Chapter 45That evening they checked in to the Magic Carpet Motel. In the morning, Penny awoke to Lani banging on the adjoining door.
“Mom, this place is gross.” She swung open the connecting door while rubbing her eyes. “Can't we stay somewhere better? I think I just saw a mouse.”
“How do you know it's a mouse?”
“Dad, can't you do something? This isn't funny. We never imagined it being like this. We thought you both have good jobs and things are looking up, but ever since we arrived, there are cops, fire trucks and now this fleabag.”
“Those are bed bugs not fleas.”
“Mom, stop it.”
“Well you're the one whining. Someday you might need to know these things. What if one day, you decide to be an entomologist? Think of this as getting hands on training.”
“Dad, is mom losing it?”
“No, I d
