What Comes Next?

What comes after a hundred? - A thousand.
What comes after a thousand? - A million.
What comes after a million? - A billion.

So began our conversation last night at dinner.

"And what comes after a billion, Mommy?"
"A trillion," I replied.

"And do you know what comes after a gazillion?" Sarah exclaimed.
We all looked at her with anticipation, because her face told us she had the answer:
Her eyes bright with excitement, her mouth curved in that way she does when she knows she has everyone's attention, Sarah let us in on the answer.
"A Vowzand!"

I've never heard of that one, but it sure sounds good to me. I'm sure I've read her that book a vowzand times, and I'm certain I've reminded her to use her napkin instead of her shirt a vowsand times, and I'm pretty sure that, despite my admonishments to use less, she has probably gone through a vowsand sheets of toilet paper this week. What's more, she's probably given me a vowsand kisses today and reminded me that she loves me a vowsand times and she's probably told me how much she loves that something-or-other I gave her or the things hanging on the wall or the way the birds land on our bird feeder or the chipmunk that visits to eat what they drop or the way the wind blows her hair along her back or, well, a vowsand other things.