“OH MY GOD… WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?”
The triplets wandered until the city swallowed their confidence. Cars rushed by. Adults passed without looking.
Then Ariel appeared with grocery bags, her face draining of color.
“Oh my God—what are you three doing out here alone?”
She dropped to her knees.
“Baby, where’s your daddy?”
One wrapped his arms around her neck. “We came to find you.”
Another sniffed. “Daddy needs you.”
The smallest clutched her shirt. “We got lost.”
Ariel held all three, shaking. “Y’all could’ve been hurt. Don’t ever do this again, you hear me?”
All three whispered together, “Yes, ma’am.”
