Ch. 5
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Funny how a nice, gooey pizza can settle all family disputes. It was now nine o'clock; time for some peace and quiet. "Aaron, Angel time for bed."

"Bed!" Aaron whined. "I don't wanna' go to bed!"

"I'm sure you don't, but you want to be all nice and refreshed for school tomorrow, don't you?"

"Nope."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't. I'd rather stay home and play with Nick all day."

"Me, too," Angel chimed in.

I rolled my eyes. "Look if you'll just go lay down you can stay up and read for awhile."

"We're eight. We don't read very well."

Figures. "All right, I'll read to you."

"Okay. I'll bring a book down here after I change into my pj's!" Angel informed me.

"Fine." I sat down realizing how early I would have to get up the next day. Why couldn't school start at noon? My thoughts were interuppted by the sound of Nick snoring. And I thought Howie was bad. I shook him. "Come on, Nick, wake up."

He opened his tired blue eyes. "Hmmm?"

"You need to get into your room and go to bed."

"No, I'm not tired."

"Well, your snoring is giving me a headache, so, scoot."

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, old timer."

Ah! No more snoring! A few minutes of peace before reading...."We're back!" Aaron announced as he drug Angel behind him.

"So, I see," I sighed sitting up. "What book did you find?"

"I don't know," he shrugged taking a seat on the floor.

Angel curled up in my lap. "I dunno. I just grabbed one," she explained turning to page one.

I cleared my throat. "Deliah faced her bed with a smile, then slid herself under the cool sheets." I scratched my head. This was an unusual children's book. "Her skin was then warmed by the strong touch of Barnaby's hand. Taking his lips he..." I shut the book quickly facing Angel. "Where did you find this?"

"It was on BJ's bed."

The teen smiled sheepishly from the recliner. "Uh..." she yawned. "Gee, I'm tired. Come on, Leslie, let's turn in."

Leslie stood following her sister. "Okay."

BJ snatched the item from my grasp. "Night, Kev."

"Was that one those books Mommy reads when no one else is looking?" I heard Leslie whisper as they made there way up the stairs.

Angel pulled on my sleeve. "Will you tell us a story?"

I paused. "Uh....sure. Once upon a time there was a handsome prince named Kevin. And a beautiful princess named Pamela Lee. Pamela lived on the beach where she was a lifeguard and...."

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