Not sure if glad was the right word, but Danny was glad the younger two were able to entertain themselves after school. Seeing as harvest time put both parents out in the fields. With the older two doing after school activities, this placed him as the oldest one in the house.

They came up to ask if he needed a snack or wanted to join them watching something or to play with them. Easy enough to put them off with saying he was busy with homework. True. Usually. He'd taken to sneaking books into his room when homework ran dry. To keep his mind occupied with anything he could.

Avoidance and lack of a portal or thinness between here and the Ghost Zone meant Danny was positive he was doing better in his schoolwork than even before his accident.

He could live with that. The other accident...

Right. Back to reading through this wizard series. He really should figure out a time around his classes to check out books from the school library.

"Hey! Mom just went to pick up Elizabeth and Matt! You're coming out to help again, right? You can finish homework after like they do. Come on, Danny!"

"I'm busy."

"But that's just one of Elizabeth's books."

"And I'm not really much of a help."

"You're still an extra part of hands! Come on, Danny!"

Firmly and resolutely keeping his eyes on whatever this girl Nita was doing in the book, Danny ignored the wheedling as much as possible.

She'd leave him be soon enough like any other time she or her brother had come up this afternoon.

"Reading," he said, eyes still staring at the page.

Since he wasn't able to help with what they were doing out there, why bother? Danny could do his part of helping out with chores inside the house.

Not to mention he felt like he had a minor panic attack seeing the little ones right next to the cows. Despite them clearly being fine. Minor panic at the idea of himself getting near in case the cows could sense him and possibly kick him. He may not be fine.

Arly already attempted one bite at him. At least the barn cats were some weird mix of wild and tame, so, Danny had yet to have any real issue with them.

He also didn't want to get too close. Wanted to keep his distance. Plus, the whole sibling vibe from last night, being not part of it and yet included when Danny, he...

"I think I'll stay in here." He glanced up and shrugged a shoulder. "Sorry."

Plus, Danny didn't really want to get his legs splattered with...stuff again.

"Aaawwwww!"

Danny froze.

Full power of watery puppy eyes and puckered out lips shone up at him from where the youngest had flopped onto the bed beside him.

"...fine."

Letting out a loud whoop, she bounced up and dashed down the hallway, cheering up a loud chorus as the younger ones celebrated.

"Good job, Katie!"

"You were right! The sad eyes worked!"

"Told you he was old enough to fall for it."

Hearing this, knowing full well he had caved, Danny groaned. "Greaaat."

Huh. A possible theme revealed? Attempts to hide and keep to himself keep failing. Well. Good. I wanted to plop you on a farm, so git!

(And probably good for it failing in the long run because of why he's on a farm and doing that whole avoiding people and real issue thing? At some point he'll have to deal with that. Right? Right, Danny?)