One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small girl into bed.  She was about to turn off the light when she asked with a tremor in her voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

The mother smiled and gave her a reassuring hug.

"I can't dear," she said.  "I have to sleep in Daddy's room."

A long silence was broken at last by her shaking little voice:  "The big sissy."