipped his fingers through hers, stepping carefully through the kitchen and easing the screen door open. They sat down on the steps of the porch, hands still intertwined. Peggy leaned over onto his shoulder, and he looped an arm around her.

"It is lovely, isn't it?" Peggy sighed.

"It really is," Steve agreed. He couldn't remember the last time he had sat down and just watched the fireflies. He turned his head to look down at Peggy. Her face was glowing in the light of the little lightning bugs, and he smiled and leaned in to kiss her.

"You know, there is a song from the future about fireflies," he told her.

"Oh? Better than the one about fireflies not wearing pants?" Peggy chuckled.

"Well, I don't know about that," he said, standing up and taking her hand to pull her with him. "But it's a pretty good one." He held on to one of her hands and slipped an arm around her waist. "You would not believe your eyes if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep," he sang quietly, spinning her out for a little twirl, then back in again. "'Cause they fill the open air; leave teardrops everywhere; you'd think me rude but I would just stand and stare…" He looked deep into her eyes, smiling, as she twirled out and in again, kissing his cheek when she came back.

He didn't quite remember the rest of the words, but he remembered the tune, and he kept humming as they danced in the dark, fireflies lighting up the night around them.