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\begin{quote}
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Motes! Tell us something fun about being little!
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\subsection*{And We Are The Motes In The Stage-Lights}

Soooometimes, it is kind of fun to get in trouble?? Even if it takes a little bit of negotiation beforehand.

Take for instance one time when A Finger Pointing made a chocolate cake, very rich, lots of frosting! There was supposed to be a party later in the day, and the cake was baked and sat on the counter, so that it would be all ready to go.

So of course, I snuck in and cut myself a tiiiiny slice --- only like a tenth of the cake! --- and ate it right there in the kitchen as quickly as I could, mostly just with my fingers.

Not thirty seconds after I got the plate all cleaned up, even in the action of putting it away, she walked into the kitchen and caught me, still with chocolate on my muzzle.

``Motes!''

``I--''

``No, no,'' she said, arms akimbo. ``I am pretty sure you do not actually need to say anything. I am pretty sure that look on your face, chocolate and all, says all I need to hear.''

I wilted, ears pinned back, and nodded, ashamed.

``You know, we were going to have a surprise party, even. No one is here yet, but imagine what will happen when they see the cake with a slice already taken out of it.''

``But we can just--''

``We can just let them all know precisely what happened, yes?''

``But Maaa\ldots{}''

``But nothing,'' she said haughtily. ``Come, bring the cake out. It is just a few of us here now, but they might as well see.''

There were indeed a few people --- and to be clear, all of them in on it --- and so I set the cake down on the table, prepared to make my speech, my little admission. Gasps all around.

``Now, I do not think Dot needs to say anything about what has just happened.''

``I mean, I--''

``No no, I think what would do much better than an apology would be to show just how much you like cake. After all, it \emph{is} your birthday, yes?''

I looked up at her quizzically.

``Well? Go ahead! You were apparently hungry enough to sneak a slice early. Have at it, my dear!'' She grinned wickedly. ``I expect the plate clean as a whistle.''

So \emph{that} was to be my punishment. I sat before those few --- Ma and Bee, Slow Hours, Dry Grass, even my friend Alexei! --- and ate the whoooole cake. It was agony. It was too rich, too sweet, and Alexei started to cry partway through. So embarrassing\ldots{}

Of course, then I hugged everyone, willed away the too-full feeling, and the rest of the guests started up for the party to begin in earnest.

Cake and all\textasciitilde{}
