if it quirks..

Glenn made his way straight for the woods.  The tall trees, ample vines, and thick entanglements made it a favorite haunt of the twins.   Once he stepped into the outskirts of the forest, darkness immediately descended, chinks of sunlight patched up the woody floor.  Glenn was wary of the wild tricksters and it fueled his determination to round them up.  So he squared his shoulders and darted his eyes left and right, looking for any sign of motion.  A bush rustled and a poorly stifled giggle escaped from the branches above him…somewhere.  He knew better than to take the rustle for a rabbit and the chitter for a squirrel.

“Lark! Come down!  Wren, show yourself!  I know there are no squirrels or rabbits in this wood because you two probably scared them away!”

Pause and nothing but a slight breeze.

Clapping commenced behind him and mocking whistles.  Right from underneath his sharp senses Lark and Wren had crept up behind him, each donned a smirk.

“A valid observation; absolutely genius!” Wren said.

“Although..it’s not quite an accurate account.  We were simple bowling…” Lark’s eyes glinted.

“…in their house holes,” Wren piped up cheerily.

“And they weren’t in the mood to play today, ” Lark finished with a dramatic sigh.

Glenn rolled his eyes and decided to steer them away instead of wasting his breath chiding monkeys.  So he reached for their elbows, but they were too quick for him.  One moment their bright blue eyes glinted up at him and then they broke free, running at a break-neck speed.  Glenn barreled after them, knowing it was pointless.  Wren and Lark were the best climbers and the swiftest of the group.  They also had great evasion tactics.  Lark grasped the nearest vine and ran up the tree trunk into the canopy.  Wren veered off into the muddy, mossy swamp.  Glenn didn’t even attempt to chase either of them; he headed for the house and the hot spring.  He knew they would meet him there.

Upon entering the yard, Glenn beheld a greeting committee of a mud monster and a demented wood sprite.  Wren was completely bathed in mud from head-to-toe.  His hair was plastered to his scalp where it usually stuck out at odd angles.  He was laughing as the demented wood sprite capered out of reach from his muddy grasp.  Lark sported twigs, leaves, pine needles, and an assortment of gnats glued to her body by tree sap.  They straightened up and looked condescending as Glenn jogged up to them.  “It’s about time you got here,” Wren tapped an invisible wristwatch, some mud sloshed Glenn’s face.  “Tsk, tsk.  We expected a little more punctuality from you,” Lark wagged her finger at him, but swiftly brought it to her armpit to itch.  “I mean, honestly, it’s been ages.  Look at how much dirt I’ve accumulated standing here.  Birds are building nests on Lark!” Wren chided.

Glenn hung his head gasping for breath.  He couldn’t say anything, let alone laugh.  Yvette glided to Lark’s side and took control of the situation.  “Lark, you go first so that the water is not quite as dirty…then, Wren…” but she was cut short by an indignant protest from Wren.  “Wait a minute!  Why can’t we take a bath together?  We have always done it that way.”  Yvette opened her mouth to speak, but Glenn had finally caught his breath and said, “You are too old, too big, and too dirty.  The water only stays warm for a short time.  Don’t argue, just do it.”  Glenn spoke before Wren and Lark could protest further.  The twins exchanged a glance and sighed.  They realized that battling was futile and surrendered to the will of their elders.