Eight-year-old Edwina Ludlow and eight-year-old Gracie Trent put down the book they were reading and looked at each other.
“Ever feel like something is missing?” Edwina said.
“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said, “because, that there is what is called a plot hole by the grown folks. Ain't no way that's a happy ending in real life, with people like your grandfather and your Cousin Harry and my Grandma Jubilee and my dad in the world.”
“Well, I wouldn't say that, because it's good when people who need the smoke actually get it,” Edwina said.
“Yeah, but, sometimes we need the smoke, and we don't get it because God and some adults are merciful,” Gracie said. “But, this story doesn't even give us that.”
“Well, yeah, this is true,” Edwina said. “And, yeah, cliff hangers and plot holes are of the devil and should go on to their hellishly home.”
That was too much for quietly observing Mrs. Maggie Lee, grown cousin-in-law to Edwina who had to go laugh in the back of the house while her husband, Col. H.F. Lee, walked in and heard that and put his hand over his smiling face before retreating from his own puzzle room, unobserved by his two little guests in their favorite “third space” away from home.
"Our cousin Edwina," he said to Mrs. Lee later, "analyzing literature and theology with the same zeal untroubled by details."
Mrs. Lee rolled laughing all over again, and got her husband to laugh too by adding: "At least she's just eight -- what's everyone else's excuse?"
