text: [Themes: Slice of life, Humor, child protagonist]
  
  > Go down
  (tearing yourself away from the Cheerios)
  You are all strapped into your high chair so you are going nowhere.
  
  Cassie rocks hard in her seat, maybe she thinks she can tip over to get to the Cheerios.
  
  Finally all of this feeding is over and the Cheerios get put away and everyone gets wiped up with baby wipes before getting dumped back in the living room.
  
  This is the middle of the living room, it is all big and vast. This is where everybody plays because it is so big. But when you get bored there is a bunch of other stuff you can go to like the TV to the east and the loveseat to the west and the couch to the south and the gliding rocking chair to the north.
  
  Part of your playpen is here, there is more of it to the northeast.
  
  You can also see a tall plastic block here.
  
  > examine the block
  It is blue and it is about as wide as you are and tall as your head is high when you are pulled up.
  
  > Go northeast
  You are east of the gliding rocking chair that is fun to ride on and north of the big TV that Sesame Street comes from. On the wall is a big bookcase full of chewy books. There is a way into the kitchen to the north but one of those baby gates is there, that is no fair.
  
  Part of your playpen is here, there is more of it to the southwest.
  
  You can also see a short plastic block, a little doll, a teeny squeezy book, a teething ring, and a plastic cup here.
  
  Zoe has hold of a soft foam block loosely.
  
  > look at medium block
  It is green and it is about as wide as you are and as tall as your head is high when you are sitting down. It is by the south end of the loveseat to the west.
  
  Cassie crawls in from the southwest.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly, boy is he angry.
  
  > go west
  This is the south end of the loveseat, there is more loveseat to the north and a big play area to the east and to the south is the couch that is bigger than the loveseat.
  
  You can see a medium plastic block and a rattly car here.
  
  Zoe has her eye on you.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly.
  
  > go southwest
  The couch is very long and this is the west part of it. There is a loveseat to the north and more couch to the east.
  
  You can see Parry or at least his legs over by the couch.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is right next to the couch.
  
  You can just see some paper beyond the footstool.
  
  > pull up on the footstool
  You pull up on the footstool and get to your feet and you are all steady except for the occasional sway.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly.
  
  > Go south
  (first letting go of the footstool and plopping on the ground)
  You so can't go that way.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly. Then Parry says, "Farina, I'm going to borrow your swing and see if that calms Watson down." He stands up and strides off and you can see him come back with a baby swing. He goes over by the TV with it and then there is the picking up of Watson and the strapping in of Watson and the swinging of Watson, I hope that makes Watson feel better.
  
  > go west
  There is just enough space for you to slide between the footstool and the couch so you cruise along the couch past the footstool and into the tiny space back there[28].
  
  There is not a lot of room back here behind the footstool, you fill most of the space between the footstool and the couch and this wood cabinet that is acting like an endtable.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is all close to you.
  
  There is this tiny folded piece of paper shoved under the cabinet.
  
  > sit
  You sit down on your diaper and it is good that it is all padded and stuff.
  
  You suddenly hear this heavy thud which must be Cassie leaping off the tall plastic block. Cassie shrieks, it is the loudest you have ever heard her be. I guess she is not the super-tough baby she thinks she is[29]. Anyway Lisa leaps up and runs to Cassie and Parry leaves his tumbler and runs to Cassie too, they scatter the plastic blocks around the room in their haste. "Baby, baby, it's okay, shh," you hear Lisa saying and then Parry is saying, "I think she's okay, she's just scared. Her pupillary response is just fine."
  
  > Note 29
  Take that, overactive baby.
  
  > take the paper
  You tug and tug and tug and then you see Parry's hand reach over you and remove the tumbler from on top of the cabinet where it was and pop! the folded paper comes out from under the wood cabinet and the cabinet goes rock rock rock. It is a good thing Parry was thirsty right now.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly.
  
  Lisa is still saying "It'll be okay, Cassie, it'll be okay" and Parry is saying "Breathe, Cassie, breathe" and Cassie is now taking big hiccuping breaths.
  
  > examine paper
  It is a tiny folded piece of paper.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly.
  
  > Unfold paper
  It is really folded and creased from being under the cabinet and your fingers are too stubby.
  
  Cassie finally is all better and is laughing some and Lisa says, "Thanks, Parry, I appreciate your help" and Parry says, "No problem." And they go back to their seats.
  
  > drop the paper
  Dropped.
  
  You hear Watson cry loudly, boy is he angry. Then Parry says, "Farina, I'm going to borrow your swing and see if that calms Watson down." He goes clomping around and you can see him come back with a baby swing. He goes over by the TV with it and then there is the picking up of Watson and the strapping in of Watson and the swinging of Watson, I hope that makes Watson feel better.
  
  > go east
  Really there is only one way out of this teeny space and that is to pull up and cruise on out to the east.
  
  Becca says to the mom, "Nice job on those mimosas."
  
  "Thanks," the mom replies.
  
  > pull up on the stool
  You pull up on the footstool and get to your feet and you are all steady except for the occasional sway.
  
  Lisa says, "It's nice, they help me calm down."
  
  > go east
  You slide back out into the big wild world.
  
  The couch is very long and this is the west part of it. There is a loveseat to the north and more couch to the east.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is all close to you.
  
  There is Parry on the couch.
  
  You can also see a heavy tumbler and a short plastic block here.
  
  Cassie is looking around for mischief to make.
  
  "And they're good for you," Marion says.
  
  > Drool on tumbler
  You move towards the tumbler but Parry picks it up and says "No, that's my glass." And then the mom chimes in, "Hey, kiddo, no mouth! No mouth." Once you back off Parry puts the tumbler back down.
  
  "I'm not sure they're that good for you," Parry says.
  
  A shadow falls on you, it is Parry standing up. He goes over to where the TV is and the swing is and he does something that probably involves Watson before he sits down again.
  
  > Drool on tumbler
  You move towards the tumbler but Parry picks it up and says "No, that's my glass." Once you back off Parry puts the tumbler back down.
  
  Marion says, "They do have orange juice in them."
  
  Cassie climbs onto the short plastic block.
  
  > go to the east
  (first letting go of the footstool and plopping on the ground)
  
  Here is where the middle of the couch is. If you want to play you should totally go north to the middle of the room where there is a lot of space. There is more couch to the east and west.
  
  Those are the mom's legs there by the couch.
  
  Jemison is all staring at the velcro jangly balls. The velcro jangly balls hang off of him.
  
  "Besides, if it tastes good, it's good for you," says Becca.
  
  > take the balls
  You tug on the velcro jangly balls and you tug some more and they come off of Jemison with a rrrrrrrip sound and Jemison looks at you with sad sad eyes and then stares at the velcro balls[30].
  
  > Note 30
  I get tired of games where you're introduced to a certain game mechanic that you then never use again, so I deliberately re-used mechanics like Jemison's fascination with stuff throughout.
  
  > go to the north-west
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  This is the south end of the loveseat, there is more loveseat to the north and a big play area to the east and to the south is the couch that is bigger than the loveseat.
  
  You can see a rattly car here.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > Go north
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  This is the part of the loveseat that is to the north. It goes on to the south and you could totally slip around the end of the loveseat to the west. There is the rocking chair to the east as well, that is always fun.
  
  Hey, that baby gate that blocked your way west is all gone.
  
  Lisa's legs are hanging off of the loveseat.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the southeast and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > Go west
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  Back here is the back of the loveseat casting a shadow over you, it is kind of cold. You can go south and east. You could go west but there is totally a door in your way. You could go north in the hall but there is a baby gate in the way there.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the east and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > Go south
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  The cabinet that is also like an endtable for the loveseat and the couch is here. You can go north back to behind the loveseat.
  
  Way up on top of the cabinet you see a paper coaster.
  
  You can't believe the mom just shoved your favorite toy in that cabinet so you couldn't have it.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the north and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > open the cabinet
  You go for the door but then Jemison is in front of you reaching for the jangly balls and they go jingle jangle when you pull away from him.
  
  Jemison stares at you and waits for you to drop the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go to the north
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  Back here is the back of the loveseat casting a shadow over you, it is kind of cold. You can go south and east. You could go west but there is totally a door in your way. You could go north in the hall but there is a baby gate in the way there.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > Go east
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  This is the part of the loveseat that is to the north. It goes on to the south and you could totally slip around the end of the loveseat to the west. There is the rocking chair to the east as well, that is always fun.
  
  Lisa's legs are hanging off of the loveseat.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go to the southeast
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  This is the middle of the living room, it is all big and vast. This is where everybody plays because it is so big. But when you get bored there is a bunch of other stuff you can go to like the TV to the east and the loveseat to the west and the couch to the south and the gliding rocking chair to the north.
  
  Part of your playpen is here, there is more of it to the northeast.
  
  You can also see a tall plastic block here.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  Jemison cannot look away from you and the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go south
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  Here is where the middle of the couch is. If you want to play you should totally go north to the middle of the room where there is a lot of space. There is more couch to the east and west.
  
  Those are the mom's legs there by the couch.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > look at the tumbler
  The tumbler is thick glass and it holds water, it is left over from Parry snacking. I guess Parry took it off the cabinet to take a drink from it and then forgot to put it back on the cabinet. It is by the west end of the couch to the west.
  
  > go west
  You jangle your way out of the room.
  
  The couch is very long and this is the west part of it. There is a loveseat to the north and more couch to the east.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is right next to the couch.
  
  You can see Parry or at least his legs over by the couch.
  
  You can also see a heavy tumbler and a short plastic block (on which is Cassie) here.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  Cassie climbs down off of the short plastic block.
  
  > Wear the balls
  You put on the velcro jangly balls.
  
  Marion asks Parry, "How is Shari doing?"
  
  > Drool on tumbler
  You move towards the tumbler but Parry picks it up and says "No, that's my glass." Once you back off Parry puts the tumbler back down.
  
  "Oh, my God, Parry and Shari!" laughs Becca. "I hadn't realized that--that's just too precious."
  
  Cassie climbs onto the short plastic block.
  
  Jemison cannot look away from you and the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go to the north-east
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  This is the middle of the living room, it is all big and vast. This is where everybody plays because it is so big. But when you get bored there is a bunch of other stuff you can go to like the TV to the east and the loveseat to the west and the couch to the south and the gliding rocking chair to the north.
  
  Part of your playpen is here, there is more of it to the northeast.
  
  You can also see a tall plastic block here.
  
  Zoe has her eye on you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  "She's feeling better," Parry says. "She's keeping food down now, at least."
  
  > Go south
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  Here is where the middle of the couch is. If you want to play you should totally go north to the middle of the room where there is a lot of space. There is more couch to the east and west.
  
  Those are the mom's legs there by the couch.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  Marion asks, "Oh, are you two expecting?"
  
  > look at the medium
  It is green and it is about as wide as you are and as tall as your head is high when you are sitting down. It is by the east end of the couch to the east.
  
  Parry is all, "Oh, no, no, no. No. It's just the flu."
  
  Jemison reaches out and pokes at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go to the east
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  You are where the couch ends here at the east, at least where it ends at one end. North is the TV and west is more couch.
  
  The legs of Marion dangle from the sofa.
  
  You can also see a medium plastic block here.
  
  Watson sits all sad and dumpy on the floor.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  Becca goes, "You two should give Watson a brother. Toughen him up."
  
  > examine small
  It is red and it is about as wide as you are and as tall as your head is high when you are crawling around. It is by the west end of the couch to the southwest.
  
  Zoe stalks off to the northwest.
  
  > Go southwest
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  The couch is very long and this is the west part of it. There is a loveseat to the north and more couch to the east.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is right next to the couch.
  
  You can see Parry or at least his legs over by the couch.
  
  You can also see a heavy tumbler and a short plastic block here.
  
  Cassie is looking around for mischief to make.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > Go southwest
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  The couch is very long and this is the west part of it. There is a loveseat to the north and more couch to the east.
  
  There is a red footstool, it is right next to the couch.
  
  You can see Parry or at least his legs over by the couch.
  
  You can also see a heavy tumbler here.
  
  Cassie is looking around for mischief to make.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  Cassie falls forward onto her hands and then she is crawling off to the northeast.
  
  > examine Cassie
  That is Cassie Sandoval, she is wearing a white dress that is all bright against her dark skin and her hair is captured with pink clips. Her arms are scraped up and she has some bruises on her legs.
  
  You suddenly hear this heavy thud which must be Cassie leaping off the tall plastic block. Cassie shrieks, it is the loudest you have ever heard her be. I guess she is not the super-tough baby she thinks she is. Anyway Lisa leaps up and runs to Cassie and Parry leaves his tumbler and runs to Cassie too, they scatter the plastic blocks around the room in their haste. "Baby, baby, it's okay, shh," you hear Lisa saying and then Parry is saying, "I think she's okay, she's just scared. Her pupillary response is just fine."
  
  > Drool on tumbler
  You put your mouth on the edge of the glass but there is no way you will tip it enough to drink but at least you slobbered all over it.
  
  Lisa is still saying "It'll be okay, Cassie, it'll be okay" and Parry is saying "Breathe, Cassie, breathe" and Cassie is now taking big hiccuping breaths.
  
  > go north
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  This is the south end of the loveseat, there is more loveseat to the north and a big play area to the east and to the south is the couch that is bigger than the loveseat.
  
  You can see a rattly car here.
  
  Watson sits all sad and dumpy on the floor.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > Go north
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  This is the part of the loveseat that is to the north. It goes on to the south and you could totally slip around the end of the loveseat to the west. There is the rocking chair to the east as well, that is always fun.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the east and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  Zoe stalks off to the west.
  
  Cassie finally is all better and is laughing some and Lisa says, "Thanks, Parry, I appreciate your help" and Parry says, "No problem." And they go back to their seats. Then you hear Parry say "Ugh! My tumbler's damp!" and everyone laughs at Parry. Becca says, "That's why you don't put things where the kids can chew all over them!" And Parry sighs and you hear the wooden thunk of Parry putting the tumbler way up on the wood cabinet in the corner between the couch and the loveseat and definitely out of your reach[31].
  
  > Note 31
  Poor Parry. It's like he's never been around babies before[32]. He's fallen prey to the common misconception that, if you keep pushing babies away from something they're interested in, eventually they'll grow bored and wander off.
  
  > Note 32
  More likely, it's that Watson's so low-key that Parry is lax in his baby defense.
  
  > go west
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  Back here is the back of the loveseat casting a shadow over you, it is kind of cold. You can go south and east. You could go west but there is totally a door in your way. You could go north in the hall but there is a baby gate in the way there.
  
  Zoe has her eye on you (not literally).
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > take the balls
  You tug on the velcro jangly balls and you tug some more and they come off of yourself with a rrrrrrrip sound.
  
  > Go south
  You are all jangle jangle jangle as you leave.
  
  The cabinet that is also like an endtable for the loveseat and the couch is here. You can go north back to behind the loveseat.
  
  Way up on top of the cabinet you see a heavy tumbler.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the north and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you and settles close by you and looks pointedly at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  "Hey, I just realized," Becca says all loud, "Your name is Parry Mason!"
  
  > put the balls on Zoe
  You shove the velcro end of the balls against Zoe high on her back where she can't reach and the velcro sticks!
  
  "Um, yes?" Parry says.
  
  > open cabinet
  You reach for the door and Zoe moves to stop you but Jemison gets in front of Zoe and reaches for the jangly balls[33]. While she is all dealing with him you tug on the door and the baby lock catches, making the entire cabinet rock towards you. And as it does so the tumbler tumbles, hitting the baby lock and pushing it down before springing off of the lock and over your head. The cabinet door pops open and your favorite toy rolls out and into your lap!
  
  Then you hear the crying. When you turn you see a very wet Zoe and a very wet Jemison and the empty tumbler is next to them. Jemison takes it like a toddler, he is fine, but Zoe is angry like a wet evil cat. Heads pop over the top of the loveseat staring down at all of you, one of them is Parry and he looks really embarassed[34].
  
  You're probably not going to get to keep the toy.
  Chapter 3
  Picturetime
  
  It is like you are psychic because you don't get to keep the toy. The mom storms around the couch and scoops you up and grabs the toy. "It's okay, Farina," Marion says, "accidents happen. Zoe and Jemison don't look hurt, just wet." Several of the other parents are glaring at Parry, he looks all sheepish.
  
  "Since the kids have to be changed anyway, let's take pictures!" Marion says.
  
  "Sure, works for me," Lisa says, and just like that everyone is getting their onesies taken off and instead they are being put in these Halloween costumes, and that would be okay except your squid costume is totally restrictive[35].
  
  You don't get up on the couch all that much but now you are up here with everyone else so you can have your pictures taken.
  
  Becca is all ordering everyone around.
  
  Parry is standing back a bit watching the picturetime commotion.
  
  Lisa is staying near Cassie in case she makes a break for it.
  
  Marion is calm in the face of all this chaos.
  
  The mom is trying to get all of you together for a picture.
  
  Jemison and Watson and Cassie and Zoe are here. Jemison is all dressed like a bumblebee. Watson is gloomy in his sad homemade bat costume. Cassie is dressed in this pumpkin costume, it is adorable. Zoe hunkers in a ladybug costume like a wolf in cute sheep's clothing.
  
  > Note 33
  It takes a baby to stop a baby, clearly. Since Zoe has upped the ante by blocking your actions directly, you get to stop her by using Jemison.
  
  > Note 34
  Poor Parry. He's responsible for you getting the toy once again.
  
  > Note 35
  So much of baby life consists of being dressed by your parents in uncomfortable or embarrassing outfits.
  
  > examine the squid
  It is like a squid if a squid was all plush and powder blue and didn't have any suckers. You are wearing it and its tentacles cover your arms and hands.
  
  The mom says, "That's an interesting costume Watson's wearing." Watson must know he's being talked about, he ducks his head and looks sad.
  
  > examine the bumblebee
  The tiny antennas and tiny wings totally make the costume.
  
  "We made it ourselves," Parry replies.
  
  > look at the pumpkin
  Round but not so round that Cassie cannot zoom around in it.
  
  Becca laughs all loud. "It's not very cheerful--whoops, hold on there Jemison." Zoe must've pushed Jemison because he starts to topple sideways before Becca rescues him.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  Parry is all huffy, "We wanted something different from the usual."