Husband Needed. Cathie Linz

to drop off this stupid imported beer he likes.”

      “Ah, blame the beer on my husband, Sean. He got Jack going on that Irish brand of ale.”

      “Mommy, Mommy!” Ashley yelled from outside the office. “I’s here. Look!” She waved a large piece of paper, half-crumpled in her excitement. “I got stars!”

      “So you did, sweetie.” Kayla leaned down to give her daughter a big hug before smoothing out Ashley’s artwork. “Let me see.”

      “It’s a monster. Like that mean man who walks with trees. I bet he kilt those trees. Put a spell on them. Made them fly through the wall.”

      “Those aren’t trees, they’re called crutches and the man was using them because he broke his leg.”

      “How come he broke his leg?”

      “It was an accident.”

      “Like the time I spilt my milk all over?”

      “Something like that.”

      “I don’ like him,” Ashley declared. “Hugs don’ like him, neither.” She lifted her ever-present teddy bear as if to prove her point.

      “Is my son Jack the monster Ashley has been talking about for the past two days?” Corky asked.

      “There was a slight misunderstanding when we first arrived,” Kayla replied. “He thought I was trying to break in.... Anyway, it all worked out in the end.”

      “Jack never has been very good with little ones,” Corky admitted regretfully. “He never stops by the day care center when the kids are here. I’m not sure why he avoids children, perhaps they remind him of a time when he was young and vulnerable.”

      “I’s hungry now, Mommy,” Ashley announced. “Hugs is hungry, too. Hugs wants choclotts for dinner.”

      “Hugs has to eat what we eat and we don’t eat chocolate for dinner,” Kayla stated. “We’re having spaghetti.”

      “I want mine naked,” Ashley said.

      “She doesn’t like spaghetti sauce,” Kayla explained for Corky’s benefit.

      “An’ I don’ like the monster man, neither!” Ashley declared.