I’m in our library, working on an earlier version of this column, when the fragile calm is shattered like a brick tossed through a window. Our oldest son Colin, ten, and oldest daughter, Meredith, eight, have discovered that they disagree.
“Hey-uhhh!”
“It’s mine-uhhh! Give it!”
“Mom!“
“Give. It. Back!“
“It’s mine-uhhh. I had it first. She took it from me!”
“Mom, he took it and won’t give it back! Hey-uhhh!”