Carried by the mechanical motion of my crawl, I moved ever-closer to them, my broken nails scraping against the cobblestones, my raw knees and feet dr...gging afterward. I could identify them now. The tallest among them was Eva Alecia, the infamous entertainer of Alkandra. Beside her was a shorter and bustier woman; Soraya Poneria, who was the treasurer of the kingdom. Watch Commander Faltia Dafian stood strongly and stoically beside Soraya, the voluptuous Populations Director Brianna Dedaclia. Mom asked, looking at us both, “I have no things left to do until I start fixing tomorrows supper. How’s that sound?”“Are you planning on going into the office at all, kids?” Dad said, taking a bite of meatloaf.“Maybe first thing for a couple of hours – then, we’d find something to do before dinner – is that OK, Mom and Dad?”I caught them both with food in their mouths; Mom was shaking her head in approval, as was Dad. Finally; they confirmed my question with various vocal mutterings. I never. ”I smiled, and went back to our breakfast. Sally relaxed back against me. Anna and Jakub finished their breakfast, and Jakub spoke for the first time that morning.“Günaydın, baba. Er ... Good. Morning. Dad. I take ... arkadaşım. My friend. To see. Garden.”“Well done, Jakub. Good idea.”They stood, and Jakub gave a jerky little bow before they left the room, hand in hand.“Do I need to worry about them, Sally?”Sally shook her head, her silky hair brushing my knee below my cut offs. “They were. " How about that? Just like Daddy when he got home tonight. Welcome to the club, Jack." You're right. I guess it's a little different when it happens to you." I guess."She squeezed again and leaned over, kissing me on the cheek.Sara and Mary both went "Awwww, how cuuute."Jill stuck her tongue out at them, turned my head around and gave me a good kiss on the lips. The girls whooped and cheered.It was almost 9:00 by the time we finished eating and cleaning up after ourselves. Jill and I took care.