2.
Both children gasped.
"But daddy, why? Didn't he think that something was wrong?" Layla said earnestly. Nimrod nodded in agreement.
"Didn't he?" he echoed.
"Well, children, sometimes people- and don't think that doesn't include djinn as well,- don't really think much before making huge decisions.
"Like getting married?" Nimrod asked. Layla punched his left shoulder again. "Ow!" he protested, rubbing his new bruise with the palm of his small right hand. "What was that for, Lala?" Dr. Godwin tried not to burst out laughing again.
"Go on, daddy." Layla prompted, ignoring her little brother, who was absolutely mystified at his sister's behaviour.
Dr. Godwin tried to compose himself, but was still shaking with silent laughter when the door to the sitting room opened, and in the doorway stood Mrs. Godwin, looking stunning in a long, dark blue evening gown, and her hair done up in the latest fashion.
"Kenneth, what is taking you so long? You should have been ready fifteen minutes ago!" Mrs. Godwin gestured to the clock on the mantle. Dr. Godwin immediately sobered and looked at the clock.
"By Jove, Ayesha, you're right. But the children demanded a story." He confessed, placing each of his small children gently on their own feet and standing up, buttoning his waistcoat as quickly as he could, and heading for the door of the sitting room.
Mrs. Godwin's expression softened as she looked at Nimrod and Layla. "Ah, I see. Well then, Layla, Nimrod, I'm sorry but the rest of your story will have to wait until tomorrow." She explained gently.
"But I want it now!" Nimrod squawked. Mrs. Godwin sighed.
"Nimrod, dear," she said smoothly, crouching down to his eye level and ruffling a hand through his dark hair. "Daddy and I have to go to this dinner, or daddy might lose his job. If you're an extra-good boy for Nanna tonight, I'll have Cook make your favourite breakfast tomorrow." Mrs. Godwin coaxed. Nimrod still didn't look very happy with being deprived the rest of his story until tomorrow.
"Fine," he said sullenly.
"Are we going to get bacon?" Layla piped up. Mrs. Godwin spared a smile for her daughter.
"If you both behave, I'll tell Cook to make bacon as well."
Layla smiled happily and went back to her squashy armchair, picking up her large book with a little difficulty.
Dr. Godwin, having fixed his tie, put his jacket and shoes on, and was pulling on a pair of gloves, popped his head around the corner. "Ayesha, I'm ready now. Goodbye, children. We'll finish our story tomorrow."
Mrs. Godwin ruffled Nimrod's hair one more time before standing up straight and following her husband out the door, raising a hand in farewell to her children.
"Ayesha, you'll never guess what Nimrod said..." The slam of the front door closing cut off Dr. Godwin's sentence, and left Nimrod and Layla alone in the sitting room.
"What did I say?" Nimrod wondered, but eventually shrugged and headed up to his bedroom to play with his stuffed animals until it was time for dinner, though his thoughts were still in the far-off world of Kalefe and the mysterious Dire Magnus.