Abigail is a really good hider. She is not a good hider in the sense of actually getting herself out of sight. She will stick her face in racks of clothes at the department store, under blankets, or behind any object big enough to obscure most of it, without thinking much about the rest of herself. It is so endearing, her standing perfectly still and totally exposed with just her face stuck in the closet curtain, waiting for me to find her. Or grinning and peering at me through a blue tupperware lid as if she is completely invisible while I pretend not to notice that the lid is see-through.

But she is a good hider in her stamina. She will hide for a really, really long time, against all cajoling. We’re talking a full minute of holding as still as possible with her face covered. Sometimes she will peek, and if she gets caught, she goes into a quick retreat. If I tickle her while she is hiding, she will melt into giggles but still not emerge. If I slowly peel back one corner so I can see an eye, she will turn her head away and continue hiding. I run out of hide-and-seeky things to say, she stays hidden so long. When I finally “discover” her and smother her cheeks with “I found you” kisses, she basks in the affection and then quickly covers back up for another round. Abi hides like she means it.

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