Jen’s Reviews > Prelude to Mayhem > Status Update

"Hey, I need to let you know, we're not staying here... It's nothing bad. Harrison is coming to pick us up soon. We're going to live with him."
"He's not in trouble?"
"Not as far as I know," said Dorothy. "In fact, he has adopted both of us."
"Whoa! Does that mean he's our father now?"
"Oh, Mitchell!" she said, laughing. "He's been our father this whole time."

Glimmer looked around, frowning. "Where's the kid? You didn't lose him, did you?" ...
"He'll be thrilled to see you. You'll get to meet his sister, too."
"Sister?" Glimmer repeated. "That sounds like a story!"
"It is. It turns out I'm a father now."
"Wow... What does that make me?"
"Hmm," said Harrison. "Good question. Um... crazy aunt, I guess."
She nodded. "That sounds about right."

"I want my kids back," he said...
Lee [said,] "Adoption law grants parental presumption to a child's first adult human contact, post-May 30. In a dispute, the onus is on the State to demonstrate unfitness. As soon as you crossed the barrier, the three of you were granted automatic probationary citizenship, so your claim was immediately recognized by default. Congratulations, Harrison... You're a father."

"...you have been released because your story checks out, and because the children traveling with you have both vouched for you. The girl in particular has been quite vocal about it."
"That's nice to know," said Harrison.
"She has a remarkable natural resistance to magical mind control," said Dr. Tucker...
"If you're curious, the boy's test came back normal."

"That's quite a talent you have, Mr. Cody," Alec said, appearing neither surprised nor impressed.
Harrison's adrenalin surged. Was this magic? Had he been using magic without realizing it, while claiming under interrogation he had not?... "I swear I didn't do that on purpose!"
"Yes. We know. The ability is innate, not deliberate."

"And what if we say no thank you to your kind offer of food and shelter?"
"Then I'm afraid it will become something more than an offer," said Melissa...
"Is that where you live?" asked Mitchell.
She shook her head. "No, my situation is a little different. But I've been there. You'll like it."
"And we don't have a choice," said Dorothy.
Claudia nodded. "And you don't have a choice."

"This isn't right," she said. Slipping the pack over her shoulders, she made for the door.
It would not open...
"I'm not staying here!" she said. "I'm not alone! I... have... people!"
On this last word, she threw her entire weight into pulling the door. It popped open...
"I thought I lost you," he said.
"No, you didn't. You just forgot you had me. But I reminded you."

"You are an amazing kid. But I can't just walk in here and lean on a kid. You're great with the fine details, so please keep doing that while I handle the heavy lifting."
...For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Dorothy threw her arms around him & held him tightly. He responded with a few pats on her back that felt awkward & confused.
"What was that for? he asked as she pulled away.
"For being a grown-up."

About a month after the only other person she had found in this depopulated world had abandoned her and left her for dead, Dorothy had established a home so well-equipped and comfortable, she came to peace with the idea she might not meet another person for a long time, if ever.
Naturally, someone chose that time to pound on the back door.

Perhaps. But the missing packs told the story of a different possibility... As angry as [Dorothy] felt entitled to be, one inescapable fact confronted her: [John] had warned her of his own worthlessness.