Kurt, Emelie and Reuben descended from the sky, landing with a soft thud onto the courtyard of the orphanage.
Dozens of young children were scattered across the lawn, peering under wooden benches, climbing fence posts, and shouting a single name into the afternoon air over and over again.
"Rupee! Rupee!"
"Rupee, where are you?!"
The moment Kurt came into view, a keen-eyed boy by the well gasped. "Uncle Kurt's here! Everyone, look!"
"Uncle Kurt?"
"It's Uncle Kurt!"
"Uncle Kurt!"
Within seconds, a flood of children sprinted across the grass to surround and overwhelm him. Small hands grabbed at his trousers, tugged on his shirt, and practically dragged him down to their eye level as everyone tried to speak at once.
"Uncle Kurt! Tristan and Rupee got into a huge fight!"
"It's all Rupee's fault, Uncle Kurt!"
"Is not! How is it Rupee's fault?! Tristan is the one who pushed her!"
"That's because she wouldn't leave him alone! She kept nagging him all morning!"
