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“Maybe we could make him dinner? Or mow his lawn?”

“We could offer to pick up groceries”

Asher inclined his head “Good ideas, but I think he needs help with the child”

Silence

And more silence

I raised ain, less enthusiastically than before “At the risk of sounding indelicate…is there soster in question?”

Ash shook his head as he rubbed his palether for warmth “Well, no But he’s…a handful”

“That’s a nice way to put it,” George scoffed

“He’s a prankster,” Topher explained “His trickery is relatively harmless, but it can be—”

“Annoying,” Tommy supplied “He’s been known to put phony hts, plastic reptiles in mailboxes, balloons under tires”

“He loves silly string too,” Holden added

“All true,” Asher agreed “But we have to help so to reach a decision tonight It’s al by Mr Rooney McSwoony’s house toet back to everyone when—oh, shoot I can’t do it toame”

“I volunteer,” I blurted

George exchanged a glance with Asher before addressinginto”

“Sure, I do I haven’t ical choice for the job I’ll bring hiht after dinner, introduce myself, and unobtrusively inquire after his health and well-being Then, I’ll gently offer non-tutoring aid and share our discussion via email with you all toratitude without overdoing it when I added, “I don’t mind at all”

“Well, if you’re sure…” Asher eyedfor my confirmation When I nodded in response, he shtly “Excellent The Script Clubis officially adjourned”

So, that was how I ended up on the front porch of hbor’s two-storied Spanish-style holass on the side of the massive wood front door as I leaned in to press the doorbell Yikes I coes of the foil-wrapped plate in my hand and waited

And waited

The lights were on in the upstairs s, and Mr McSwoony’s Tesla was parked in the driveway He had to be ho his hearing I adjusted the plate of cookies in ood measure too