“Mama! Mama, wake up!” Jasper’s voice pierced through the early morning silence.

“I caught him! I caught him!” Ruby’s excited shout followed close behind. Then I heard footsteps pounding across the wooden floor.

“No fair! You cheated!” Diamond whined. Her voice was right outside the bedroom door. The door creaked open, and all three of them burst into the room, laughing and shouting.

Emilia groaned, pulling the covers over her head. “Can’t you kids let me sleep for once?”

“Mama, wake up!” Jasper repeated, tugging at the blanket with all his strength. “You have to come outside!”

“Yeah, you have to see this!” Ruby added, bouncing on the bed, her...