Then I realized something.

“Beam!”

“What is it?” she said to me like it was forbidden to call her name.

“Do you know where I can get some nails and a hammer?” I said, trying to sound like a good aunt.

“Nails and hammer you say?”

Beam pinched her nose with both hands, expanding the holes.

“What’s that?” I asked, in total confusion.

“Check my nose,” Beam said. Her voice was muffled. The other children laughed. I chose to ignore her and turned to leave.

“Okay fine,” Beam said. “Jeez, you’re so grumpy. Come with me, it’s in the tool box that’s kept in the kitchen store.”

The kitchen? Not...