A Little Excerpt

Summer 2001

Kevin Maggliardi just turned 8 years old and finished an evening of playing soccer with his friends at the park. He came home to his older siblings, Sheridan, 14, Graham, 12, and Addison, 10, playing video games. Sheridan was more watching than playing. He was lying sideways on the couch. Kevin climbed on the couch and decided to lie next to his older brother, Sheridan. He wrapped his arms around his older brother and put his ear on his chest, so that he could hear his heartbeat and his breathing. Kevin fell asleep within 15 minutes, and Sheridan’s arm was wrapped around Kevin. Sheridan’s heartbeat was a bit fast, since he has asthma, but it was also very relaxing. Kevin started snoring softly, and Sheridan got Graham’s and Addison’s attention and showed them Kevin sleeping soundly.