House Rules for the Hemophiliac Child
I. You have come to the edge of the land by coming here. Stay a few steps back from it.
II. Keep out of the cutlery. Even the spoons can cut you, and the forks can’t be trusted.
III. No climbing trees. The needles only look soft, and even the leaves are serrated.
IV. Take care with the books in the library. If you must read, read slowly. Avoid touching the edges of the pages. Instead, lick your finger and drag the page up into a swell to turn it.
V. If you must write, know that the pencils are dull for a reason, and of course there are no pens. To sharpen a pencil, simply ask.
VI. The old dog seems quite docile, and he is, but keep your fingers out of his mouth.
VII. Don’t pick up the cats.
VIII. Steer well clear of the barbwire fence. It has been known to lurch suddenly towards boys’ hands.
IX. Keep out of the garden. The old owners loved roses.
X. It goes without saying that the display of armory in the Great Hall should be avoided entirely.
XI. Beware of mirrors. It is their nature to shatter.
X. Stay out of the sheds. The plows and mowers and scythes know only one word: Open.