"Can we eat now?" said Woods, who couldn't seem to care less about the contents of his cup. "I've been hungry for ages, so it was torture cooking all this up with Mrs. Lawson hovering over my shoulder." When Zech made a snide remark, Woods said, "What? She doesn't let me pick at the food while I cook. Do you know how weird it is to get beaten by someone else's mother?"
"He said, motherless."
"Shut up, Jaden. You're an orphan, too."
"Just eat if you want to," said Anice, who was already munching on a roasted chicken leg. "Hey, this gravy is delicious, Woods. Maybe I can convince my papa to let you cook for us."
As the big-bellied boy's rounded cheeks began to redden, the others at the table rushed to dig into their food with gusto, even Corrie tackling a larger helping than usual.
