memories of various times with penny drifted through the stream of consciousness : when she had been sick and we had sat up all night , checking her temperature and keeping her calm and comfortable , when she had slept between us in bed , sometimes holding one of my hands and one of his , when she had had a bad dream or because she did not want to be in her room alone , or when i had watched them over the top of one of my books as they drew pictures of both monsters and zombies , and fairies and princesses .