He pauses at that and puts the block down, turning an almost pitying expression on Alecto. "Momma, don't be silly. Even Av'ry's so much older'n me an' he's still not as tall as Papa!" He turns around again and heaves a huge sigh, sounding more like a sententious old man than a child of less than four years of age. "S'going to take forEVer."

Kate bites her lip to muffle a laugh.