I ll mention it to Tom when I have a chance. Meanwhile, there were plenty of other things to think about. That Martian project, for example, she thought as she finished her sandwich. She got up to go into the kitchen and get rid of the plate. Now that s going to be a whole lot of fun From outside the house came a splash and hiss as someone drove through the puddle that always collected at the end of the driveway in rainy weather. Nita glanced out the kitchen window and saw the car coming up the driveway. Daddy s a little early, she thought. It must have been quiet in the store this afternoon. But where is Dairine I thought she d be back by now… Nita ran some cold water from the tap into a measuring cup, filled up the water reservoir of the coffee-maker by the sink, put one of the premeasured coffee filters her dad favored into the top of the machine, and hit the ON switch. The coffeemaker started making the usual wheeze-and-gurgle noises. Outside, the car door slammed; a few moments later, shaking the rain out of his hair, Nita s dad came in a tall man, silver-haired, big-shouldered, and getting a little thick around the waist; he d been putting on a little weight these past few months. He was splattered with rain about the shoulders, and he was carrying a long paper package in his arms. Hi, sweetie. Hi, Daddy. Nita sniffed the air. Mums she said. She recognized that slightly musty scent before she saw the rust-and gold-colored flowers sticking out of the wide end of the package. Her dad nodded. We had a few left over this afternoon …No point leaving them in the store. I ll find a vase for them. He put the flowers down on the drain board, then peered into the sink. Good lord, what s that Lettuce, Nita said. Previously. I see what you mean, Nita s dad said. Well, that s my fault. I meant to make some salad last weekend, but it never happened. That shouldn t have gone bad so fast, though… You have to put the vegetables in the crisper, Daddy. It s too dry in the main part of the fridge, and probably too cold.