Hee-ya, Mommy! she pipes up. I take the compact from her and find the round pad in its hidden compartment. I swipe the powder across my cheeks, nose, chin, forehead.
Waura's turn! calls the voice next to me. I gently dab the pad twice on each cheery cheek. Laura rummages some more. Out comes my favorite brown eyeliner.
Waura's eyes, Mommy! I hold the pencil near Laura's face as she squeezes her eyes impossibly shut. Two quick swishing sound effects later, Mommy's turn! pipes up from the voice beside me. Before I can finish lining my own eyes (for real), a small hand holds out the mascara.
Ok, Laura! Your turn! I quickly swoop the wand in front of Laura's wide-open, beautiful blue eyes. Her lashes are so long without mascara. It's funny to think someday she'll insist on wearing it for real. I quickly finish my eyes and put the powder, eyeliner and mascara back in my make-up bag.
And so it begins, I hear from a bemused fatherly voice in the bathroom doorframe. I look up to find Nate has watched this whole morning ritual unfold. Indeed. So it begins.
