Janie’s fingers had just thawed out when the fighting began. The kids abandoned their beanbags, going toe-to-toe, screaming at each other about a marshmallow. The credits of the movie that had given her ninety-two minutes of peace scrolled, the quiet music at odds with the argument.

So much for the park wearing them out. After two hours in frigid weather, she’d lured them home with promises of cocoa and a movie. They’d pelted down the slick sidewalk, the wind tugging at their hair as they rounded the corner for home. Small puffs of air exploded before Janie as her breath came in gasps while hurrying to keep up. 

“I didn’t eat it because I was watching the movie,” Ollie shouted.

Molly, hands on her undefined hips, was undeterred. “I saw you look away when they kissed.” 

Janie clung to her own warm mug wondering, as the kids continued to rage at each other, which of them really had eaten the last sticky mallow. When Oliver’s fists clenched, she intervened.

“Enough, there’s more in the kitchen for later.” 

Ollie shrugged and ran a hand over his chocolaty mustache, smearing it across his chapped cheek before he left the room and slammed a door. Janie shook her head and gathered up the dirty mugs and empty popcorn bowl before wiping off the coffee table. 

“I didn’t eat it,” Molly said, leaning against the gray sofa. She grinned, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a single mini marshmallow — covered in lint. “Not yet.”

word: thaw | action: tell a secret