Stella laughed again and grabbed his wrist. “Talk to me.” He followed when she pulled him toward Harlow’s sorrow corner. Whatever Luna did must have been bad enough to make him forget how mad he was at her during lunch. “Tell me what happened.” She caught Nicole’s eye, who nodded in silent agreement.

Stella would take care of Alex. Nicole would take Luna. Francis was still sitting with Harlow. A well-oiled comfort machine.

Nicole said, “Why don’t you come sit with me and Harlow? I’ll make you a plate.”

“Okay,” Luna said. “How are you so tall?”

“Genetics strikes again.”

“Before you all get settled, we have a small matter to attend to,” Jewel announced. She, Olive, and Ethan remained standing a few feet away.

Ethan said, “Per the rules, if you fail a challenge you will be assessed a penalty that can include disqualification. Unfortunately, this afternoon, Luna and Alex failed.”

“Fortunately,” Olive chirped, “after reviewing the footage, we decided that neither of you will be disqualified.”

“Unfortunately, you’re still getting a penalty,” Ethan said, grinning expectantly at Olive.

“Is talking like that a weird couple thing? I don’t like it,” Stella whispered, and Jewel tried to smother her laughter.

“They’re playing a game,” Francis whispered back.

“Fortunately, I’ve decided to waive it,” Olive said. “Luna, even though you were wrong, you didn’t hesitate to pursue what you thought was right.”

“Unfortunately, while brave, it was also kind of stupid and is going to cause me to drown in paperwork on Monday morning,” Ethan said. “If we wanted you to climb the wall, we would’ve given you proper gear to do it.”

“Climbed a wall? What wall?” Nicole asked. “You climbed a wall and you fell?”

“To the very top of a wall of portraits,” Jewel added. “Alex mostly broke her fall.”

Olive continued, “Fortunately, instead of penalizing your poor choice, we’re going to reward your bravery.”

“Really!?” Luna asked around a mouthful of potato salad.

“Unfortunately, it won’t be until tomorrow,” Ethan said. “For tonight, we want you to eat and try to relax a little before the game resumes. Dinner, and all mealtime rules, will last until ten P.M.”

THE TODDLER TRICK

FRIDAY, 9:02 P.M.

The bells for 9:00 P.M. hadn’t even finished chiming before Jewel left, unceremoniously dragging Ethan and Olive away with her.

“Was it something we said?” Stella joked.

Nicole, who had spent the last few hours drowning in guilt, tapped Stella on the shoulder and whispered, “Can I talk to you for a second?” She stood up, motioning for her and Francis to follow, not far, just a few feet away behind a rather thick and leafy plant.