Chapter 9: Home...the rest of it.(finally)

  Amelia forked her eggs.
  No one was speaking at the breakfast table.
  George and Mr. Stevens were eying each other and the ladies, wondering what had caused the strain between them.
  Mrs. Stevens put down her fork. “I was only trying to help.”
  Amelia glared at her across the table. “I don't need you to control how I decorate this house.”
  “Why won't you let me help you?”
  “You are always trying to have things your way!” Amelia raised her voice.
  “Don't raise your voice at me!” replied Mrs. Stevens reprovingly.
  “Stop trying to rule my life!”
  “I'm your Mother!”
  “That doesn't give you the excuse to control how I live my life!” Amelia smacked the table in anger.
  “Well I–”
  Mr. Stevens stood up and banged his spoon on his glass.
  Everything went silent.
  “Now listen here you two! I'm trying to eat my breakfast in peace, and you're spoiling it with your ridiculous scruples!” with that he sat down. “Now be reasonable and eat your breakfast before I send you to your rooms!” he scooped up a forkful of eggs and chewed defiantly.
  Amelia glanced at George who had his hand over his mouth trying not to laugh. Then she looked back at her   Mother who was picking at her food.
  Mrs. Stevens looked up at Amelia for only a second, but it was long enough for her to tell that she was about to burst out laughing.
  Then she did. She started laughing in her funny laugh that always made anyone listening unable to keep from laughing too.
  Mr. Stevens started laughing too, his belly bouncing. And George couldn't help himself but joined in with his hearty laugh.
  Mrs. Stevens just sat there confused, looking from face to face. Then, her scrunched up face broke into a smile and soon she was laughing too.
  Now that the strain had broken between them, they finished their breakfast, talking and laughing as if nothing had been amiss.

  When May and Andrew reached the house they slowed down and kept their voices low.
  “We need to get back to out rooms as quietly as possible. They think we're still sleeping.” Andrew whispered.
  “Got it.” May assured him.
  As soon as they reached the dining room doorway, Andrew stopped. “Umm...May, is there a way to get to your bedroom window from the outside of the house?” he whispered.
  “Yes, why?”
  “They're in the dining room.” Andrew began to head back to the back door again.
  Outside a trellis made it's way up to the second story window, which happened to be May's.
  “I'll go first and see if the coast is clear and then you can come.” Andrew grabbed a board to pull himself up and started climbing the big trellis.
  When he got up to where the window was, he peeped over the window sill and made sure no one was in the room, then he pushed the window open and climbed in.
  “Okay, come on up.” he whispered loudly out to May.
  Once May climbed through the window, Andrew closed it and putting the grate in it's place again, he headed to his own room and jumped under the covers.
  Thump! Thump! Came a knock at his door a few minutes later. “Andrew, get up! You've already missed breakfast.” it was Amelia and she didn't sound happy.