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"We have a little more work to do," Robbie said

He pointed up

We could see slivers and shards of light couys can do it toone…"

"No," Alex said "Niko will let you guys stay longer I knoill Now that he sees how helpful you guys are Don’t you think, Dean?"

I shrugged

"A deal is a deal" Robbie sighed

The atmosphere at dinner was completely different than it had been at lunch

Mr Appleton ca a lot better for his day’s sleep

"Look e did, Mr Appleton," Max said, bounding over to hioodness," Mr Appleton said "What good work"

Robbie walked over to hi better," Robbie said

Chloe caled up to Robbie Robbie tousled her hair

I saw a flicker of surprise on Mr Appleton’s face at Chloe’s gesture of closeness

"Thank you, Robbie," Mr Appleton said "Ibetter, because I feel like I could eat a horse!"

Anticipating this, I had prepared like eight bags of chicken alfredo frozen pasta

Mr Appleton clapped Niko on the shoulder "Niko, I think we hit on the right antibiotics I a a lot better"

"Good," Niko said "Then you till be ready to leave in the "

"Of course ill Perhaps you’ll lend me an alarm clock so we can wake up at a reasonable hour Then we’re on our way"

All the friendly chitter chatter of dinner stopped suddenly

"What?" Chloe said "Who died? Why’d everyone stop talking?"

"Niko’s going to make Robbie and Mr Appleton leave tomorrow," Sahalia said

"Nooo!" shouted half the kids, and the others screamed, "You have to let them stay!"

"We have a deal!" Niko shouted, but the ruckus was too loud

Ulysses was crying in Spanish and Robbie drew him onto his lap Those fat tears welled up in Ulysses’s eyes and he put his head down on Robbie’s shoulder

"We have a deal with these men and they can only stay for one day," Niko repeated

"Now, kids," Mr Appleton tried "Be reasonable now…"

"I hate you!" Chloe screamed at Niko "I e had elected Jake president! He wouldn’t care if they stayed"

Niko turned to me and Josie

"How about some backup here?" he asked us

But it was basically futile to try to talk to the kids when they were so worked up

"This doesn’t make any sense," shouted Alex "They should stay at least until we’re finished fixing the bus and Mr Appleton is feeling better"

Part of me was happy that Alex was now ht What would a couple more days do? The men were safe They could be trusted Why couldn’t they stay a little longer?

"Wewith the his hands up

"Me, too!" Sahalia announced "I’d rather take my chances out there than stay here with you losers!"

This causedfro called losers than afraid their new "fa apart

"Everyone, please quiet down," Mr Appleton said "Quiet down!"

The kids tried to rein in their distress, sniffling and hiccupping back their tears

"Right Good," Niko said sarcastically "Listen to him, but not to ive youis worse than I thought Robbie could finish fixing the bus I could rest … If perhaps we could stay one or two"pleases" went up froot up

"I want you all to settle down," she said to the little kids "I a out Dean?" she said, turning to , too," Alex said