She didn't have any car pool duty today and realized when Katie and Todd barged through the kitchen door, slamming their backpacks on the kitchen table, that what had seemed like mere

minutes had been at least five hours of concentrated creativity. It wasn't writing, of course, but she had the basics of the house in her mind, and when she finished the last details, she'd be eager to get back to work on the endless book. Maybe it wouldn't truly be endless. It was odd to feel both exhausted and exhilarated at the same time.

"Kids, come look at this!" she shouted down the stairs.

Katie looked at the screen. "What's that?"

"Where Priscilla lives," Jane said.

"Who's Priscilla?" Todd asked, leaning closer.

"The woman in the book I've been working on for as long as I can remember."

"I don't see any bathrooms," Todd said.

"Oh!" Jane said, putting the palm of her hand on her forehead.

"But it's sure a cool program," Todd said, glancing through the instruction manual.

"I have you to thank," Jane said. "If I hadn't bought this computer, I wouldn't have ever been able to do this. The old one couldn't have coped with something this elaborate. Would you have a little time to help me figure out where to put the bathrooms?"

"After dinner. Sure."

"Dinner?" Jane asked as if she'd never heard the word. "What kind of carryout would you like?"

"Pizza!" both kids chorused.

"Then spring for delivery. Todd, you can help me while we wait."

When Shelley dropped in for coffee around eight o'clock, Katie said, "Mom's on the computer. You'll have to crowbar her hand off the mouse."

"What's she doing?"

"Making a house for Priscilla," Katie said with a laugh. "Go on upstairs. You'll probably have to beat her on the head to get her attention."