“She got brought home by the cops. I’m not trying to raise the child of someone who’s in trouble with the law in that way,” said Elena.

“Oh, I know. She called in here the other week and practically chewed my head off.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“The tuition is too high. And I said, listen, lady, maybe that’s something you should’ve thought about before you took a job that didn’t pay you enough for all that you need,” said Barb.

“Oh, my word. I know I’m not trying to be a free car  service.”

“You know it takes about a thousand dollars to get your car out of the impound.”

“It does not!”

“It does too. So, it looks like you got yourself into some charity work.”

Elena rolled her eyes. “Even a Christian woman has her  limits.”

Barb laughed and put her hand on Elena’s arm. Adam observed this from his house. The fluorescent lights made the inside of the yellow plastic house glow. More children arrived. Elena nodded while she was talking and kept talking while she walked to the door. Barb laughed and waved, then crossed her arms.

Later, when most of the children had arrived, Adam became involved in a game of house. Julie and Tessa were the Mom and the Dad and Emma was the Baby. Adam was the dog. He sat by the box of toys and watched them make dinner. He chewed on his paws and tried to chew on his haunches but couldn’t reach. Mommy and Daddy served Baby some dinner and they all ate the invisible food with their hands. Adam crawled over to them and said, “I love you,” and then pawed at the air. The girls giggled and said, “Bad doggie, go eat out of your bowl.”

“But I love you!” he said.

“Doggie!” said the Dad and the girls giggled.

Adam looked at Emma the Baby. “I’m your sister and I love you!” he pleaded. “Rrruff, I’m your sister, I’m your sister!”

“What are you doing, Adam? Bad doggie, go eat your food,” said Tessa.

Adam pawed at the table and at Emma and said, again, but now in a dog voice, “Ri’m rour ristrer rand roi ruff roo!” He began to pant frantically and flail on the floor.

“Doggie, no!” said the girls.

“I’m a good doggie,” he cried. “Woof!”

“Miss Barbara!” said Julie. Adam’s eyes widened.

“Woof,” he said. He returned to his dog bowl and growled.

Miss Barbara approached the scene. “Yes, Julie?”

“Miss Barbara, Adam is supposed to be the dog and eat his food from the bowl, but he keeps saying he’s Emma’s sister, but he’s still acting like a dog and he’s a boy anyway so even if he could be her sister he should be her brother,” said Julie.

“Ruh-roh,” whispered Adam.

“Adam,” said Miss Barbara. “Adam, come.”

Adam crawled to her and panted. He sat up on his haunches and put his paws out in front of his chest and cocked his head to the side. “Roi ruff roo,” he said.