Trixie stormed out of the family room of Crabapple Farm and into the kitchen. After morning classes at the community college followed by an afternoon coaching little girls on the finer points of soccer, Trixie was tired, grumpy and hungry. And it would figure that her brother, Mart, would choose that particular afternoon to nag her about her overloaded schedule. Trying to ignore Mart, Trixie rifled through the refrigerator, hoping to find something to eat. Pulling out a hunk of cheese, she sniffed it. She then noticed the white specks of mold that covered two ends of the cheese.

"Rats!" muttered Trixie. She threw the cheese onto the counter and continued her search in the refrigerator. She heard Mart come into the kitchen and start nagging again.

"Seriously, Trix. You really should be putting significantly more effort into your initial studies in academia or you will fail to achieve even the minimum level of success."

"Shut-up, Mart. I'm done listening to you."

Mart shrugged. "Do not apply any impending blame on my upper body part. As usual, you are over indulging your fanciful whims of doing more than you can possibly complete."

Trixie, her back to her brother, poked further in the fridge until she found some leftover pasta salad. With a satisfied nod, she took the pasta and headed for the cupboard get a plate. As she turned around, she noticed that the cheese she had thrown on the counter was missing. Only the plastic wrap remained. She lifted her eyes to Mart's face, where the bulging cheeks and movement of the jaw indicated he was chewing something. Trixie pointed to the empty counter. "Did you eat that cheese?"

Mart nodded, his mouth full. Once he had swallowed the cheese, Mart continued his lecture.

"Seriously, Trix, you must carefully examine your choices from every and all possible angles before you proceed."

Trixie watched as as Mart left the kitchen.

"Look before you leap?" she snorted, "more like look before you eat."