"Danny, we've talked about this. You can't have a dog until you can prove that you can take care of it. An apartment really isn't the right place for one anyway." Danny put the bright blue leash back on the shelf, and sighed. "I know I'd be able to do a great job of taking care of a dog. I'd never forget to feed or walk him, Mom."

"Why do you get to choose before you do one, Wes? It just isn't fair." Wes held up his hands. "One of us has to start the game, right? I'm the oldest, and I'll still have to take a turn. In the end it won't matter that I went first, but someone has to. Or we'll never get started. You do want to play, don't you Kevin?"

"At this rate I'll never get to see Heaven," he grumbled. "Damien, you aren't going anywhere until you finish folding the laundry." Damien sighed. "But Mom, it's Saturday. The only day of the week I can spend all day there!"

"What's all the fuss about, Pierre?" Pierre stopped sharpening his knife, and looked up. He put the stone next to him on the rough bench, and placed the knife in its sheath. "Don! This must be your first trip into town this summer. Did you have a good catch?"

"Can't rest yet... I have to keep moving," he panted. He staggered along, mostly unnoticed. A few passers-by glanced in his direction, but quickly looked away. "Come on, Wade, you'll be out of town before dark if you just keep moving."

"Again, I'm very sorry to have startled you. Unfortunately I had no choice. Please, allow me to explain over breakfast?" Roy looked over his shoulder at Nora. She nodded. "I guess we don't have much choice. And I do want to know what's going on."