"…no, I don't think I'll be home in time for dinner…"

Marlene Ellis stood at the back door of her house, watching her children play outside, a cold chill running down her spine. Frank's voice sounded so strange, so cold and flat, and yet…so afraid.

"A-a business trip? That's a little ridiculous, Frank, why would your boss spring something like that on you."

Frank was silent for a moment, then his voice came back on the line, sounding completely different and filled with confidence.

"Look, the company got into some trouble OK? I'm a corporate lawyer, I go where I'm needed, so I'm goin' up the road to the main office to sit down and sort this all out. The big man in the upper office made it sound like there was something really nice in it for me, you see…" his voice bubbled over the line and Marlene felt even more concerned than before.

"But Frank-"

"Look, baby, we just gotta keep this low-key for the company's sake. Gotta save face, you know?"

Marlene was growing impatient now – she didn't like people to underestimate her intelligence. But Frank gave her no opportunity for rebuttal.

"I'll give you a call as soon as I can, but I better get off the phone for now."

"Frank-"

"I love you. More than you could possibly know."

"Frank!"

"Tell the kids I love them too."

"FRANK!"

Click.

Frank was gone.

"Daddy isn't coming home, is he?" A small, flat voice from below caused Marlene to jump. She looked down and saw Shane standing right beside her. Tammy and Michael, who had come in just behind Shane, burst into tears upon hearing what Shane had said.

"Daddy's not coming home?!" Tammy bawled hysterically, wrapping her arms frantically around little Michael.

"Shane! What would make you say that? Of course he's coming home!" Marlene sputtered, trying to reassure herself as well as her children.

"The TV told me!" Shane retorted.

"The TV?! Then it really is true!" Tammy howled even louder, causing Michael to elevate his sobs as well. Marlene dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the two younger children.

"There, there, the TV isn't always right. And if the TV is 'telling' you things like that-" she shot a glance at Shane "then maybe we should cut back on TV time."

Tammy was heaving in smaller and smaller sobs. She looked up at her mother, her eyes twinkling. "What will we do?"

"Oh I don't know…I was thinking about taking you kids to the PlayZone, but if TV's more important-"

"PLAYZONE!" Tammy and Michael chorused, their sobs quickly fading into euphoric cheers.

Marlene smiled at her oldest son to seek his approval, but saw he was glaring back at her.

"I knew you wouldn't believe me!" he roared and stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, slamming his door for good measure.

The two younger children, still wrapped in Marlene's embrace, looked up at her.

"Does this mean we can't go to PlayZone, Mommy?"