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Spongebob boxers. He kept dodging her grasp, pausing long enough to flex his non-existent biceps. Malinda was scrambling around, trying to clean up a huge puddle of what looked to be milk mixed with orange juice.
    “What in the hell is happening?” Ricky demanded.
    The room instantly fell quiet as all gazes locked on him. The silence only lasted a few beats before the excuses started a’coming.
    “I was just trying to tell them to get dressed,” Jess defended.
    At fifteen, he was already taller than Ricky, but the kid was always the best at obeying the rules when Ricky was left in charge. The problem was sometimes he was too zealous in his efforts to make sure everybody else toed the line, too.
    Jess’ twin, Carla waved her hands at Alex who was still playing muscleman. “Look at him, he’s a barbarian.”
    “Shut up, Carla. You’re not the boss of me,” the ten-year old Alex retorted.
    “She is when Ricky or Mom aren’t here,” Malinda cut in. She rolled her eyes at Ricky, “Do you see what I have to live with. Why can’t Mom send me to boarding school like the kids from the Harry Potter books?”
    “Because you’re not a wizard,” Ricky drawled, a headache already forming.
    “I think I am,” Lenny called, still in Jess’s grasp. “I’m pretty sure I made my lizard move a couple of inches the other day only by using my mind.”
    “Good for you,” Ricky replied, after all, kids did need positive encouragement.
    Carla tilted her head to the side, her long dark hair brushing against her shoulder. “Who’s your friend?”
    “It’s Tanner.”
    Carla’s eyes widened and Ricky prayed that she wouldn’t mention all the times Ricky had talked about the hot, flight medic. “So, how do you know him? I’ve never heard you mention him before.”
    Ricky could have kissed her at the moment. He gave her a tiny nod of thanks, which she acknowledged with the barest of smiles.
    “We know each other from work,” Tanner replied, his gaze still wide from all the chaos they’d walked into.
    “Hmmm…I guess you’ll do. You’re not as cute as Chauncey or Brody, but you’re not a troll either,” Carla replied.
    Tanner blinked a few times and Ricky almost wanted to apologize for his sister’s bluntness. Then again, for Carla that was actually a compliment, so maybe he shouldn’t complain too much. Ben faced much worse and he was considered family.
    “Yeah, she’s fifteen,” Ricky explained.
    Luckily, Tanner just smiled, showing he didn’t take offense. “I remember how my own sister was at that age.”
    “How old is she now?” Carla asked.
    “She turned twenty last year. She just got married a year ago.”
    “That’s awfully young.”
    “Carla, zip it,” Ricky snapped between clenched teeth.
    Of course, the brat ignored him and kept on interrogating Tanner. “Was the wedding nice?”
    “I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t invited,” Tanner replied tightly.
    Carla’s face softened, mirroring the emotions swelling through Ricky. “Is it because your family is a bunch of bigots like my dad?”
    Okay, that was just about enough of that type of conversation. Ricky clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Get moving or you’re going to be late. Carla, take Alex and get some clothes on him.”
    “But I wanna go to school like this,” Alex pouted.
    “Not happening. Now get moving and put something on, and not shorts or a t-shirt. It’s going to be cold and rainy today. Jess, take Lenny and Angie, and find something for them to wear. Make sure they brush their teeth and by that, I mean actually watch them do it, or else they’ll just wet down the toothbrushes and fake it.”
    Angie stomped her foot. “I hate the taste of toothpaste.”
    “I went out last night before work and bought that iCarly brand that you really like.” Fishing into his backpack, Ricky found the tube and handed it to her.
    She grabbed it with a squeal and ran off, her twin and Jess in tow. After the rest of the kids