Chapter 3
Children Will Be Just That!
In the room, Piri looked at her mother in amazement. She was so beautiful, her age had graced her with both dignity and poise, if not height, and wisdom and grace beyond her years. But the tiny glimpse of her that her father had allowed before he started to fight her intrusion, was amazing! Piri removed her hand from her father's forehead, as he blinked twice, and fixed his gaze on her. She smiled, because she'd helped him, and because
She knew what that look meant. She'd seen it several times before, and if she went about it correctly, then she could elicit a very interesting response from her parents.
"Piri, what did you do?" Briar asked her, but Piri knew he was asking what she saw.
"Nothing Daddy. Mamma just said to see if I could help, so I did." Pirisi smiled even sweeter, when her father zeroed in on her, then switched his gaze to her mother. As expected, his eyes softened, and a the faintest hint of a smile hover around his lips. It was obvious that her parents were in love, and it was wonderful to know that she was a product of that love. Yet, as thrilling as it was to sit still and watch Mamma and Daddy making eyes at each other, (AN: Pirisi is almost as sarcastic as Tris!) Piri wanted to see just how far she could go.
"Oh, and Mamma, you were absolutely beautiful when you were younger!" Piri laughed when her fathers face blanched, and he looked at Piri again. Since she knew what was coming, she simply answered before he could ask.
"Daddy, I know you love Mamma, but do you think that you could stop daydreaming long enough to get me my Grammar Reader? I want to show Bronze."
Tris and Daja laughed, Sandry even giggled. Briar just sighed, stood, and went over to the mantel, where they kept Pirisi's learning books. Reaching for the Grammar Reader, he told his oldest daughter,
"Piri, you know as well as I, that it is not polite to flit in and out of peoples minds."
"I don't think that would have stopped you."
He turned to see the only person who still treated him like he was a boy.