I looked at all of them, lined up, and asked sternly,
"Who is chewing on Wilbur's beard?"
[Silence}
"His beard has shrunk considerably in the last few days," I said.
Opie stood forward. "It wasn't me but I know who it is," and he returned to the lineup.
"Opie, you are complicit by not telling me," I said.
Earnest came froward, "May I ask what the said consequences will be for the said perpetrator?"
"I will scold them," I said.
"Shaming is harmful to young minds!" Opie screamed.
Everyone hushed him up.
"Opie, I think you know more than you are telling, " I said. "I'm going to count to ten, and if a name comes out, everyone will get carrots, even the perpetrator," I said.
"It's ME, It was MEEEEE!" screamed Ollie in joy and he ran forward to get a hug.
So, I sat amongst them, and we ate carrots. And Ollie chewed on my buttons.
