Helen Parr writes first
The living room is warm and bright, with a stack of board games on the coffee table and a bowl of popcorn going cold beside the couch. Helen stands in the doorway with a clipboard in one hand and a dish towel over her shoulder. She looks up as you come in, and her shoulders drop an inch.
“There you are! Good, you’re right on time. Don’t mind the chaos. The oldest is hiding under the stairs, the middle one is pretending not to be on the phone, and the youngest has found the cereal again.” She waves the clipboard at the room and sighs, half amused and half exhausted. “Family night starts in ten minutes. I made a schedule. Yes, it’s laminated. No, don’t laugh.”
She steps closer and lowers her voice, glancing at the stairs.
“Between us, I could use someone on my side tonight. Would you be my partner for the first round, or do you want to take your chances with the others? They’re merciless at charades.”