"Sweetie, if you don't play with the Lego anymore, then please put it away," Laura said to her four-year-old son.

Max didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about this suggestion and grimaced. His two-year-old sister ran around in the room and laughed.

"Mom, I'll clean up in a minute," Max tried to convince her desperately.

His mother shook her head. "No, Max, now and not later or Nina will put it in her mouth again and she might choke. You don't want that, do you?"

"I want to play hide and seek, please," Max pouted.

"After you clean up, not before," she replied in a firm voice.

Max gave a long drawn out Ohhhh; Nina, on the other hand, understood nothing of this conversation and just laughed happily, revealing a row of small, white baby teeth.

"But I want to play now," Max shouted, vehemently refusing to budge from his position.

"No," Laura said and resolutely raising her index finger.

"First you clean up your room and there will be no discussion about that. You clean up your room and I'll clean up the living room in the meantime."

Sullenly Max sat down on the carpeted floor, gathered up the colorful Lego bricks and threw them listlessly into the toy box. Nina did the same and also grabbed the Lego and threw them into the box.

His mother smiled with satisfaction. "Look Max, your little sister is even helping you with this. Make sure she doesn't put any Lego pieces in her mouth. I'll be in the living room and when you're done, we'll play hide and seek," she said and left the room.

...

Max and Nina had soon everything cleaned up quickly. Then Max had an great idea. "Come I'll hide you and Mama must find you," he suggested, grabbing Nina by the little hand and pulling her behind him. The little sister was happy about the attention of her big brother and ran along with a big smile.

...

"Mama," Max said, tugging at her blouse, "Nina has been hiding. You have to find her."

"Did you clean your room?" she inquired.

"Yessss, Mom," Max replied, bored.

"O.K. but first I have to turn on the washing machine."

Max and his mother went into the bathroom. She pushed the washing machine door shut and turned the knob. With a whooshing sound, the machine started. Max was still grinning as they both left the bathroom looking for Nina.

"Where's the little mouse?" she called with feigned curiosity; but after a few minutes of fruitless searching, she turned anxiously to Max, "Where's your sister?"

"I hid her," Max replied, pleased that he had found a great hiding place for his little sister.

"Where is she? I give up," the mother conceded defeat. Max then grabbed his mother's hand and pulled her into the bathroom with him.

"She's spinning," Max exclaimed, pointing to the washing machine.

The mother saw the washing drum turn and then stop. Between the clothes, she caught sight of a small, pale child's hand.

... ... ...