Gavril heard the slight buzz of tiny tracers on the cannons booting up. He gave the command and the squad spread wider and then began to trot through ...he thinning trees.There was no need to give commands. The attack was always the same. The cannons fired once at five hundred meters, leaving two trails of scorched earth. The men split in half and charged down the smoking paths, giving chase.The first cannon fired again. The roar of the weapon rang in Gavril's ear as he tensed for the next. “They were a loss leader. We made it back in dancing.”Ted was surprised. “Loss leader?”The little girl rolled her eyes. “I know you know what it means.”Yes, he knew; Ted had explained it to her a month ago when she’d asked how a local fast food place could have one cent French fries and not go out of business. So, the little girl had been paying attention.“I don’t think I know what it means,” George’s father spoke up.“A loss leader,” Ted explained, “is when a business offers something for less. "All right, you two. What's going on?" His parents called," Jessica blurted out.Looking at her daughter for a moment, she then said, "Don't you think it was about time they called?" No!" Jessica answered and then ran into her bedroom."I'm not sure, but I think she didn't think I had parents," I responded, as Theresa was looking at me for an explanation.A smile ran across Theresa's face, but quickly disappeared when Jessica entered the room again. Jessica had picked up a pillow and flung it at. Got nothin' to lose anyway. Least we find out how th' rich folk live for a bit. Be nice if it was like y'all say, though. Ain't never had no family, neither one o' us, 'cept each other. Sho' would like to see what that felt like, fo' once.Connies said crypticly "you ain't never seen a family like the one you just bought into, Jim. I guarantee it. You'll have more family than you ever dreamed of."It brought a smile to his face, but no questions.The paperwork was started as soon as we returned,.