Bringing more wind than snow, the night's storm left brown leaves poking their heads up through their thin white blanket. Matt and Tina made a point of going out early to wait for the Hawthorne children, but they didn't appear until the bus had rounded the corner. Gwyneth led Gerallt as if she were guarding a prisoner being transferred between cells.
"Hello, Gerallt," Matt said as they approached.
"Excuse me, Matt," Gwyneth interrupted as she motioned her brothers to board the bus. "Gerallt's been grounded, and Mothah has asked me tah ensure that the two of you do not talk or sit togethah." She followed Gerallt onto the bus, found a pair of empty seats, motioned Gerallt in, and sat down next to him. He shrugged his shoulders apologetically as Matt walked past to take a seat near the back
