Summary

The short story “Sleeping” by Katharine Weber follows a girl named Harriet, who is asked by Mr. and Mrs. Winter to babysit their infant, Charles. The Winters tell Harriet that she does not have to feed or change the baby, and that she should not look in on him, as he is sleeping and the sound of the door opening might wake him up. 

Harriet has never babysat before and remembers that the first and last time she held a baby was when she was six, seven years before. While the Winters are at the movies, Harriet reads some of the Winters’ mail, watches TV, and looks at old wedding photos. She tries to enter the baby’s room, but the door seems locked. Harried tries ...