Behavior

"Now children, do be on your best behavior. You know how your uncle gets when you don't act properly."
The three precocious children nodded and nudged each other. Mrs. Berrington knew that this was a fruitless pursuit, but she had to at least try. The most she could do now was damage control.

The last visit had ended in abject disaster, with several hospital visits and more than a few harsh words.
The children were now older, but still much too young to be expected to be perfect angels all the time, and the Barrington's annual visit from their esteemed uncle Weston was the one time a year they were even expected to try. Still, it was a fruitless effort that usually ended with uncle storming out in a huff and the family having to scrape by for another year on their meager earnings.

William, the youngest, was the best behaved. he was now only six, and was beginning to pick up his brother and sister's bad habits. He was still too small to cause any real damage, though.

Elise was the middle, and usually instigated most of the trouble. She was the mastermind between the boys, and her skills at cunning were legendary throughout the city. Thanks to her coaching, the name Barrington was top of the constable's watch list. She took a special kind of pride in it, and would giggle gleefully as the boys took their punishments.

Edgar, the eldest kept to himself until his sister planted ideas within his head, and being a bit dull, he would always follow along with her wishes. He was less than the sharpest knife, but he knew how to cause some damage when he put his lack of a mind to it.

So, the visit was scheduled, and soon, Uncle would be here. Elise was already prepared, and several traps had been set. Nothing truly injury inducing, but mostly embarrassing. they delighted in the senseless torment of visitors. Their parents had even learned early that even pets were out of the question.

A final glance of warning was the best Mrs. Barrington could muster as she sighed heavily and went to answer the doorbell.
"Uncle Weston! how wonderful to see you! Let me take your coat!"
She offered him a smile, too nervous for his liking.
"Where is that nephew of mine? Out gallivanting at the tavern again?"
The bespectacled walrus of a man entered, taking off his coat and tossing it unceremoniously to the pre-offered arm. He shifted his girth into a too-small chair which creaked as his weight pressed itself upon it, and let out a long, tobacco scented sigh.
"I don't know why I even bother coming into this rathole of a house anymore. You never impress me enough to merit my favor."
He let out a huff and took out an old pipe, tapping the burnt tobacco onto the floor, and refilling it from a pocket pouch, before lighting it and taking a long drag, exhaling the stale smelling smoke which quickly fouled the air.
"So, where are the kids?"