Willow put her hands on her hips. “We heard you’ve been grumpy, so we’ve come to
spread some cheer!”
She couldn’t finish the line without laughing. Casey cracked up too, covering her
mouth.
“Care Bears!” Casey shouted, already red-faced. “Stare!”
They pointed their painted bellies at him. William sat there, stunned, biting his
lip to keep from laughing.
“Uh-oh, looks like we have to try harder,” Casey said in her best bratty voice.
“Our powers are having no effect on this grumpy puss.”
“I’m supposed to be the grumpy one,” Willow said, giggling. She leaned on the door
frame to steady herself.
William smiled. William thought Casey glowed. He couldn’t tell if her face was
painted or her cheeks turned a pinkish red due to laughing.
“I’m sorry, Care Bears, but your stare is no match for unassembled baby furniture,”
he said in a villain voice.
Casey smirked. “Our Care Bear stare can outmatch anything. Even baby furniture.”
“Maybe you can fix my cramping hand?”
“You’ll just have to work through that,” Willow said.
“Take a break,” Casey told him. “You haven’t eaten. And there’s still two weeks
left. It doesn’t all have to be done tonight.”
“Maybe I can borrow an electric tool from my dad,” William said. “I should’ve asked
before I started.”
“I’ll ask him when I go home,” Willow offered.
“Thanks.” William packed up the unused pieces. Casey sat in the rocking chair,
massaging her belly. The color returned to her cheeks. He noticed two pink circles