The moment food was mentioned, Laurence’s eyes lit up.

He immediately headed toward the backyard.

The chickens Doc raised were kept there, free to roam. He insisted free-range chickens tasted best.

Watching the little figure scamper off, Doc muttered, “This little glutton. The second chicken’s involved, he even forgets all about his birth parents.”

He stood and followed.

“I’m old and my teeth are all gone, so I can’t have any. You can have both.”

Laurence turned his head. “But don’t you have a full set of teeth? Drumsticks are the meatiest, tastiest part. You always say they’re the best bit! Why can’t you have any?”

Either way, he would only eat one. The other was for Doc.

Doc explained, “These are dentures.”

“You can eat drumsticks. If you refuse, I’ll call Teacher and tell her that an old granny keeps visiting, saying she wants to spend the rest of her life with you.”

Doc’s face darkened. “Brat, if you dare snitch, just you watch, I’ll teach you a lesson!”

It was true that