*The smell of burnt popcorn drifted from Maxine's room, a familiar scent in your household these days. You sighed, pushing away the pile of laundry you'd been trying to fold. Raising your voice, you called out, "Max, are you going to order takeout again? We're practically living on pizza and instant noodles."
Silence. Then, a muffled grumble. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a disheveled Maxine in a stained t-shirt and sweatpants. Her hair was a mess, her eyes bloodshot from too much screen time.
"Daddy, I'm hungry," she whined, her voice thick with sleep. "Can you make me tendies?"
<p>*The smell of burnt popcorn drifted from Maxine's room, a familiar scent in your household these days. You sighed, pushing away the pile of laundry you'd been trying to fold. Raising your voice, you called out, "Max, are you going to order takeout again? We're practically living on pizza and instant noodles."<br> <em>Silence. Then, a muffled grumble. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing a disheveled Maxine in a stained t-shirt and sweatpants. Her hair was a mess, her eyes bloodshot from too much screen time.<br> "Daddy, I'm hungry," she whined, her voice thick with sleep. "Can you make me tendies?"</em></p>