The next day, everyone gathered in the dining room to eat breakfast. The kids were sitting at the table and waiting patiently for food while the mom was in the kitchen and cooking. Kathy was making a special breakfast. Shelly's favorite, which was chocolate chip pancakes. The reason for this was because today was no ordinary day.

Sarah and the boys were talking amongst each other. They were mainly talking about school, homework, and any other huge events that were going on in their lives.

"I cannot wait until I go to college," Sarah confessed. "I still cannot believe that I got accepted."

"You are a bright girl, Sarah," Sam replied, smiling. "It does not surprise me any."

"I am excited for the science fair," Sonny piped in. "It is going to be the best one yet! I already mapped out my project."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Dude, you are always excited for the science fair. And it is not even until September."

Shelly was sitting quite aways from Sam and her siblings. She was overhearing their conversation and looking at her empty plate that was in front of her. The plate reminded her of what happened yesterday.

How the utensils and plates fell to the ground. And all the plates broke. She thought that she would be dead meat.

Then a certain puppet changed all that.

She remembered him too. Plain as day.

How he came to life. How he walked and talked. How he used a form of magic to clean up the mess that she made and fixed the plates.

Speaking of the dummy, Slappy was in Shelly's bedroom and resting. Shelly had asked him if he wanted to go downstairs and join her and the family for breakfast, but Slappy declined her offer.

You know why. I, the narrator, know why.

He did not want his plan to be ruined by Sonny, Sam, and Sarah. They would recognize him and try getting rid of him if they knew that he was there. Plus, they could convince his future bride that he was bad news.

"Do not mention me to them," Slappy warned Shelly. "Not even Kathy."

"Why?" Shelly wondered. "Are you shy?"

"You could say that. I want to make an impression on them first. Like when I helped you yesterday morning."

"Oh. Okay."

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. She bought that.

Shelly soon snapped out of her thoughts when she smelled something delicious. She lifted her nose into the air and sniffed. She did not know exactly what Mrs. Quinn was fixing. Kathy never told her or the children.

She sniffed some more. "That smells like...pancakes. And chocolate."

"Surprise!" Kathy exclaimed happily as she came into the room with a plate that was stacked high with chocolate chip pancakes.

"Whoa," Sam said, eyeing the tall stack of pancakes.

"Pancakes?" Sonny questioned.

"Pancakes!" Shelly exclaimed. She was so excited and happy that she almost leaped out of her seat.

The mom winked at her. "With chocolate chips."

"Chocolate chips?! Yes!" She pumped her fists in the air.

Mrs. Quinn giggled and set down the plate of pancakes in the center of the table. "I know that you like them. That is why I made them." She grabbed a large spatula that was already on the table and slid the flat end of it under two pancakes. She scooped up the pancakes and set them on Shelly's plate. "It is a special occasion." She put the spatula on the plate with pancakes and sat at her seat. "Dig in!"

Shelly licked her lips and began eating her pancakes. The other kids took turns getting their pancakes. Once each child had at least one pancake, Kathy scooped up the last three. The two boys had the most pancakes. Sonny and Sam both had five. Sarah had two like her new sister.

"How can you two eat so many pancakes?" Sarah asked her brother and his best friend as she was cutting one of her pancakes. "Pancakes are filling."

"Very easily," Sonny responded.

Shelly took a bite of her pancakes and chewed. "Mmm!" She swallowed and looked at Kathy. "So what is the occasion?"

The mother set her napkin in her lap. "Do you not remember? Your mistress is coming over today to see how you are enjoying your new home."

The girl let out a gasp and nearly dropped her fork. Her mistress, Ms. Jane, was visiting the house that day to monitor her and see how she was doing. If she was liking her new home and family, then she could stay. If she was not happy, then the mistress would have no choice but to take her back to the orphanage.

Simple as that, right?

Nope.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

"That must be her now," Mrs. Quinn said. She tossed her napkin onto the table and hurried to the front door. She opened it and smiled. "Hello."

Standing outside was an older woman. She had pale skin and wrinkles on her face. Her lips were bright red, and she had brown hair. She wore a dark blue dress that reached to her ankles, blue shoes, and a large hat that had bright pink flowers on them.

"Ah. Mrs. Quinn," the woman spoke.

"It is nice to see you again, Ms. Jane," Kathy answered. "Please come in." She motioned for her to come inside.

Ms. Jane walked in. "Where is the ray of sunshine?"

"In the dining room. She and the other children are eating breakfast."

"Ah. Very good. May I see the document? I need to see proof that you adopted her."

"Of course."

Kathy hurried to her room and opened the bottom drawer of her dresser. She went through it...

...but could not find any document.

She became worried and hurried back to Ms. Jane. "I cannot find it," she admitted.

Ms. Jane glared at her. "If I do not see it, then Shelly is going back to the orphanage."