When neither Tom nor Max moved a muscle, Hana turned and cleared her throat loudly. "Come on." She paused. "I promise I'll be nice." Another pause. "Please."
Max looked at Tom, as surprised as if he'd just seen an extra arm bloom from Hana's shoulder. Tom shrugged.
"Now!" Hana yelled.
Max and Tom jumped from the table, stumbling over each other as they followed her up the stairs.
~
Hana picked up the white little ball that had the message and started rummaging through it until it opened. A small object fell out of it and clinked when it hit the carpet. Max reached it first, holding the odd thing up for everyone to see.
"What is it?" he whispered as he studied it.