Busywork

You could not glean it from the dark circles around my eyes, but I was a morning person until Mom died in my junior year of high school. When I had trouble sleeping as a child, I would earnestly count sheep or name the capitals of countries. Back in a time when Mom knew everything and was always right, this trick always helped me doze off. Every night, my eyes closed, my thoughts gradually faded to nothingness, and before I knew it I was gently greeted by the morning sun. I went downstairs and heard the sound of breakfast being prepared, and even though I never wanted for sleep I faked a yawn as I walked into the kitchen. Unfailingly, Mom turned around and said the same familiar line.

"You grow each time you yawn."