"So they weren't allowed in today?" Ellie asked, her tone softer than before, her voice laced with concern.
Jessica, her anger now giving way to a sense of resignation, turned to face Ellie. "What do you think?" She couldn't hide the hurt that simmered beneath her words.
"I don't know what has been up with you lately, but you have to realize that we took them in. And they are not just some responsibility that we can afford to ditch when the weather's bad. They are family, all of them. So we take care of our own. Fix yourself up!" Jessica scolded, walking off to another end of the dark corner they both stood in, her words echoing in the dimly lit space.
