Percival has finally made a friend at school! Her name is Darla-Juliana Roark, and she is definitely not a slightly-edited version of Darlene Bunch.
Unfortunately for Parsons, his homework hasn't gotten any easier, and he's outgrown his thinking cap.
Percival and Darla-Juliana ignore their own homework and instead choose to play tag in the backyard.
"Don't run too close to the cliff, kids!" Loppy shouts from one of the windows.
"Don't run too close to the cliff, kids!" Loppy shouts from one of the windows.
It's Toadie's birthday, and that makes her very giddy.
Nobody remembered to buy a cake, but that's okay because the family is still finishing leftovers from the boys' birthdays.
Darla-Juliana sticks around for the celebration, too.
In fact, she sticks around long after that, and is still wandering around the house by the time everyone else has gone to bed. Nobody wants to kick her out, though, because she's Percival's friend despite his genetic insanity.
"How much will it cost to make you do my homework for me?" Parsons asks as he blows eraser bits from his notebook.
"Parsons, I'm still in elementary school," Percival reminds him.
"I'm desperate here," says Parsons.
"Parsons, I'm still in elementary school," Percival reminds him.
"I'm desperate here," says Parsons.
Loppy reaches full-blown adulthood a few days after his wife.
Nothing much changes.
Nothing much changes.
Then, Loppy is struck by his inevitable mortality and begins to weep.
Nothing like getting a good ol' midlife crisis for your birthday.
It's Toadie's day off, and with Loppy at work and the boys at school, she has the house to herself.
Which, of course, means dance party!
Which, of course, means dance party!
And, of course, an opportunity to mess with the computer without Loppy watching worriedly over her shoulder.
Trying to use more ethical journalism tactics, Loppy visits a friend in town for an interview.
Mr. Edison doesn't seem to mind leaving his daughter in the front lawn while he answers Loppy's questions.
Percival brings Darla-Juliana over after school again.
She stays and watches TV until about 3:00 in the morning.
Toadie's garden is coming along nicely. She's thinking of adding some flame fruits.
Apparently, Percival has more in common with his mother than just genetics.
These days, Loppy can often be found staring into the empty void that is his future. There are wrinkles on his face now, and he knows it's the beginning of the end.
In other news, the family builds a new addition to the house - a second bedroom. The old nursery is a bit too small for both boys to share, and besides that, they'll be needing all the rooms they can get once Percival starts a family. (Though that's still a way's away...)
To end this chapter, here's a complete look at the Brine house. In the far left, the kitchen and dining room. Along the hallway, a door leading to the front lawn (and Toadie's garden), and a door leading to Parson's new bedroom. Beside that, the nursery-turned-Percival's room. Then there's a bathroom, the living room, Toadie and Loppy's room, and their personal bathroom.
The exterior. In the background, you can see the cliff edge and the ocean it descends into.