Little Whiskers Daycare (One Week Later)
The morning sun filtered through the windows of the daycare, illuminating dust motes and the peaceful silence of the play area.
BANG.
The front door flew open.
Arjun stood in the doorway, striking a pose with his fists on his hips. He was wearing his newly repaired daycare uniform and a grin that threatened to split his face.
"I AM BACK!" Arjun yelled, his voice echoing off the walls (thankfully, without the magic shockwave this time). "Who missed me? Did you cry? It's okay to admit it!"
He waited for the applause. The cheers. The parade.
Jasper didn't look up from his book. "Welcome back. You were absent for exactly six days, four hours, and twelve minutes."
Silas, who was drawing in the corner, simply gave a thumbs-up without turning around.
Vali was busy stacking blocks and just grunted, "You're blocking the light, Stripes."
Only Clover reacted with the appropriate enthusiasm. She dropped her crayons and hopped over.
