Stillness Part V, Chapter 51

Raymond dropped a paper sack containing his belongings by the front door. Six more such bags were lined up there. He wandered into the common room, where some of the children were sitting around the television, watching more coverage of the

Phenomenon.

He plopped down on the big gray sofa next to Lucinda.

“Well, I did it,” he said. “Okay? But I still don’t think it makes any sense.”

“Thank you,” said the younger girl.

“What time is it, anyway? Are we going to have dinner?”

Bettina, who was sitting on the floor in front of the TV, turned to look at him.

“There’s some soup on the stove,” she said. “We already ate.”

“What kind of soup?”

“Tomato,” several voices offered at once.