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John orking theshift, 5:00 am to noon, breakfast to just before lunch Mary was supposed to take over at lunch and work straight through until 10:00 ph sleep time, with an hour at the end to work out schedules and clean up Then she’d have tio home, watch some DVDs while she worked out on the treadht hours of sleep and a few hours free in the

But in reality she often spent two or three hours exercising at night Going after those last few pounds On the treadmill, down in the basement, where Astrid wouldn’t hear her and ask her why

Most days she consuood day it would be half that

She hugged John “What’s up, little brother? What’s today’s crisis?”

John had a list He read it off his Warriors notebook “Pedro has a loose tooth He also had an accident last night Zosia clai to play together I think maybe Collin has a fever…anyway, he’s kind of, you know, cranky I caught Brady trying to run away thisto look for her mommy”

The list went on and as it did, soet an appreciation of their hairdo, to earn an approving “good job” for the way they had brushed their teeth

Mary nodded The list was about like this every day

A guy named Francis came in, pushed rudely past Mary Then he realized whom he had just shouldered aside, turned back to her with a scowl, and said, “Okay, I’m here”

“First time?” Mary asked

“What, am I supposed to be sorry? I’m not a babysitter”

This scene, too, had been repeated every day since peace had co, kid,” Mary said “I know you don’t want to be here, and I don’t care No one wants to be here, but the littles have to be taken care of So lose the attitude”

“Why don’t you just take care of these kids? At least you’re a girl”

“I’m not,” John pointed out

Mary said, “See that easel? There are three lists on there, one list for each of the daily helpers Pick a list That’s what you do Whatever is on the list And you s it”

Francis marched over and checked the list