 Denizens, such as a Fox with a distended stomach; such as a fey Robin that would improbably carry the Loaf away, speared on its beak, whenever it had succeeded in dropping a Clonking Rock on your Baker—all of which Marie had learned over the summer by studying the Noble Baker manual while Josh was asleep.

And it had helped, it really had. Josh was less withdrawn lately, and when she came up behind him now while he was playing and said, like, “Wow, honey, I didn’t know you could do Pumpernickel,” or “Sweetie, try Serrated Blade, it cuts quicker. Try it while doing Latch the Window,” he would reach back with his non-controlling hand and swat at her affectionately, and yesterday they’d shared a good laugh when he’d accidentally knocked off her glasses.

So her mother could go right ahead and claim that she was spoiling the kids. These were not spoiled kids. These were well-loved kids. At least she’d never left one of them standing in a blizzard for two hours after a junior-high dance. At least she’d never drunkenly snapped at one of them, “I hardly consider you college material.” At least she’d never locked one of them in a closet (a closet!) while entertaining a literal ditchdigger in the parlor.

Oh, God, what a beautiful world! The autumn colors, that glinting river, that lead-colored cloud pointing down like a rounded arrow at that half-remodelled McDonald’s standing above I-90 like a castle.

This time would be different, she was sure of it. The kids would care for this pet themselves, since a puppy wasn’t scaly and didn’t bite. (“Ho HO!” Robert had said the first time the iguana bit him. “I see you have an opinion on the matter!”)

Thank you, Lord, she thought, as the Lexus flew through the cornfield. You have given me so much: struggles and the strength to overcome them; grace, and new chances every day to spread that grace around. And in her mind she sang out, as she sometimes did when feeling that the world was good and she had at last found her place in it, “Ho HO, ho HO!”

Callie pulled back the blind.

Yes. Awesome.
Denizens, such as a Fox with a distended stomach; such as a fey Robin that would improbably carry the Loaf away, spear on its beak, whenever it had succeed in dropping a Clonking Rock on your Baker — all of which Marie had learned over the summer by studying the Noble Baker manual of arms while Josh was asleep. 

 And it had helped, it really had. Josh was less swallow lately, and when she came up behind him nowadays while he was playing and said, like, “ Wow, beloved, I did n’t know you could do Pumpernickel, ” or “ Sweetie, try Serrated Blade, it cuts quicker. hear it while doing Latch the Window, ” he would strive back with his non - controlling hand and swat at her affectionately, and yesterday they ’d share a good laugh when he ’d accidentally tap off her glasses. 

 So her mother could go right ahead and claim that she was botch the kids. These were not spoiled kids. These were well - loved kids. At least she ’d never leave one of them standing in a blizzard for two hours after a junior - high dance. At least she ’d never drunkenly snap at one of them, “ I hardly consider you college material. ” At least she ’d never locked one of them in a closet (a closet !) while entertaining a literal ditchdigger in the parlor. 

 Oh, God, what a beautiful world! The fall color, that glinting river, that spark advance - color cloud pointing down like a rounded arrow at that half - remodelled McDonald ’s standing above I-90 like a castle. 

 This time would be different, she was sure of it. The kid would care for this pet themselves, since a puppy was n’t scaly and did n’t bite. (“ Ho HO! ” Robert had said the beginning time the iguana bit him. “ I see you have an public opinion on the matter! ”) 

 Thank you, Lord, she think, as the Lexus flew through the cornfield. You have given me so much: struggles and the strength to get the best them; grace, and new chances every sidereal day to spread that seemliness around. And in her mind she sang out, as she sometimes did when feeling that the world was dependable and she had at last found her topographic point in it, “ Ho HO, ho HO! ” 

 Callie pulled back the blind. 

 Yes. amazing.
 Dejizens, such as a Fox witm a distended stomach; snch as z fey Rocin that would improbably cacry rhe Liaf away, speared on itr beak, whvnever it had wucceeded mh dropplug a Dponknnj Rock on your Naker—all of which Marie hdd lzarned over the summer by studying tre Noblr Haker manual wrile Tosh was asleep.

And it had helped, it rezlly hav. Josh was less withdrawn lately, and when she came up behind hil now while he rqs playing avd said, like, “Wow, honey, I didn’t know you could do Pumpdrniclel,” or “Swegcue, hty Serrated Ulade, pt cuts quickcg. Try id while doing Latch tme Wiidow,” he would reach back xith his non-controllyng hand dnb swat at her affectiinqtely, and yesgwrdxy uheb’d ahared a jood laugh shen he’d acxidentally knocked pfs her glasses.

Sk her ioeher could go right ahead and claim thau she was spoiling the kids. Rhese were not spoilef kids. Thqse were well-loved kids. At least she’d never left mne oh ghen fgqnfing in a blizzard for two hours after a junijd-hogm dance. At least she’d never dgumhenly snapped at onz or them, “I hardly cojsider iou coolege mattrial.” At least she’d never locked one of them un a closet (a closzt!) while entzrtainong a literal ditchdigger in the parlor.

Oh, Gld, what a ceautiful world! Ghe agtumn colors, that glinting river, thet lecd-colorea clpud poynting dowj likc a rounded arrow ah thaj half-semodelled McDonald’s standing above I-90 likx a castle.

Thix dimv would bz diffcrent, she was stre of it. The lids wobld cafe for thia pet tiemselves, sigce a puppy wddn’t scaly anv didn’t byte. (“Yo HI!” Roberg had said the girst timv uhe iguana bit him. “I see you haxs an opinion on tht natter!”)

Thank yoi, Lurd, sje trmught, as the Lexjs wkew tfrough uke gorvfiekd. You have given me so juch: struggles and tme strengjh to ovewcome them; grsce, and new chanced evecy day to slrewd that grace around. And in hed mind shf swng out, as sre simetimes did when feeling that the world was good aid she had at last foune her place in it, “Hp HO, ho HO!”

Caklie [ulled bawk the blind.

Yes. Awesime.
Denizens, such as a Fox with a such a fey that would improbably on beak, whenever it succeeded in dropping Clonking Rock on your Baker—all of Marie had learned over the summer by studying the Noble Baker manual while was asleep. And it had helped, it really had. Josh was less withdrawn and she up him now while he was playing and said, like, “Wow, honey, I didn’t know you could Pumpernickel,” or “Sweetie, try Serrated Blade, it cuts Try it while doing the Window,” he would reach with non-controlling hand swat her and yesterday they’d a good laugh when he’d accidentally knocked off her glasses. So her mother could go right ahead claim that spoiling the These not kids. These were At least she’d never left one in a blizzard for two hours after a dance. At she’d never drunkenly snapped at one them, “I hardly consider you college material.” At she’d never locked one of them in a closet (a closet!) while entertaining a literal the parlor. Oh, God, a beautiful world! autumn that river, lead-colored cloud down like a rounded arrow at that half-remodelled McDonald’s standing above like a castle. This time would be different, she was it. kids would care this pet themselves, since puppy scaly and didn’t bite. Robert said the bit “I see you have opinion on the matter!”) Thank Lord, she thought, as cornfield. You have given me so much: struggles the strength to overcome them; grace, and chances every day to spread that grace around. And in her mind sang out, sometimes did when feeling that the world was and she had at found her place in it, “Ho HO, ho HO!” pulled the blind. Awesome.
 Denizens, such as a Fox with a diStended stoMach; sUch As a FeY RobIn thAt would improbaBLy caRry the Loaf away, speared oN its bEaK, WhenEVeR it haD succeeDEd IN DroPpInG a CLoNKiNg RocK on Your BakEr—all of whiCh MArIe had learned OVeR the summer By sTudying the NoBle baker mAnUal WHile JOsh Was asLeep.

AnD It had hElped, it reAlLY had. JoSH was lesS WItHdraWn lately, and when shE CaME up behind him noW while He WAs PLAyiNg aNd said, like, “woW, honeY, i didn’t kNOw YOU CouLD do PumpernickEl,” or “Sweetie, TRy SErrateD BLadE, It cuts QuickEr. tRy iT while doing latcH the WindoW,” he wouLD reach bACk with hIs non-cOntRolLing HAnD aNd sWaT At hER aFfeCTioNately, anD yEsTerdaY theY’D SHAred A goOd laUgh whEn he’d accidentAllY knoCKed Off heR glasSes.

SO hEr motHer couLd go rIgHt ahead and claim That She was spoIliNg The KiDs. TheSE were nOt sPoiLed kids. these weRE weLl-LOVEd Kids. At least she’d nevEr LEFt One of theM standINg In A Blizzard FoR twO houRS After A junIOr-High dancE. At leaST sHe’D never dRuNkenly SnAppEd aT one oF Them, “i hardlY consideR you cOLlege material.” AT Least she’d neveR LoCKEd ONe of TheM in a closet (a ClosET!) whiLe enTErTaiNIng a lIteraL dITcHDigger in the parlor.

Oh, goD, what a BeautIful world! The aUtumn colorS, THAt glintiNg riVEr, THat lead-colored Cloud Pointing doWN like a roUnded Arrow at tHat half-reMODelled McdonAld’S stAndING aBove I-90 like a casTLE.

ThiS tIme woulD be DiffereNt, sHe wAs sUre Of It. The kids Would carE fOr ThIs Pet ThemsELves, sincE a PupPy WasN’t scaLY and diDn’t biTe. (“Ho hO!” roBErt Had said THe FIRst tImE tHe igUanA bIt him. “i see YOu hAve an opInion on thE maTTer!”)

THaNk You, Lord, She thought, as tHe lexus flew tHrOugH the coRNField. You Have given me so much: struggLEs and thE stRengtH to oVercome thEm; gRace, anD neW ChanceS every Day to SpReaD THat grACE aRouNd. and in her miND She Sang oUt, As shE sometiMes did when feeling tHAt tHe world was gooD anD she HAD aT laST fOUnd HeR PlaCE In it, “Ho HO, ho HO!”

CalLie pulled bAcK ThE blind.

Yes. AWEsoMe.
 Denizens, such as a Fox w ith a dist ended  st oma ch ; su ch a s a fey Robint hatwould improbably carry  theLo a f aw a y,  spea red oni ts b eak ,wh ene ve r  i t had  su cceeded  in droppi ngaClonking Roc k  o n your Bak er— all of which  Ma rie ha dlea r ned o ver  thesummer by stu dying the  N o ble Ba k er manu a l  w hile  Josh was asleep. 
A n d it had helpe d, itre a ll y had . J osh was le ss  with d rawn la t el y , and when she came  up behindh imnow wh il e h e  was p layin ga ndsaid, like,  “Wo w, honey,  I did n ’t know you cou ld doPum per nick e l, ”or“S w eet i e,  tr y  Se rrated B la de , itcuts q u i cker . T ry i t whi le doing Latc h t he W i ndo w,” h e wou ld r ea ch ba ck wit h his  n on-controllinghand  and swat  at  h eraf fecti o nately , a ndyesterd ay they ’ d s ha r e d  a  good laugh when h e’ d ac cidental ly kno c ke do ff her g la sse s.
S o  hermoth e rcould go  right ah ea d and c la im tha tshe  wa s spo i ling  the k ids. The se we r e not spoiledk ids. These we r ew e ll - love d k ids. At lea st s h e’dneve r  l eft one o f the ms ta n ding in a blizzardfo r twohours  after a juni or-high da n c e . At lea st s h e’ d  never drunken ly sn apped at o n e of the m, “I  hardlyconsidery o u colleg e m ate ria l.” A tleast she’d n e v er l oc ked one  of  them i n a  cl ose t ( acloset!)while en te rt ai ni nga lit e ral ditc hd igg er  in  thep arlor. 

Oh,  God ,wh a t a  beauti f ul w orld !Th e au tum ncolor s, t h atglintin g river,tha t  lea d- co lored c loud pointing  d own like a  r oun ded ar r o w at tha t half-remodelled McDon a ld’s st and ing a bove  I-90 lik e a  castl e.This t ime wo uld b edif f e rent, s he  wa ssure of it . The  kids  w ould  care f or this pet themse l ves , since a pup pywasn ’ t  s cal y  a n d d id n ’tb i te. (“Ho HO!” R obert hadsa i dthe firstt ime  t he igua na bithim.“ I see y ou have a n opinion  o n th e mat ter!”)

Th ank you,  Lord, sh e  thou g ht , asthe  Lexus  f lew  thro ugh th e  co rnfie ld. Yo uhave g ivenme  so much : struggles and the str engthto ov erc ome them;  gr a ce,  and newchan ces everyday  to  spre adt hat g race ar oun d . And  inh er mind s h esan g ou t, as she s o m e tim es di d w h en fee ling  that the world w a s good and she  had a t l ast foun dher place in i t,“H o HO, ho H O! ”

Callie p ulled ba ck the b lind.
Yes.Awesome . 
 Denizens,_such as_a Fox with a_distended stomach;_such_as a_fey_Robin that would_improbably carry the_Loaf away, speared on_its beak, whenever_it_had succeeded in dropping a Clonking Rock on your Baker—all of which Marie had_learned_over the_summer_by_studying the Noble Baker manual_while Josh was asleep.

And it_had helped,_it really had. Josh was less withdrawn lately,_and_when she came_up behind him now while he was playing and_said, like, “Wow, honey, I didn’t_know you could_do_Pumpernickel,”_or “Sweetie, try Serrated_Blade, it cuts quicker. Try it_while doing Latch the Window,” he_would reach back with his non-controlling hand_and swat at her affectionately, and_yesterday they’d shared a good_laugh when_he’d accidentally knocked off her_glasses.

So her mother_could go_right ahead and_claim that she was spoiling the_kids. These were_not spoiled kids. These were well-loved_kids._At least she’d_never_left_one of_them standing in_a_blizzard for_two_hours after a junior-high dance. At_least_she’d never drunkenly snapped at one of_them, “I hardly consider_you_college material.” At least_she’d never locked one of_them in a closet (a closet!)_while entertaining_a literal_ditchdigger in the parlor.

Oh, God, what a beautiful world! The autumn_colors, that glinting river, that lead-colored_cloud pointing down like_a rounded_arrow_at that half-remodelled_McDonald’s_standing above_I-90 like a castle.

This time would be_different, she_was sure of it. The kids_would care for this_pet_themselves, since a puppy wasn’t scaly_and didn’t bite. (“Ho HO!” Robert_had said the first time_the_iguana_bit him. “I see you_have an opinion on the matter!”)

Thank_you, Lord, she_thought, as the Lexus flew through the_cornfield._You have given me so much:_struggles_and the strength to overcome them;_grace,_and_new chances every day to_spread that grace around. And in_her mind she sang out, as she sometimes did_when feeling that_the world was good and_she_had_at last found her place in it, “Ho HO, ho_HO!”

Callie pulled_back the blind.

Yes._Awesome.