“Is the movie a great watch?” Their mother asked as she stepped in.

“Oh, yes, it's great,” Derek responded right away.

“I'm hitting the sack,” she said and scoured the highest point of his head. “Do well to sleep on time. Goodnight.”

Ella greeted him with a grin and said, “Good night, Mom.”

Before taking a breath, he said, “Good night” and waited for her door to close.

“Holy Shit, that was close,” Ella said when she turned to face him.

“Oh, that sure was. Think she thought anything?”

His sister got out of the chair and walked over to him. “No, she couldn't have,” Ella countered. Her collapsed legs...