Nine-year-old George Ludlow and best friend nine-year-old Milton Trent were voluntarily co-grounding by reading together, having put themselves on non-punishment just in time.
“So, I just figured out that – you know how they put these bubble balls in bubble baths and stuff?” Milton had been saying to George ten minutes before that.
“Yeah,” George said. “Papa loves buying that stuff for Grandma.”
“Dad just got into that with Mom too, but we can upgrade it,” Milton said. “You know if you put bath soap into a water balloon, you basically make a bubble bomb you can use any time and anywhere, and if you put shampoo and conditioner in another, you can also take care of your hair.”
“Man, we wouldn't have to come in and take showers before going to bed!” George said. “You get the soap bomb, the shampoo and conditioner bomb and the regular water balloon – add a detergent bomb, and a bleach bomb for Sunday whites, and we're good!”
“I don't know why nobody has ever thought about this!” Milton said.
“It's brilliant, Milton – how much more time are we going to be able to save for playing when we can do the clean-up at the same time!” George said. “Let's just bring it all together and then we can also patent it and sell it – I was really listening to how Papa owns all the patents for the old Ludlow Winery and made up his own for the Ludlow Bubbly, so if there's a market for all that, there's gotta be a market for this!”
“Yeah!” Milton said.
“Let's go look in Papa's legal handbook for business stuff!” George said. “I'm sure we can get an idea, and then he'll help us get started!”
“Yeah!” Milton said.
But, Capt. R.E. Ludlow's voice met them at the door, and ten-year-old Andrew Ludlow came out and steered them right off the porch as the captain's voice rose.
“Listen, what you need to do is call somebody else with these excuses for your broken system – the last time someone tried that on me they didn't like the outcome. You're new in Lofton County so let me introduce myself properly: I bully bullies and I break their broken systems and their blurred lines, trying to put things together that have no business going together for convenience without thought to what that is going to do to everyday people. Try me if you really do not want to enjoy your stay in Lofton County – I dare you!”
Faintly from around the corner of the house, Andrew, George, and Milton could hear eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow cheering the captain on.
“Go, Papa, go Papa, go! Go, Papa, go Papa, go! Go ga-ga-go go go, go go! Go ga-ga-go go go, go go! Break bad, break bad and go! Bully the bullies, go! Go ga-ga-go go go, go go … .”
Andrew put his head in his hands for a moment before going to retrieve Edwina, and Milton and George looked at each other.”
“You know I was saying 'yeah!' earlier?” Milton said. “I think I'mma change real quick to a no!”
“I think I'm just going to take my shower this evening and thank God that I am still alive, living with Papa and Edwina,” George said.
“Want to come co-ground at my house until things calm down?” Milton said.
“Yeah, I would,” George said, and off they went, safe and sound – only to break into a run to safety, because … .
“All I'm saying is we better cheer Papa, Andy, because somebody gotta do it – y'all want me to stay a sweet little girl so we gotta let Papa do his thing!” Edwina was saying behind them.
