[Ashrik's space, later in the afternoon]
The bright sunlight spilled across the lawn, warming the front porch where Ashrik sat with a book open in his hands. The pages barely fluttered in the light breeze as his eyes moved across the lines.
Lucille sat a short distance away, legs tucked up on a chair. She balanced a notebook on her knees, the tip of a pen dancing across the page.
Instead of words, she filled the page with circles, crooked stars and exaggerated little figures. She leaned close to her work, tongue slightly caught between her teeth as she concentrated.
As for Dobby and Ponyo, they sprawled on the lawn below without dignity, bellies up to the sun. Their paws twitched occasionally. At times, they let out a contented huff, thumping their tails against the grass.
The atmosphere was so peaceful, as if the chaos of the previous days had gone far away. The birds sang, harmonizing with the steady hum of cicadas hidden among the trees.
