The following Sunday, during the weekly church members’ meeting, Ari asked the girls if their parents had consented to them sleeping over. They all jumped up and down, screaming yes and showing her their bags. As the other parents came over to speak to Mrs. Saunders and thank her for giving them a break, to have the house to themselves, they wished her the best for the evening. Smiling and nodding, she began to feel very overwhelmed but soon relaxed, knowing it was one night and they would be out of the house tomorrow morning and she would have some peace and quiet.
“I can do this,” she whispered to herself as she ushered the children inside.
As the church service began and Sunday school ended, the children went to find the secret passage they were anxious to investigate.
“Hey, girls, c
