[Folwren]

Little Begonia lay shrieking on the bed, demanding her mother’s attention with fierce and furious cries. Her mother’s attention could not switch immediately to her, she had seven other children to deal with.

“Mom, Mom, can’t we eat breakfast?”

“Mom, I’m hungry!”

“Mom, can I go fishing today?”

Mrs. Thedgethistle was driven to distraction. The baby screamed louder. Finally, she turned from her older swarm and picked up Begonia. “Daisy, take everyone but Bill and Meg out, will you?”

Lil leapt to her feet, off of the bed where she had been sitting looking through a picture book. Five year old Bill and three year old Meg threw themselves on their mother, begging with all their might to be allowed to go out, too. Lil didn’t want her mother to change her mind. It was bad enough that Iris, who was a whole year younger than her, got to go, too. If Mom let Bill go, disasters might happen.

Lil grasped Daisy’s hand and pulled her towards the door. “Come on!” she said. “Let’s go exploring, please!”