Nick stopped immediately, as he felt small hands tug at the edge of his coat.

“Niiiiick! Nick! Ni-nick!”

He turned around, pushing Baxter away from him and looking at Alice who held out her hands to him, crying disconsolately. The truth was that she was more hysterical than afflicted. Nick had always seen her as excessively clean, and it was alarming to see her crying, with her face dirty from tears and a runny nose.

He did what he wasn't supposed to do, but he didn't even think about it. He