​The lamp was low. Daddy Hogg sat in his armchair, spectacles on, slippers on, book closed on his knee. Eight hoglets lay under the quilt, not quite asleep.
“What shall we talk about before sleep?” asked Daddy.
“Kindness,” said Hannah from the doorway.
Hank sat up. “I know a good one!”
“Me first,” said Harriet. “I thought of it first.”
“I counted,” said Henry. “I should go first. I always count.”
“After you,” said Hugo, but nobody heard him.
“I was already going to say it,” said Holly.
Hazel put a paw on the quilt. “If we all talk at once, it won’t be kind.​
There was a small quiet. Then a smaller one.
“Who goes first?” asked Harvey.
Daddy looked over his spectacles. “Perhaps the one who is ready to wait.”
Hugo lifted a paw. “After you,” he said again, and this time they heard him. He pointed to Heidi.
Heidi smiled. “Kindness is giving away the best biscuit, even if you wanted it. And not saying you wanted it.”
Holly went next. “Kindness is starting a song so someone else can join in, and not minding if they sing it differently.”
Henry nodded. “Kindness is counting everyone, so no one is left out of the den.”
Hazel said, “Kindness is stopping the walk so everyone can see the pretty leaf.”
Harriet bounced once. “Kindness is letting someone else have the end of the story, even if you know a better one.”
Hank grinned. “Kindness is saying ‘watch this’ and then waiting until they are looking.”
Harvey patted his backpack. “Kindness is sharing the snacks you packed for further, even if further doesn’t happen.”
Daddy closed his spectacles and opened them again. “And kindness is letting the squabble stop, so the answers can start.”
Hannah tucked the quilt. “Was that a good talk?”
“A very good talk,” said Henry. “Eight answers. All counted.”
They lay down. The lamp stayed low. Nobody asked whose turn it would be tomorrow.
