The children crept upstairs, as quietly as they could. It actually sounded like a heard of small elephants,

but Alanna was in a deep sleep. They walked down a hallway, giggling.

"Let's go in here!" Daine said, pushing a door opened.

It was Alanna and George's room. A blue silk comforter covered the big sleigh bed. Numair ran a finger

across it. "It's soft," he said, placing a cheek up against it. Everyone followed, saying how nice it was.

"It's mine," George said, smugly. "Let's jump on the bed."

Neal crawled up, slipping slightly on the comforter. He jumped and landed softly on the feather mattress.

George, Numair, and Daine joined him, while Cleon and Kel dug through Alanna's dresser drawers.

"Ewwww," Cleon complained, holding up a tight, red nightgown.

Kel began rummaging through a box of charms. She held up a box labeled "pregnancy charm" and

another labeled "fertility charm". She switched the two around.



Cleon, tired of jumping on the bed, began to tug at a pearl necklace. It broke, and beads scattered.

Numair hopped off to put one in his mouth. Daine, of course, did the same. George placed on in his

nose, which was rather large.

Dowstairs, Alanna woke with a start. The children were gone! She heard giggles from upstairs.

so she ran up. She found them, all with pearls in their mouths and noses, laughing madly. She

sighed, and began walking around, collecting pearls. When every nose and mouth had been

cleared of pearls, Alanna reached into her jewelry box. She pulled out a box labeled "pregnancy

charm" and slid the necklace around her neck.

"I'm NEVER EVER taking this off EVER again!" she sighed.