Be careful,” Edie called up. She watched his legs dangling from the door of the attic. She and Ana held the ladder while Dmitry stood on the lowest rung, impatiently waiting his turn. “I am!” John’s muffled voice called out. “I would be able to move up here if you weren’t a pack rat, my darling.” Edie glared at the sarcasm and felt a tug on her sweater. She looked down at Ana’s curious look. “What’s a pack rat?” “I have never heard that expression, either,” Dmitry said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “But it does not sound good.” “John is just being funny. It means I like to keep things, that’s all.” Edie closed her eyes when John let out a laughing snort. Ana giggled at the sound. “He sounded like a pig.” “Hmm,” Edie grunted. “Okay, I have room.” John hoisted himself up into the attic. In a moment, he poked his head down and grinned. “Dmitry, come on up.” “Me too!” Ana exclaimed, jumping up and down with Brown Bear in tow. Dmitry shook his head.
