Charles looked up automatically at Josie’s plaintive call. There was something in her worried tone that wouldn’t allow him to just stare at his open book any longer. Joe also looked up from his spot near the hearth surrounded by the other four children. Robbie and Alex were carving wood chips. Lucy and Jennifer—friends again—were stringing popcorn, while offering the boys free advice on their efforts. “It looks sort of like an ear,” Jennifer stated. Alex looked up at her, but his reply was mild. “It would have to be a really deformed ear.” He held it against his head so that it poked out through his hair. “You’ve gotta have two,” Robbie advised. “I gotta have two. Would you make me a pair just like that?” They all laughed. “Here. Catch,” Lucy ordered. She threw one kernel of popped corn at each boy, but despite their diving efforts with mouths opened wide, the popcorn fell short of its goal. She laughed. “Okay, second try.” But this time she threw a handful at each of them.
