"That's not entirely true," Karla replied, unruffled. "They spent plenty of time yelling at other children and occasionally just yelling. In short, my children acted like children. I see nothing wrong with that."

She dropped her jocular tone. "Considering in exactly half those futures I am somehow gravely ill and an invalid, and several of them also speak of war that has happened or is imminent...well, I'm glad to see them acting as children. Fearless, boisterous children."