Sean peeked into the room and watched his aunt busily working at her desk. She was typing at a rapid-fire pace at her computer keyboard, occasionally referring to a nearby book or scrap of paper. Reluctant to interrupt but in need of help, he slowly walked into the room and stood beside Valo. After a second or so, she looked up at him.

“Hey, kiddo,” she greeted him. “What’s up?”

“Aunt Jess, can you help me with my homework?” Sean asked.

“Sure. What do you have to do? If it’s math, I’m afraid I won’t be good for much.”

“No, nothing like that. It’s something I know you’re good at. I have to do a speech for my English class.”

At this, Valo perked up. “Really?” she asked. “What topic?”

“Any topic we wanted. I was thinking about maybe talking about why we should keep the art program at our school.”


“All these years, and it’s still a problem,” Valo sighed. “Let me guess, they want to use the money to fund the athletics program.”

“Yeah, I think so. Can you help me?”

“You’d better believe it! Okay, first big top: be able to cite facts to back up your opinions. It makes you sound intelligent and informed. Opinions alone aren’t worth much, but if you have hard number and genuine facts to back up those opinions, then your views might be seen to be more legitimate.”

Sean nodded eagerly. I knew she’d know how to help! he thought. I’ll get an A for sure!


“Bang! You’re dead!” Artemis yelled.

“Oh, no! You got me!” Nathan responded, collapsing to the ground and giggling. Artemis flopped onto the ground beside him and giggled as well.

“Oh, no, now I’m dead, too!” she added. The children laughed even harder.

“Missy, honey, your parents are here,” Jade called poking her head out a window.

Artemis immediately jumped up and dusted herself off. “Okay,” she called back, then made a face at Nathan. “Guess I have to go. See you at school.”

“Yeah, okay. I had fun,” Nathan replied, rising and following her into the house.


Charise chuckled when she saw her daughter. Picking a bit of leaf out of the child’s hair, she joked, “You look like you’re trying to become the first human garden.”

“I’m sorry she got so dirty,” Jade apologized. “They were having so much fun, I didn’t have the heart to tell them to stop.”

“It’s okay. Kids get dirty. That’s why soap and water exist,” S replied, shrugging. “I hear it’s good for the immune system, for kids to be exposed to dirt and germs like that.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re right,” Jade said, shrugging. “My mom was the worst housekeeper ever, and I get sick maybe once every three or four years.”

“Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Jade,” Charise said, smiling at her friend.

“No problem, Char. She’s an easy kid to take care of, since she and Nathan keep each other amused and out of trouble. I wish Graham and I could have had more kids, but… well, you know how things went.”

“Yeah, I do. Well, I’m sure you love Nathan enough for fifty children,” Charise replied, patting Nathan’s hair.

“Of course I do. I feel blessed to have such a great family. Makes up for the lousy family I had when I was a kid.”

“Well, we need to get going,” S said.

“Okay, then. We’ll see you guys later!”