Beverly stayed up that night writing down her observations of her children over the past three weeks. The next day after they had finished school, she allowed them to go play outside until dinner.

"Mommy play?" Leonard asked.

Beverly looked at her son and was conflicted. Then she thought about what Alfred had said, "I'm busy, dear." Beverly went back to her work and Leonard sulked back outside. Three weeks later, Beverly sent her kids back to school, but wouldn't allow them to leave the house once they were home. After another three weeks, Beverly had the kids in school and going outside.

When the three weeks were up, Beverly was amazed at all of the data she had. Alfred had hoped that she would be alright now, but she kept the experiments up.

"Honey, Michael's birthday is coming up. When do you want to go shopping for him?"

"Oh, we're not doing birthdays this year."

"What?" Alfred thought she was kidding.

"Why should they get presents for being born. I did all the work. Besides, it will help me with my research. I want to see how the kids do in a reward-based environment as opposed to one with unconditional love. We also aren't doing Christmas."

Alfred watched his wife walk back to her office, "what have I done?"

Alfred decided to stop by his parents one day to talk about Beverly's recent behavior.

"You told her to do this?" Marcy asked.

"Yes," Alfred answered.

"You told your wife to treat her children as experiments so she wouldn't lose it? Your scientist wife?"

"Yes," Alfred was unsure of why his mother was asking the same question over and over.

"Your wife was emotionally and psychologically abused growing up. I bet that she was feeling like her mother was right and found that treating her children this way kept her from losing her mind."

"Your mother's right," Ed chimed in, "while I think what she's doing is wrong, it sounds to me like you're the one who caused her to act this way."

"I agree with your father."

"So what do I do?"

"Have you tried talking to her?" Ed asked.

"Our conversations are always scientific anymore."

Alfred's parents could tell he was unhappy, "you are not going to leave that woman," Marcy warned. "You go home and talk to your wife. If you two decide to split that's one thing, but deep down Beverly is a scared and damaged little girl. Don't hurt her."

That night, Alfred tried to talk to his wife in bed, but she kept changing the subject. He was lost and honestly didn't know what to do.

When Michael got up on his eighth birthday, he went into the kitchen excited for the day.

"Happy birthday," Lili said.

"Happ birday," Leonard told his brother.

Alfred just smiled at his son, but Beverly remained silent, "mommy?" Michael tried to get his mother's attention.

Beverly turned and saw her son, "oh, good morning dear," she said casually before going back to making breakfast.

Michael looked as though someone had punched him in the gut and it broke Alfred's heart. As the day went on, Michael became more depressed. He kept waiting for cake and presents, but he never got them. They didn't even have his favorite dish for dinner. That night, Lili and Leonard snuck into Michael's room to give him a snack cake they found.

"We can't light a candle, sorry," Lili said.

Michael smiled at his sister, "that's okay," he gave his brother and sister a piece before eating his.

"Do you think this is how it is now?" Lili asked her brother.

"I hope not because it sucks. Mommy didn't even acknowledge my birthday and she has always made a big deal out of them."

"Mommy hasn't been the same since," Lili gestured towards Leonard.

"I know," the siblings didn't blame their brother. It's not his fault he got sick and their mother freaked out.

Every single birthday that year was not celebrated. Beverly made notes and observations that included her family being unhappy, but she continued. There were no Halloween costumes or Trick or Treating. No Thanksgiving, no Christmas, and no New Year celebrations. Everyone had hoped that when things circled back around to Michael's birthday that things would go back to normal. They didn't and everyone realized that the new Beverly wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Marcy and Ed had had enough of the new Beverly. One day when the kids were all in school and Beverly was off, they paid the woman a visit.

"Mom, dad, did I know you were coming?"

"No, but we need to talk," Marcy said.

Beverly led her in-laws to the couch and everyone took a seat, "what's going on?"

"We have all tried to be patient with you," Marcy started, "but you have got to stop this research nonsense with the children."

"It's not nonsense," Beverly tried defending herself.

"You are treating your children like lab rats!" Now Marcy was yelling.

Ed tried to calm his wife a bit, "look, Beverly, we can't understand what you went through growing up or when Leonard had that asthma attack, but this is no way to raise children."

Beverly stood, "I think you should both leave."

Both were in shock, "you can't be serious," Marcy said.

"You will not come in here and tell me how to raise my children. Especially when your son was the one who wanted things this way."

"Only temporarily," Marcy yelled, "just until your anxiety had gone away."

Beverly walked over to the door and held it open. Marcy stormed out, but Ed stopped and looked his daughter-in-law in the eye. Her eyes were watery and she shook her head. He left knowing that there wasn't a single person in that house who was happy, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.