Children at Play

"Apparently I'm good at getting in trouble."

"It's your first day. You're bound to make mistakes."

"Not this many. I think I'm cursed."

"Don't be silly." After eating a quarter of her sandwich, Samantha decided she'd had enough and offered the rest to Prudence. "I shouldn't. That would be gluttony."

"Either you eat it or it goes to waste."

"No wonder you're so skinny. You eat like a bird." At this, Samantha flapped her arms and cawed like a sick crow. Prudence stifled a laugh with one hand and used the other to yank Samantha down. "Don't let Miss Brigham see you doing that or you'll get in more trouble."

"Why?"

"Frivolity goes against The Way. Games, jokes, and singing are all forbidden."

"Why?"

"It distracts us from serious matters."

Samantha pointed to the other girls talking amongst themselves. "But I hear them laughing. Isn't that against The Way too?"

"It's excusable if the laughter comes about from normal conversation during designated relaxation periods."

"What does that mean?"

"It means it's all right during breakfast, lunch, or before bed if you're talking about something that happened. Like you getting in trouble with Reverend Crane."

"You think that's funny?"

"I don't, but they do."

"Oh, so mean-spirited conversations are allowable, but not harmless jokes? That's stupid!"

"It's the way things are."

"Maybe it's time for that to change." Samantha got to her feet and despite Prudence's warnings, started to zigzag across the meadow. "I'm it! Come and get me!" None of the other children stood to chase after her as she scampered across the meadow. Finally, Samantha stopped to catch her breath. She stamped her foot and said, "Fine, if you won't come get me then I'll race you back to town. Last one there is a rotten egg!"