Molly hadn't even managed to squeeze out a tear, but the real troublemaker was already bawling. “Waaah, waaah—!" Wayne joined the chorus, howling right along with her. Chad glanced over his shoulder and said, "You're the one who hit Molly. What are you crying for?"

Wayne didn't care. When it came to his mom, he knew the secret: strike first, ask questions later. If you waited, you'd be too late.

Later, Officer Chad, who'd promised to settle the score, just scooped his wife up and headed upstairs. "Wayne, you can come up on your own," he called.

Wayne sprawled flat on the floor, making no move to follow. As if he was actually going to walk right now.

Molly's foot had stopped hurting, but she wasn't about to let on. If she kept up the act, maybe she could get out of a round of chores.

Eventually, Chad came back down, picked up his son-who apparently forgot how to use his legs-and carried him upstairs.

That left only Grandpa Hansen sitting in the living room.

"So, is it over?" he asked. No one answered. "Looks like it's over," he said to himself.

a shower, a little

up to be a pretty good night-until, just as he unlocked his

deposited his boy in Hansen's bedroom and shut

at Grandpa with those bright,

Hansen just sighed.

someone knocked again. Before Hansen could answer, Chad came in. "Dad, Wayne says he

Hansen was juggling two little ones, both tucked into his

to burst into tears when his dad tossed him out, looked down and saw his brother was already there. Hey, if big bro was in, there was nothing to cry

got lost in

next morning, everyone was awake-except the oldest and the youngest kids,

the bed covered with Grandpa's cane (Henry had dragged it in as a toy and fell asleep with it), a toy

look and quietly scooped up

you get

"Molly's tight-lipped this time. Usually, she'd spill everything without thinking, but now

sighed. "If you couldn't get anything out of yours, there's no way mine will

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