Chapter 174

"Mom, are there really such bad people in the world?" David tilted his little head, his bright eyes filled with confusion.

Emily Johnson looked at her two sons' eager expressions and nodded gently. "There are many people like that. That's why we need to learn to protect ourselves."

Tommy sucked on his finger and asked in his tiny voice, "Does that mean we can't share candy with others anymore?"

"Of course you can," Emily ruffled their hair. "But be careful who you share with. I trust you both to tell good people from bad ones."

She almost mentioned "fair-weather friends," but worried the concept might be too complex for them. Little did she know, her two boys were already well on their way to becoming master schemers.

"You haven't played outside in days, have you?" Emily pulled out a few breadsticks from the cupboard. "Go have some fun, but be back before dark."

The boys cheered and scampered out like excited rabbits. Guarding that pot of meat had left them restless for too long.

Once they were gone, Emily immediately retrieved an orange from her space and peeled it with relish. She hadn’t dared eat even an apple in front of Michael Stone—how she had missed this!

"Mmm... so sweet!" She closed her eyes, savoring this rare moment of solitude.

Meanwhile, David and Tommy dashed straight to Aunt Elizabeth's house.

"Grace! Jack!" The two peeked through the gate.

Grace, playing in the yard, looked up and beamed. "David! Tommy!"

"Here!" David pulled breadsticks from his pocket like a magician and carefully broke them in half.

Aunt Elizabeth stepped out from the kitchen, her heart aching at the sight of her nephews in their brand-new coats. Why was the gap between the Stone children so wide?

"Hello, Auntie!" The boys chirped before grabbing Grace and Jack and running off.

Inside, Uncle Robert sighed heavily at the sound of children's laughter. His injuries left him restless and irritable.

After playing, the boys returned home to find Emily packing for tomorrow's trip to town.

"David, go ask Sister Amy if she wants to come with us tomorrow."

"Okay!" Without hesitation, David sprinted toward the Brights' house.

The distance wasn’t short, and the little boy arrived flushed and panting.

"Sister Amy!" he called from the gate.

Amy Bright, hanging laundry, turned at the sound. "David? Come in!"

"Mom wants to know if you're going to town tomorrow."

Amy's eyes lit up. She had been worrying about Grandma's medicated plasters running out but didn’t want to ask for more.

"Yes! I’ll meet your mom tomorrow." She crouched down to pinch David’s cheek. "Wait here—I’ll get you some sweet potato chips."

Grandma Bright wobbled over and stuffed a generous handful into David’s hands. "Good boy, take these."

"Thank you, Grandma!" David beamed, already plotting how to brag about his success to his mother.