"They're up here," Clavia said, putting the last of the knives used on the sandwiches in the sink and opening a high cupboard. "I keep them on the top shelf, since a certain little missy-" she looked down pointedly at her daughter "-likes to climb and can reach the bottom shelves from the counter now."
Karin ducked her head, turning off the water and heaving around the heavy water pitcher. "I don't break 'em, Mama."
"No, you don't," Clavia said. "You'd be hard-pressed to, they're wood. But you tend to run off with them to play hostess games with the other kids and forget to bring them all back."
There was another sheepish duck of her head. "I'm trying to be better at remembering."
Clavia sighed, shaking her head as she pulled out three cups and stacked them together. "I'd rather you leave the household dishes alone." She held them out for the queen. "If you would be so kind, Your Majesty. Those sandwiches will be safer from landing in the dirt if I can keep both hands under the plate."