Valeria jerked up, kicking Nick in the calf out of sheer habit. He jumped off the couch and the two of them stood facing the social worker. The room was filled with candy, popcorn, half-drunk sodas, and the movie The Pacifier that had been paused and was showing a very funny expression on Vin Diesel’s face.

“This is outrageous!” said Mrs. Baptiste.

Nick and Valeria looked at each other with wild eyes. They were wearing Tasmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny pajamas, they were disheveled and haggard, a