I slipped into Eddie’s room next. The boy had changed over the last few months from someone who wasn’t interested in anything to someone who showed vague interest in one thing: poetry.

He had an entire shelf full of books now and became so engrossed in his poetry that he’d lose track of what was happening around him. I managed to walk right up behind the boy without him noticing. “Hey Eddie, whatchu reading?” I asked right next to his ear.

Eddie jumped in surprise, nearly falling out of his chair. “Holy shit Teddy, you nearly gave me a heart attack,” he gasped.

“You’re eight. I very much doubt that’s something you have to worry about,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Also, language!” I reminded him. “What are you working on?”

“I’m reading poetry… what are you even doing here?” Eddie asked as he righted his chair and sat down again, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Making sure everyone did their homework, and helping if necessary,” I answered brightly. “Do you need help?”

“No, go away,” the boy replied before going back to his book.

I stood by his side for a few seconds while Eddie went back to his book. “What are you reading anyways?” I finally asked.

“Reading poetry, Robert Frost,” Eddie said without looking up. I nodded idly but didn’t move from my spot. Finally, after about a minute, Eddie finally looked over at me. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Technically yes. But considering Jane will attempt to perform bodily harm upon me if I don’t participate in family activities today, I’m legally obliged to answer no,” I quipped.

The boy laughed. “You’re really not going to leave until you help me, are you?”

“No, I fear for my life,” I managed to answer with a straight face. We both knew I was joking. Mostly.

Eddie fidgeted for a minute. “Would you like to hear some poetry?” he finally asked.

“Sure… as long as your homework is actually done. I was serious about that part. I can’t help you with long arithmetic or spelling, but I’m sure Nyx could help us both if we get stuck,” I told him seriously.

“It’s done! Jane already threatened to take my books if I didn’t take it seriously,” Eddie insisted.

“Then very well, poetry me up,” I said, taking a seat on his bed. “What is it you’ll be reading?”

Eddie smiled, stood up from his desk, and walked over in front of me like some sort of presenter. He opened the book, looked up and said, “This is called ‘The Road Not Taken.’”

—

“I don’t get poetry,” I muttered as I slipped out of Eddie’s room about an hour later. It’s not that I didn’t like what the boy shared, but all the secondary meanings just went way over my head.

Jennifer was reading at the kitchen table, so I moved down to the room at the end of the hall and knocked. Contrary to my expectations, Issi didn’t immediately call out or come running to the door. “Issi?” I called out as I knocked again.

The door cracked open, just a little, allowing the tot to stick her head out the door.

“Shhhh… the plants are sleeping,” she whispered.

“Your plants sleep?” I asked quietly, a little confused.

“Of course, they have bedtimes like everyone else,” Issi declared, like that was something everyone should know.

“Are these the same plants you showed me a couple months ago? The seedlings?” I asked, raising my voice slightly.

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“Shhhh…” Issi immediately shushed me again. “Of course they’re the same plants from before. Sir Froggington has been directing me on how to take care of them, and I’ve been very careful,” Issi explained. “Would you like to see them?”

“Sure! You said you were raising one for me, didn’t you?” I whispered.

As soon as I said that, Issi's eyes lit up. “I did!” she nearly shouted before slapping her hands over her mouth. “Come in and see, but quietly,” she said as she fully opened the door so I could enter.

Issi’s room had changed the most from a couple months ago, if only because now every possible corner of it was filled with stuffed animals. Somehow, every time one of the bear makers in the neighbourhood dropped off a bear in thanks, it ended up in Issi’s room. Even the ones I swear I had rejected.

Despite all the additional stuffies, I couldn’t help but notice that her frog still occupied the place of honor, smack dab in the middle of her bed.

On top of her dresser was a small group of pots, housing some not-so-small plants. One of them had to be over two feet high, and had brilliant purple flowers.

“That’s the Janeranium,” Issi whispered proudly. “The one next to it, with the little yellow flowers, is the Alanrium. The bushy red one is the Jennation, the long blue ones are the Ed Lily, and the pretty pink ones on the end,” Issi paused for effect, “Are the Tedsanthenums.” She giggled, quietly, then dragged me closer to the little garden.

“You took care of these all by yourself?” I asked as I inspected each flower. Each was beautiful, and fragrant.

“Pretty much!” Issi replied, “Sir Froggington had to tell me when it was time to water, and made sure I didn’t add too much water, and provided the food, but I’m the one that actually watered them.”

I felt my left eye twitch. I wasn’t going to point out that Sir Froggington was actually doing most of the work to a six year old. The fact that she stuck with it for several months, and was still taking good care of all the flowers was impressive in itself.

After I finished inspecting the flowers, I turned back to Issi. “Have you shown everyone else your flowers?”

“I tried! But not everyone wants to see them,” the little girl pouted, “and I’ve been taking such good care of them!”

“You have been!” I agreed. “How about we display them out in the living room, where everyone can see them instead of keeping them in your room?”

Issi’s eyes went wide. “We can do that?”

I struggled to not burst out laughing. “Yes, kiddo, we can do that.”

Issi struck a thinking pose, then looked at the plants for a minute, then at me, then back at the plants. “Alright. I think it’d be better if they got out and socialized more anyways,” the girl finally agreed.

“Then we’ll move them tomorrow, after we tell Jane. I’m sure she’ll agree, it’s just I don’t want to do anything without telling her first,” I explained.

Isabelle giggled. “You’re afraid of her.”

“I’m not afraid to admit it,” I said solemnly. “When it comes to dealing with the house and protecting you guys, she knows best.” I stared at the flowers for several more seconds before turning to face the tot. “Issi, would you like to come visit the hydroponic area occasionally?”

“The hydroplodix?” Issi attempted to repeat, obviously confused by the word.

“The plant-growing place,” I clarified, “upstairs. You seem to enjoy plants, and unfortunately we don’t get to see them much down here, so I thought you might want to see more. Are you interested?”

“Yus! Absolutely,” Issi replied immediately. Her previous attempts to keep quiet were long forgotten.

“Then I’ll make some arrangements. When I’m less busy, I’ll even take you all topside to visit a park,” I promised, ruffling her hair.

Once we’d had our moment, I stepped over to her desk. “Now, I didn’t just come here for plant talk,” I informed the little girl. “Jane wants me to make sure everyone finished their homework today. Have you?”

Isabelle froze. “Almost, I did my letters, but I still have to do my numbers,” she admitted. “But I have an excuse! It was plant sleepy time, and I didn’t want to disturb them.”

I stared at the little girl, a small smirk on my face. The funny thing was, I knew she was being one hundred percent honest about her reason.

“Well, we’ve probably woken them up now, so it won’t hurt to finish your numbers now. I’m sure I can help you with them.”

Isabelle's face fell. “Can’t I do them tomorrow?”

“Are they due tomorrow?” I asked seriously. The little girl hesitated for a second, then nodded.

“Then no. Come on, it’ll only take a few minutes. If you do a good job, I’ll even let you keep the next stuffie the tailors drop off. Deal?”

“Deal!” she cried before running over and pulling herself up into her chair. I just smiled as I watched her go through the basic arithmetic, tongue half out of her mouth. I really did have to make more time for the family; I missed the quiet times like this.

Unable to help myself I reached out and tousled Issi’s hair one last time, which caused her to look up at me confused. “Don’t ever change, kid,” I whispered. “Don’t ever change.”