Day One:

Julias and Amarina wanted me to tell them a story, so this was it:

Once upon a time, there was a lowly peasant girl, named Grace. She worked night and day with a terrible illness, her breathing was weak as it ever was. She could never stop working, or her coughing would start and not stop.

But one day, while she was working, a prince was passing through the village on horseback. She saw him and instantly fell in love; his brown, short, curly hair, blue eyes, and his name was...

I stuttered.

Augustus. Grace had heard the bakers speak of him in high respects. No one talked much of him, other than the gossipy bakers. He had never visited their town, but today he did for his best friend, Sir Isaac, had told him that it would be nice to go out and see the places he ruled. So they set out for Grace's town, Virshontun.

The prince and his friend passed by Grace's house, speaking to each other softly. Grace looked up at Augustus, then bowed. He had caught her eye and nodded at her.

Once they had passed Grace and her house, the prince said to Sir Isaac, "That woman back there, she was gorgeous." and sighed.

(To which Julias asked "Did he scoop her eye out, momma?" and Amarina asked "Why don't they just go back and get married?")

"Gus, I can't see, remember? I'm blind."

The two laughed. "I know, Isaac. But-"

"Let's go back. Talk to her."

Gus nodded and headed back towards Graces home. He got off his horse when he got there and knocked at the door.

"Hello?" A voice came from inside, followed with coughing.

"Is this the house of the girl in the purple dress?"

There came laughter from inside. "Many a girl wears purple when royalty-" the voice coughed some more. "comes into our town."

"Do many of them have eyes the color of mountains? Do they curtsy so low, that they have trouble getting back up after?"

There came more coughing, then the door opened. "Your majesty," A girl curtsied, then moved out of the way. "Please, come in."

Isaac and Gus walked in, surveilling their surroundings.

The girl, Grace, sat Isaac down in a chair. "What brings royalty into my humble house at this hour?" She coughed again, pressing her hands on the table to keep standing.

"I wanted to-"

"Augustus here wants to smooch you,"

The trio laughed-

Julias: Momma?

Me: Yes?

Julias: What does smooch mean?

Me: The same as this -kisses her forehead-

Julias: Oooooohhhh... Okay.

Amarina: -yawns- Momma I'm tired...

Me: Okay, I guess this story can continue tomorrow. Into bed you two.

Maddox came into our room later, snuggling up to me and kissed my cheek.

Maddox: I just got off the phone with Joan...

Me: Oh? What did she want? I thought she was done with you and me...

Maddox: She needs money...

Me: -sighs- How much?

Maddox: $5,000...

Me: No. Maddox, we are not giving her five grand. we need that money!

Maddox: For what? Your oxygen?

Me: -stands up- For food! To keep our electricity working! To have gas to drive Julias and Amarina to school!

Maddox: -sits up- I can get us $5,000 more! I'm a lawyer!

Me: Who rarely gets paid!

Julias: Mommy?

Me: -turns around- Yes, sweetie? What are you doing out of bed?

Julias: I heard you two arguing... Are you going to leave mommy, daddy?

Maddox: No, honey. Your mommy and I are just fine. I promise. -smiles-

Julias: Okay. -walks away-

Me: -turns back to Maddox- See what you and I are causing? We need that money, end of conversation.