The Obvious Solution

(GAME : FIND THE SHERLOCK REFERENCE)

Sunny had been hearing a lot from her aunt lately – not that Jack had been much talking to anyone in the house, as she seemed to be too irritable to attempt pleasantries. But even if Sunny had not spoken with her aunt, it did not mean she had not heard all that was going on.

Apparently, the mean old Ministry was deciding Jack and Max weren’t good enough parents for her – because that’s what they were. Her mom and dad were back in America – they didn’t need her and, she had learned finally, that she did not need them. Max and Jack fulfilled the roles perfectly. But now the Ministry said she needed more people in the house to help them – Jack needed a husband and Max needed a wife? Sunny didn’t understand.

Besides, she had almost been convinced that Jack and Max were married. Didn’t married people live together? Well, so did Max and Jack. Didn’t married people do boring things like go to work and watch television? So did Max and Jack! And didn’t married people argue and fight and bicker about dumb things? Jack and Max did that enough for ten married people.

Either way, Jack did not seem very happy about this whole deal. Max didn’t complain as much as Jack, but still. Sunny could see Max looking sad when he didn’t think anyone was watching, especially when he thought Jack wasn’t looking. Max and Jack had done so much for her, and she had been relatively unable to show them how much she was happy to be a part of their family. To be fair, she was six. But still, Max and Jack were sort of stupid about some things, and Sunny figured this was one of those things. So she sat down and pondered the situation a good long while – the answer came relatively quickly.

They were in the living room, the television blasting as they slaved over whatever grown up work they always seemed to be busy doing. She walked to the center of the room, reaching back to kick the off button on the contraption, silencing it. “I have something for you guys in the kitchen.” She turned on her heel and stormed into the kitchen, shrieking, “NOW!”

Jack looked up at Max, giving him a look of confusion. It read plainly, Do you know what this is about? She blinked and let out a sigh. “Let’s see what she has for us.” She stood and walked into the kitchen to see Sunny standing on the kitchen table.
“Sunny-“

Sunny pointed at one of two chairs facing the table. “Sit, please, Jack. You will see. It’ll make sense.” She smiled and rested her hand on an easel with a sheet pulled over.

Work had gone crazy over the last few months. Even as far down as the Muggle Relations Department they were feeling the effects of Elijah Krum's maniac laws. Hate mail flooded in to every office, dangerous packages arrived, questions and complaints were called in, and the employees worked frantically to avoid a total Ministry meltdown. For his part, Max was quite annoyed with this turn of events. He really didn't care about the politics of the day (no matter how insane thy were) when there were papers to fill out and meetings to have. A completely un-related crisis was interfering with his work and it drove him crazy.

In search of a quieter work environment, Max had gotten into the habit of bringing office work home with him. Sometimes he cooped up in his room for hours on end but more often he remained in the living room. There he would spread out his papers on the coffee table where they mingled with Jack's as he watched TV in the background. The frequent company of the redhead was a welcome addition, even if she did steal the remote.

Tonight was a night like any other as Jack and Max filed through work and business papers, catching up on whatever couldn't fit into their day. The TV was blaring and the pair were both zoned out of the real world, completely absorbed in their professional lives and forgetting they were at home. Then, suddenly, the TV was switched off and Max looked up for the cause. Sunny stood in front of them and demanded their immediate audience in the kitchen. He turned to Jack, but his look of confusion was mirrored in her face so he shrugged and stood.

His mind still on the sofa with his paperwork, Max made his way into the kitchen where he was confronted by Sunny standing atop the table next to a form covered by a sheet. "What the-?" Max mumbled to himself, staring for a moment and then sitting in the empty chair beside Jack. This strange scene was enough to pull him into reality and Max settled in, befuddled but pleased to take a break from work to listen to what his favorite six-year-old had to say.