If it weren’t for a whim, they would have been in the city when the soldiers came.

“If you three are going to roughhouse, you’ll do so in the field.”

The eldest looked put out, but the two younger boys looked ecstatic. Their sister smoothed out her vest. “We’ll behave, won’t-”

“Field! Field!” The boys ran outside.

She gave me a look and made up my mind. I needed a moment to myself. “Watch your brothers.

Little would I know that decision saved all three of them.