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No tree house? No toys or hobbies?

We had things to do

Then why did you two go into the woods? I warned you there would be consequences

Why are you hiding weird old ladies out in the forest?

Seth blurted

Weird old ladies? Grandpa asked

Yeah, what about that?

Grandpa nodded thoughtfully She has a rotten old rope You didn’t blow on it?

I didn’t go near her She was freaky

She came to me and asked if she could build a shack on my property She promised to keep to herself I saw no har her

Seth found your private retreat, Kendra said He wanted ot the better ofpond? Fancy boardwalk? Parrots and swans and peacocks?

Grandpa looked at Dale, speechless Dale shrugged

I was hoping you’d take us out on a boat, Kendra said

Who said anything about a boat?

Kendra rolled her eyes I saw the boathouse, Grandpa

He tossed his hands up and shook his head

Kendra set her fork down Why would you let such a nice place go to waste?

That is my business, Grandpa said Yours was to obey my rules, for your own protection

We’re not afraid of ticks, Seth said

Grandpa folded his hands and lowered his eyes I was not entirely honest about why you needed to stay out of the woods He lifted his gaze On erous aniered

This includes poisonous snakes, toads, spiders, and scorpions, along with bigger game Wolves, apes, panthers I use chemicals and other controls to keep them away from the yard, but the woods are extremely hazardous Particularly the island in the center of the lake It is deliberately infested with inland taipans, also called ’fierce snakes,’ the deadliest serpent known to man

Why didn’t you warn us? Kendra asked

My preserve is a secret I have all the necessary licenses, but if hbors complained, those could be revoked You must not tell a soul, not even your parents

We sahite frog, Seth said breathlessly Was that poisonous?

Grandpa nodded Quite lethal In Central Aenous people use them to fashion poisoned darts

Seth tried to catch it

Had he succeeded, Grandpa said gravely, he would be dead

Seth sed I’ll never go into the woods again

I trust you won’t, Grandpa said All the same, a rule is of no value unless the punishment is enforced You will have to stay in your room for the rest of your stay

What? Seth said But you lied to us! Being afraid of ticks is a laht you were treating us like babies

You should have brought those concerns to me, Grandpa said Was I unclear about the rules or the consequences?

You were unclear about the reasons, Seth said

That is randfather And this is randson You should tell ood exah Seth was in lawyer mode He always tried to maneuver out of trouble with their parents

Soood points

What do you think, Kendra? Grandpa asked

She had not expected hihts Well, I agree that you didn’t tell us the whole truth No ould I have gone into the woods if I knew there would be dangerous animals

Me neither, Seth said

I made two simple rules, you understood them, and you broke the the rules, you think you should escape punishment?

Yes, Seth said Just this once

That doesn’t sound fair to me, Grandpa said Unless the punishments are enforced, rules lose all their power

But on’t do it again, Seth said We promise

Don’t lock us up in the house for teeks!

Don’t bla the rules Kendra, what do you think would be fair?

Maybe you could give us a reduced punishain

Reduced punishment, Grandpa mused So you still pay a price for your disobedience, but you get one ht be able to live with that Seth?

Better than the whole punishle day You will spend tomorrow confined to the attic You can come down for meals, and you can use the bathrooain, and you will not leave the attic until your parents come for you For your own safety Understood?

Yes, sir, Kendra said

Seth nodded his agreement

Journal of Secrets Did you ever notice the keyhole on the belly of the unicorn? Seth asked He was lying on the floor beside the fanciful rocking horse, hands laced behind his head

Kendra looked up fro She had asked Lena to create a paint-by-numbers to help her endure her incarceration Kendra had wanted to paint the pavilions around the pond, and Lena had quickly sketched a scene with startling accuracy, as if the housekeeper had the place memorized Seth declined to have another canvas prepped

Stuck in the attic or not, he was sick of painting

Keyhole?

Weren’t you looking for keyholes?

Kendra got off her stool and crouched beside her brother Sure enough, there was a tiny keyhole on the underside of the unicorn She retrieved her keys froiven her did the trick A s open Out fell several rose-shaped chocolates wrapped in gold foil, identical to the one she had found in the miniature armoire

What are those? Seth asked

Soap, Kendra said