"Isn't that why you sent him that way, so I could make five dollars?" asked Dad, a twinkle in his eye.
"No, it isn't," said Mother. "But, come to think of it, it is a good idea, isn't it?"
"If I didn't know you," said Dad, "I'd say you meant that. You aren't usually a kidder, Mother. What's got into you?"
"Maybe it's Joe," said Mother. "He appreciates kidding, don't you, Joe?"
"Sometimes," said Joe, looking at her sharply. There was no twinkle in her eye. "But I didn't know you could do it with such a straight face?"
"Don't see why not," she said. She turned back to the sink. "Do you kids want some ice cream in your melons?"
"In the morning, for breakfast?" asked Pearl.
"Dad will eat ice cream any time," she said, "and as long as he'll be having some, we might as well all do the same. These melons are delicious that way, and who cares what time of day it is?"
"I want some melon with ice cream in it, too!"