“They are,” Mahrree said. “But honestly, girls, can you imagine trying to keep ten boys, ages eight to thirteen, seated for two and half hours studying? After all day in school?!”
Teeria shook her head. “I’m so glad I finished last year.”
Sareen exhaled a sad giggle. “And I still have to finish this year. I couldn’t imagine sitting around for another two hours after each day.”
“See? And I heard from one of their teachers that all of them passed a few points higher than the rest of the children.” Mahrree nodded at them triumphantly.
“You’ll have to start letting in girls then, too,” Teeria warned her.
“There’s no room!” Mahrree exclaimed. “But maybe someone else will see the need and fill it.”
“Miss Mahrree,” Teeria started shyly, “Did you say Private Zenos was helping you?” Her normally serious eyes glowed with hope.
“Yes,” Mahrree said, eyeing the eighteen-year-old. “He comes by once a week to spend the afternoon with the boys. He’s planning next week to send them all on a relay race if the weather is cooperating.”
“Does he run, too?” Teeria breathed as her face flushed. “Fast?”
Perrin looked down at his daughter, slowly shook his head, and groaned softly.
“I’m not sure, Teeria,” Mahrree struggled to keep her face sober. “Perhaps you’ll want to come by earlier that day and watch him.”
It was her little whimper of amorous anticipation that made Perrin look up at Teeria. The poor girl flushed red, glanced at the captain, turned purple, and headed for the kitchen door.
“I may have to consider that. I best see to the private—gathering room. Come, Sareen.”
Sareen squinted after her friend who fled out the door.
“I pointed him out first,” she muttered as she handed Peto to Mahrree, grabbed a pail and cleaning cloth, and headed out to the eating table.
Perrin and Mahrree covered their mouths to conceal their snorts, but tears of laughter leaked from their eyes.
“I better warn Zenos!” Perrin chortled in a whisper.
“Don’t!” Mahrree giggled. “Let’s see how well he handles an ambush.” She placed Peto on Perrin’s other knee.
“And how are my little ones?” Perrin asked, kissing each one on the forehead. They leaned into him, bonked their heads against each other instead, and both burst into tears.
Mahrree smiled in sympathy as Perrin soothed them. “They’re exhausted. They seem to think they have to keep up with the boys. They were dirtier, but the girls already cleaned them up.”
“So hiring the girls—I’m assuming this means that all the parents agreed to pay you for this After School Care?”
She nodded. “I was really surprised. I thought they would be more opposed to it, but they seem desperate for someone to take in their sons.”
“Well, if they do at their homes what they’ve done to this place . . .”
“There’s enough to pay the girls,” Mahrree said, chopping carrots and potatoes, “Teeria’s saving up to go to the college at Mountseen next year, we can cover our expenses, and still save up for a long sofa.”
“You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” Perrin smiled as Jaytsy, thumb in mouth, snuggled into his chest, and Peto tried to kick her off his father’s lap.
“Except that I’m ready for a nap as soon as dinner’s over,” she murmured wearily, plopping the vegetables into a large pot.
“Would you want your life any other way?”
She shook her head. “I think my life is as close to perfect as I could ever have imagined it. Now, if I could just find some time to still read.”
“You can read when these two,” he held his daughter and son, each in an arm, just out of reach of the other, “go off to Mountseen for college. Until then, I had an idea for the boys.”
Mahrree bit her lip. “Why does my chest always tighten when your eyes glow like that? Let me have your latest idea for Education, Shin Style.”
“Catapults!”
Her eyebrows went up. “Those take a lot of work, times ten.”
He shook his head. “Don’t make them so big. Something smaller, simpler. You don’t need to throw pumpkins to demonstrate the principle. Only snowballs.”
Mahrree grinned. “I love it! Just yesterday two mothers told me in the market that they didn’t want their boys throwing snowballs at each other, because they might mess up their outfits.”
“That’s why you’ve pulled out all my old work shirts, isn’t it? Took some out of the rag bag to protect their precious clothing?”