BELLA
hey dad. will you play ogre with M and me? please? please? please?

TROY
you know, i'm going to say no tonight girls.

BELLA & NEIGHBOR GIRL
ahhhh! why not?

TROY
i'm exhausted.

NEIGHBOR GIRL (exaggeratedly)
why are you sooooo exhausted?

TROY
because i just taught two classes and i'm completely spent because of it.

NEIGHBOR GIRL
what did you teach them? how to put gel in their hair.

(with this, the girls dejectedly turned and flitted out of the room.)

TROY (turning to marty)
damn. that child just schooled me. like big-time.

MARTY (without even looking away from her book)
that's the difference between a seven and nine year old.

TROY (after a longish, reflective pause)
that's a scary-ass difference.