Dinner was a well-loved affair in Mr. Benedict's house. Moocho Brazo's sonorous laughter, combined with the chatter of Miss Perumal and Patti, Milligan, the Washington's, Rhonda and Number Two, and Mr. Benedict himself. Reynie found himself squished beside Miss Perumal, with Sticky jammed on his other side. Reynie picked up a loose copy of the Stonetown Times – it had been lying on the table before him – and scanned the headlines with interest. "I've already read that," Sticky commented around a mouthful of salad. "And?" Reynie asked. "Anything unusual?" Sticky swallowed with some difficulty, and shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. Now that the Emergency's been resolved, everyone seems to have moved on." Reynie, who understood this all too well, nodded. His thoughts were interrupted as Miss Perumal passed him a basket of rolls. "Moocho's made his famous apple pie for dessert," Miss Perumal informed him, and straightened Reynie's collar as she spoke. Reynie grinned. "I thought so. What else would smell so delicious?" Miss Perumal laughed knowingly, and turned to receive a platter of chicken from Number Two, who was balancing the tray precariously on one hand.
"Yugh, what the heck is this?" Reynie glanced across the table at Constance. She was moodily prodding a pile of spinach with her fork. Sticky was quick to answer. "That's spinach. Everyone knows tha – " "You be quiet," Constance snipped. "I never asked you." Sticky's expression, a disquieting blend of anger, resentment and aggravation, silenced Constance. Reynie wished Constance and Sticky wouldn't lose their tempers so easily. It gave him a burgeoning headache. At least, Kate, enthusiastically devouring her dinner, was in a good mood. Her eyes flicked over at Reynie, and she grinned at him from across the table. "Why the long face?" she giggled. Reynie laughed, too. "I guess Constance's antics got to me a little." Kate looked down the table at Constance, and shook her head. "She's a character, that's for certain." Reynie rubbed his forehead, and sighed. His focus was slipping away. He desperately missed the air of anticipation and exhilaration that came with defeating Mr. Curtain. As glad as he was to be out of danger, his inborn ingenuity had not been put to use for over six months. "Reynie?" Reynie snapped his gaze over to Mr. Benedict, slightly embarrassed by his loss of concentration. "Would you mind passing those rolls? I can never manage to get one." "Here," Reynie said with a smile, eager not to appear unusual – at least not on the outside. Sinking back into his chair, Reynie picked up his fork, studied it, then placed it back on his plate. His voracious appetite had diminished, and he doubted even Moocho's pie would entice it. Sticky meanwhile, was glowering at Constance, who was gazing back, her eyes narrowed. Reynie glanced between them a few times. "What?" he questioned Sticky. Sticky puffed air through his cheeks in irritation. "She," he growled through tightly gritted teeth, "just called me "Icky Sticky!" Constance snickered wickedly. "Hey, if the spectacles fit…" Sticky's face flushed scarlet with suppressed anger. "Save it, Constance!" He rose jerkily, and stormed from the dining room. His absence went unnoticed by the adults, who were listening to Mr. Benedict speak. Apparently, it was a funny story, because now and then, they would break into laughter, Mr. Benedict's dolphin-like squeals ringing merrily. Kate was watching the doorway Sticky had just marched through, with a troubled expression. Reynie supposed that if Kate was upset, things were serious. Normally, her ever-cheerful exterior remained untouched. Constance, meanwhile, was fiddling with her sweater, obviously avoiding Kate or Reynie's gaze. "Constance," Reynie began quietly. "You know what you need to do." "No," Constance protested stubbornly. "I will not apologize to someone who called me an obstinate imp!" Kate snickered, then quickly checked herself. "Still, said Reynie lightly. "You still need to say you're sorry." "Yeah?" Constance challenged. "Yes." Kate, her lips still twitching, nodded. "I agree with Reynie." "You always do," Constance moaned disgustedly, but she was already making for the door. "We'll be right back," Reynie called over his shoulder to the adults. Then he and Kate escorted Constance to, as she put it – her "gloom and doom and dusty old tomb." She crossed her eyes, stuck out her tongue, and puffed her cheeks, so that she looked like a distorted rag doll. Much to Kate's amusement – and Reynie's exasperation, she remained like that, all the way up the stairs.