Jarrod looked up from his book. “Teach. That’ll *teach* ‘em.”

“Sam says learn.”

“It doesn’t matter if Sam says learn, it’s *teach*.”

“Learn! Learn! Learn! Learn!” sang Nick at the top of his voice. Jarrod threw down his book and dove at his brother. They tumbled together onto the floor.

“Teach!”

“Learn!”

Ducking and twisting and sliding and grabbing -- the bigger brother...the bigger brother would...win, if the squirmiest boy in creation would cooperate . “I teach. We teach. Teach the boy some manners!”

They scrambled and rolled until “Ow! “ Jarrod sucked on a knuckle. “Quit that, you impudent young --- mammal!”

Nick’s sudden stillness made Jarrod look behind him. Their mother stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips, eyebrows raised. He got up, dusting his pants leg, adjusting his dignity.

“He called me a Mammal,” experimentally, with a frown.

“A mammal, hmm?” said his mother. “My dear, consider yourself lucky if you’re never called anything worse in your life!”

Nick burst into laughter and rolled onto his back, rocking back and forth delightedly. Jarrod and his mother smiled at each other -- it was doubtful the boy even knew what was funny.

“Go on now, scoot, ” said Victoria Barkley as Nick climbed to his feet, still giggling. “I told Sam you could help him before supper.” Jarrod followed them into the hall, with an air of mute protest. His knuckle hurt -- the little fiend, off to do just what he liked!

“And Jarrod, I thought I asked you to unpack your valise and put everything away before you got caught up in a book.”

“But, I -- “