“Ellis, come away from there! You know it’s dangerous. Anything dangerous…”
“…could hurt Jess,” the eleven-year-old Ellis finished the sentence, watching his younger sister as she crept toward the remains of what used to be a house.
All bushy-blond hair and fearless bravado, Ellis put on a face of mock-concern until he was sure his mother believed him and turned back around to watch her programs. She wasn’t really interested in his safety or Jessica’s, his nine-year-old sister. She wanted the neighbors to think she was. His mother was all about image.
The door clicked shut, and after counting to thirty, Ellis winked at Jess. The two of them resumed their exploration of the ruined structure. It was a sunny afternoon in June, and the birds chirped in the trees. It was perfect for explorat
