Book Eight: Chapter 10

“Yes, you’re grounded, too. Your brother is extra grounded because of what happened in the Vault. He knows and understands why you shouldn’t go in there, so his mother decided he has to stay in the village for a couple of days.”

“Bad!” Grace hissed again.

“He was bad, and so were you.” Mike gave her a stern look. “And that’s why you lost your markers, remember? Though it’s clear I should have taken away your crayons, too. How many are even left in the box?”

Grace held up three fingers.

“I hope you’re kidding, because that was a 64 pack.” Mike opened the book. “Now do you want a story, or do you want to talk more about child discipline?”

“Book,” said Grace as she snuggled her body in between his leg and the recliner. She was able to squeeze herself into the gap so tightly that anyone watching would think that a normal sized child was sitting in Mike’s lap. So much of her abdomen disappeared in the leather recliner that Mike wondered if his child w