Laughter rang out frequently from the first-floor living room.
Aunt Mary leaned against the doorway of the second-floor kitchen and said to Kallen with some helplessness, "Your uncle and that friend of yours, Neo, really get along well now."
"He gets along well with anyone."
"True. Your uncle can make friends with anyone."
Kallen smiled faintly. He had meant Neo, but he did not explain, instead placing five servings of white fungus soup on a tray.
Dinner was over, and it was time for dessert.
"Aunt Mary, sorry for the trouble, but could you serve out what's in the pot? I'll take these to Grandpa first."
"Oh, all right."
"Hahahaha! Yes, yes, exactly!"
"That's what I thought too! Hahahaha!"
Uncle Mason and Neo's laughter rose from downstairs again. His uncle was probably drunk. Neo was not, but he was enjoying the drinks too.
Mary picked up a ladle and said, "That friend of yours seems to be planning to stay with us. He asked me to arrange a room for him in the basement. How could we put a guest in the basement? I was thinking of having him share with Lunt."
"He's staying here?" Kallen was a little surprised.
"He didn't tell you?"
"No, but let him do as he likes. Let him stay in the basement. He won't be scared. Don't put him with Lunt. He'll be a bad influence."
Lunt was at an age when he had more energy than he knew what to do with. Meeting Neo at that age would ruin his whole life.
"Would that really be all right?" Aunt Mary hesitated.
Although the house was large and had plenty of rooms, there were also many people living in it. There really were no spare guest rooms. Even Miss Molly went back to her