text: [Themes: Humor, Slice of life, cute]
  
  > Go downward
  You get off the medium plastic block.
  
  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 short plastic block, a medium plastic block, and a tall plastic block here.
  
  > 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 little doll, a much-loved kangaroo, a plastic cup, and a squishy ball here.
  
  Cassie has hold of the soft foam block and keeps fiddling with it.
  
  Cassie tosses the soft foam block up and it falls.
  
  > Love the kangaroo
  Nothing obvious happens.
  
  Cassie crawls off to the southwest.
  
  > take the foam block
  You pick it up.
  
  > Go southwest
  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 short plastic block (on which is Cassie), a medium plastic block, and a tall plastic block here.
  
  Cassie climbs onto the medium plastic block.
  
  > put the foam in the mouth
  You shove the soft foam block in your mouth and start chewing on it and that leaves your hands free.
  
  Cassie climbs onto the tall plastic block.
  
  > Go up
  You so can't go that way.
  
  Cassie giggles and leaps off of the tall block and that would be okay if she didn't then smack her face into the floor. 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 also checking Cassie over and shining this little flashlight in her eyes and saying, "I think she's okay, she's just scared. Her pupillary response is just fine."
  
  > look at the tall 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.
  
  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 the 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 over by the north end of the loveseat to the northwest.
  
  > go to the north-west
  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.
  
  You can see a medium plastic block here.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the south and settles near you.
  
  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.
  
  > go west
  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.
  
  > look at the door
  It is big and wood and goes outside.
  
  > Go south
  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.
  
  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.
  
  > look at the cabinet
  The cabinet is wood like a lot of other furniture in here because the parents like wood or something, maybe they are tree huggers but only if the trees have been cut down and planed and shaped. Anyway it has this door in it which is closed and on top is a heavy tumbler.
  
  > open the cabinet
  You tug on the door but it has one of those baby lock things on it that you have to push down to open the door and you cannot reach it at all so the door opens a tiny bit and you can barely see your favorite toy in there.
  
  Then Zoe falls forward and pushes against the door and it slams shut.
  
  Lisa looks over the couch at you and at Zoe and she says, "Awwww, they're playing together! How cute!"
  
  "Cassie is really pulling up well," the mom tells Lisa.
  
  > examine the tumbler
  The tumbler is thick glass and it holds water, it is left over from Parry snacking. It is way up on the cabinet.
  
  "We've been working on pulling up," the mom says, boy is she going to be surprised by all the practice you're getting today.
  
  > look at the lock
  You cannot really see the baby lock when the cabinet door is closed but you know what it looks like, it is a plastic latch way up at the top of the door. If you push down on the plastic latch then you can open the door which is a laugh because you are way short and it is way high.
  
  Lisa says, "You're just annoyed that Jemison just sits there--" but Becca keeps on talking, "So your kid pulls up or cruises or whatever. Big deal!"
  
  > go to the north
  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.
  
  Parry says, "Kids develop at different speeds. It's not as if I'll still be helping Watson pull up when he goes to college."
  
  > Go east
  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.
  
  You can also see a medium plastic block here.
  
  "As long as Zoe doesn't fall too far behind, I'm not worried," Marion says.
  
  > go south
  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.
  
  "Yeah," Parry says. "It won't bother me if Watson is like many boys and is slower to talk."
  
  > go south
  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 also see a short plastic block and a rattly car here.
  
  Cassie is looking around for mischief to make.
  
  You can just see some paper beyond the footstool.
  
  "As long as Cassie is ahead of where she's supposed to be, I won't worry either," Lisa says.
  
  > examine paper
  It is a tiny folded piece of paper. It is tucked behind the footstool.
  
  Cassie climbs onto the short plastic block.
  
  > take paper
  The folded piece of paper is tucked behind the footstool and so is way too far away for that.
  
  Cassie climbs down off of the short plastic block.
  
  > look at the footstool
  The footstool is up in a corner, there is only a small gap between it and the couch with more couch past it to the west. Beyond it past the gap between the footstool and the couch you can see this little piece
  
  > Go east
  of paper.
  
  Cassie climbs onto the short plastic block.
  
  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.
  
  Jemison reaches around to the jangly balls and pats at them and they go jangle jangle jangle.
  
  > 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.
  
  Watson wanders in from the north.
  
  > Wear the balls
  You put on the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > Go west
  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.
  
  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 also see a short plastic block and a rattly car here.
  
  Cassie is looking around for mischief to make.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > Go west
  Crawling like you are there is no way you will fit in the narrow gap between the footstool and the couch, it is because you have the shoulders of a very small linebacker.
  
  Jemison cannot look away from you and the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > pull up
  You'll have to say what you want to pull up on.
  
  > 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.
  
  Jemison cannot look away from you and the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go to the 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.
  
  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.
  
  > look at the paper
  It is a tiny folded piece of paper that is all shoved under the wood cabinet.
  
  > get 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.
  
  Becca is still all sipping on a mimosa and she says, "Hey, hospitals should give us mimosas to go with our epidurals."
  
  > read the paper
  It must be nice to read, the mom and the dad are always doing it, but you do not yet know how.
  
  The mom laughs, "Becca, you didn't even get an epidural."
  
  > examine paper
  It is a tiny folded piece of paper.
  
  Becca just smiles while Lisa says, "I still can't believe you did that."
  
  > Unfold paper
  It is really folded and creased from being under the cabinet and your fingers are too stubby.
  
  "It wasn't too hard," Becca says. "I just screamed a lot and hit Kurt when the pain got really bad."
  
  > Unfold paper
  It is really folded and creased from being under the cabinet and your fingers are too stubby.
  
  "The trick," Marion says, "is to relax into the pain instead of anticipating it and tensing up."
  
  > put the paper in the mouth
  You would but your mouth is all full.
  
  Lisa sighs and says, "My epidural stopped working."
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying:
  a folded piece of paper
  some velcro jangly balls (being worn)
  a soft foam block (being chewed)
  
  "What?" Becca asks. "I hadn't heard that."
  
  > pull up on the stool
  You have stuff in your hands and you will need those hands to pull yourself up so drop something I guess.
  
  "Yeah", says Lisa, "I got my epidural and then they turned me on my side. The next thing I knew I was feeling everything, and I mean everything, on my left side."
  
  > Rock
  You are already totally rocking.
  
  Parry pipes up, "You know, it's a shame that the anesthesiologist makes you hunch forward so he can slide the needle into your spine just when contractions make you want to flatten out."
  
  > Go north
  Really there is only one way out of this teeny space and that is to pull up and cruise on out to the east.
  
  > pull up
  You'll have to say what you want to pull up on.
  
  > drop the paper
  steady except for the occasional sway.
  
  You have short arms, you can't reach the folded piece of paper from up here.
  
  > 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, a short plastic block, and a rattly car here.
  
  Cassie and Watson and Jemison are here. Cassie is looking around for mischief to make. Watson sits all sad and dumpy on the floor. Jemison is all staring at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the east and settles near you.
  
  Jemison cannot look away from you and the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > go north
  (first letting go of the footstool and plopping on the ground)
  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.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the south and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > 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.
  
  Lisa's legs are hanging off of the loveseat.
  
  You can also see a medium plastic block here.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the south and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > Go west
  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.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the east and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  > 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.
  
  Zoe stalks in from the north and settles near you.
  
  Jemison comes in after you.
  
  "You've all picked out preschools, right?" Becca says.
  
  > Rock
  You are already totally rocking.
  
  "Oh my God, it's almost too late!" Lisa says, and Becca chimes in, "Competition for the good preschools is fierce."
  
  > pull up on the cabinet
  You can't pull up on the wood cabinet to stand.
  
  Parry says, "We've looked at some, but really we're just after somewhere where Watson can have more socialization."
  
  Jemison reaches out and pokes at the velcro jangly balls.
  
  > remove the balls
  The bells go rrrrrrrrip and pull off.
  
  "Cassie is in preschool one day a week," says Lisa. "I can already tell that she's learning faster because of it."
  
  > give the balls to Jemison
  You give the velcro jangly balls to Jemison and he grabs them out of your hands and sticks them onto his onesie.
  
  Becca agrees, "I'm going to make sure Jemison has three or four legs up educationally."
  
  > pull up on loveseat
  You tug on the door and the baby lock on the door catches and the entire cabinet rocks towards you now that there is no paper under it and your favorite toy rattles around in there. This paper coaster that must have been under the tumbler slides forward like it's about to fall off the cabinet.
  
  Then Zoe shoves the door and the cabinet rocks back making the coaster slide back fully on top of the cabinet and the door closes.
  
  You can totally hear Marion's frown when she says, "I'm not interested in pushing Zoe like that."
  
  The back loveseat is behind the loveseat to the north and so is way too far away for that.
  
  "It's not pushing," Becca sniffs. "It's making sure our kids live up to their potential."
  
  Jemison jiggles the jangly balls and they go jangle jangle jangle.
  
  > 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.
  
  "Still," Marion says, and the conversation kinda peters out.