"Either you play the right way, or don't play at all," 7-year-old Henry told the three family members surrounding him.
"But it's only Hide-and-Go-Peek," his 4-year-old brother complained.
"You don't peek!" their cousin, Cassie, claimed.
"Do you want the hiders to know you're coming, Jackie?" Henry asked.
Jack shrugged. "I dunno. Should I?"
"No!"
"Why not?" another cousin, Carl, asked.
"Because these are the rules! Now split up and look for people! Go!"
They scoured the Spencer house, following Henry's rules, searching for the various cousins hiding throughout the family party.
"Hey, slow down!" 12-year-old Henry commanded.
"What are you doing? He's an 8th grader," Henry's best friend, David Harding, asked with an edge of fear.
"I'm the hall monitor, it's my job!"
"Is there a problem?" the kid asked, sure this little 6th grader had nothing on him.
"Yes. There's no running in the halls."
"Why should I listen to you? You're just a kid! You shouldn't even be a hall monitor over here! This is the 8th grade hall!"
"I have jurisdiction over the whole school. Besides, my detention slips are universal. Now I was just on my way to see Principal Cullvins. Do I need to report you to him?" Henry asked with a determined glare.
"Uh, no, I guess not."
"Good."
"See you around, Punk!" David called. He turned to Henry. "You should be a cop!"
"Yeah, I know."