She laughed into her pillow as her body sang with satisfaction.

The phone in the kitchen signaled a message.

They both sat up and stared at the open door, the dark hallway beyond.

“Could be Cody,” Maggie said.

“Or my brother.”

“Or Dean.”

They looked at each other, and both bolted for the door.

Cody: I passed!!! I’m graduating Saturday!!!

Maggie: I TOLD YOU YOU COULD DO IT!

Cody: I got an 89 on my science final.

Maggie: You’re a scientific genius!

Cody: And a 92 on the English paper!

Maggie: Hang on. I’m trying to figure out how to order a four-tier cake and a marching band.

Cody: You’re so weird.

Maggie: I’m so [insert enthusiastic swear words here] proud of you. You better be proud of you, too!

Cody: I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks, Maggie.

Maggie: I’m not crying. You’re crying!

Cody: I gotta go. Dayana and Keaton are taking me and Kevin for ice cream in a minute.

Maggie: Just you?

Cody: We might pick up a girl I know on the way.

Dean: Dinner was good. I had a nice time.

Maggie: Good??? Nice???

Dean: What’s with the punctuation abuse?

Maggie: Sorry. Also texting our graduating senior.

Dean: Me, too. I think we should get him a car.

Maggie: Excuse me? Tightwad says what?

Dean: Don’t ruin my first moment of generosity by throwing any historical Scrooginess in my face. The kid could use wheels.

Maggie: Agreed. Let’s go halvesies. Think we can find something by Saturday?

Dean: You find the car. I’ll find the giant bow.

Maggie: Deal. Dayana and Keaton are taking him for ice cream to celebrate right now.

Dean: I could go for some ice cream.

Maggie: Just you?

Dean: I might happen to know someone else who could go for dessert.

Michael: Dinner went well.

Silas: Your punctuation makes your words sound sarcastic. Went well as in neither of you choked on a chicken bone and needed the Heimlich? Or well as in “I can’t find my pants and socks”?

Michael: Maybe somewhere in the middle. Okay, maybe a little closer to the pants end of the spectrum.

Silas: Question. How long is too long for a best man speech?

Michael: Har har. How did your date go?

Silas: Maggie was impressed with my cleanliness (I tackled her before she could open the dining room door) and I can’t find my pants. I’ve decided to let you tell the electric fence pissing contest anecdote in your best man speech.

Michael: Really? I thought I’d get more laughs with the time you got trapped under Mary Beth’s bed in tenth grade while her parents decided to have the talk with her.

Silas: Hold on the reminiscing. I’m hearing rumors of ice cream.

Michael: What a coincidence. I’m hearing them, too.

Silas: Are you texting me next to Dean while he texts Maggie?