dad tilted his head down and watched my sister and me as we joined sides . `` you need to get ready for bed , amy . he asked , pointing at the speakers mounted on the ceiling . henry thought at the same time relief crashed over him . no one ever got the short end of the stick , in love , in bed , in parenting , or in being an equal member of the household . `` they wo n't have better houses for us there , '' she said . then i lay out beneath the birch to rest . 