“No, it’s not a bird or an octopus. And those things aren’t even alike, so how could it be one or the other?”
“Oh, she has a good point,” Spike stated.
“It doesn’t have eight tentacles,” Millie pointed out. “You need tentacles to be an octopus.”
“That’s true,” Greer said. “It also doesn’t have any feathers. You’re not very good at this, are you, Daddy?”
Hack sighed and gave them all a resigned look. “Well, what is it then?”
“Ink! Hack doesn’t know what the picture is that I made for him,” Betsy said.
“He doesn’t?” Ink said, shaking his head. “How can he not know? I think it’s perfectly obvious.”
“I don’t know,” Betsy replied. “Maybe he just doesn’t understand art.”
“Or has no sense of imagination,” Spike added.
“All right, everyone. What is it?” Hack said.
“It’s your house,” Betsy told him. “See? This is the roof. There’s the door and the windows.”
Even with her pointing out exactly what it was, Spike still didn’t see it. It looked more like a storm cloud. Or a tornado with cows flying around the middle. Actually, that was exactly what it looked like, except for the glitter.
Glitter didn’t really belong in a tornado.
“I see it now,” Cash said. “That’s exactly what it looks like. I don’t know how you couldn’t see it, Hack.”
Hack just glared at the younger man. Cash smirked as he turned around and led his sister away, chatting with her quietly. Ralen followed them after giving Betsy a wink.
“Good one, doll,” Ralen said to her.
“Right,” Ink said. “Who’s ready to eat?”
7
FOX, BRODY, AND AUTUMN
Brody was concerned that the Fox wasn’t having a good time. He didn’t really join in, tending to stick to the shadows and the outskirts of the crowd.
Not that Brody had expected him to be the life of the party or anything, but he had hoped that he’d mingle a bit more.
Although a number of people had talked to him, mainly the Littles. However, Duke had also gone to speak to him and so had Ink several times.
He knew it wasn’t just because he didn’t like being out in the open, but also so he could keep an eye on everything. He was acting as a guard, a sentry, rather than a guest.
But it wasn’t like the Fox knew anything about normal social interactions, not with the way he’d been raised.
“Do you think he’s having a good time?” Sunny walked up to Brody and stared over at the Fox.
He stared back at them with a look of interest, then tapped his cheek once. That was a signal they’d come up with. If Brody ever needed him and couldn’t say it, he could just tap his cheek twice back. Brody just smiled and shook his head.
He was fine.
“I think he’s doing okay,” Brody said.
“What about you and Autumn? Are you guys okay?”
“Well, yeah,” Brody told her. “They’re the best things that have ever happened to me.”
