Sophie

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Mia stood in the hallway holding her rabbit.

Sophie stood beside her.

Rachel held the page from the printer.

Daniel held the power cord.

The printer sat between them.

Dark.

Silent.

Unplugged.

Daniel looked at the cord in his hand.

Then at the outlet.

Then back at the printer.

His mind kept trying to solve it.

Battery.

Capacitor.

Backup power.

Something.

Anything.

There had to be an explanation.

"Dad?"

Sophie.

Daniel looked at her.

"What?"

"You asked where I saw it."

He stared at her.

M/731.

For a moment he'd forgotten.

He put the power cord on the desk.

"Yeah."

Rachel folded the printed page once.

Then immediately unfolded it.

Daniel noticed.

Neither wanted to damage it.

"Come sit down," Rachel said.

Sophie looked at Daniel.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No."

"Then why did Mom say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'm in trouble."

Rachel sighed.

"You're not in trouble."

Mia raised her hand.

"Am I?"

"No."

"Okay."

She lowered it.

Daniel looked at Rachel.

Rachel looked toward Mia.

Daniel understood.

Not in front of her.

"Mia, can you go finish your pizza?"

"I'm full."

"Then go pick a movie."

"You said no technology."

Daniel stopped.

Mia smiled.

Rachel almost laughed.

"Go get your coloring stuff," Rachel said.

"Why?"

"Mia."

"Okay."

She walked away.

Then stopped.

Turned around.

Looked at the printer.

"Are you going to turn it back on?"

Daniel stared at her.

"It wasn't on."

Mia frowned.

"Yes it was."

"No, sweetheart. It didn't have power."

She looked at the cord on the desk.

Then at Daniel.

"You turned it off."

"I unplugged it."

"Same thing."

"Mia."

She hugged the rabbit tighter.

"You made it mad."

Rachel stepped toward her.

"Nothing is mad."

Mia looked at her mother.

For a moment, she seemed like she was going to argue.

Then she shrugged.

"Okay."

She walked away.

Daniel watched her go.

Rachel waited until she was out of sight.

Then looked at Sophie.

"Living room."