But Pater said "Ulp!"—no more.
"Now, dear," put in Mater quickly. "We must be patient. You know all children go through larval stages."
"When I was a polyp ..." Pater began rustily. He coughed out an accidentally inhaled crustacean, and started over: "No spawn of mine...." Trailing off, he only glared, then roared abruptly, "SPRAT!"
"I won't!" said Junior reflexively and backpaddled into the coral shadows of the reef.
"That wallop," seethed Pater, "wants a good polyping. I mean...." He glowered suspiciously at Mater and the neighbors.
"Dear," soothed Mater, "didn't you notice?"
"Of course, I.... Notice what?"
"What Junior was doing ... carrying a stone. I don't suppose he understands why, just yet, but...."
"A stone? Ah, uh, to be sure, a stone. Why, my dear, do you realize what this means?"