Consequences

A group of children in a Victorian‑style nursery gather around a flickering fire, eager to learn a new pastime called Consequences. Led by the confident older sister Alex, they each write a fragment of a story on folded slips of paper, passing them around and building a whimsical tale that suddenly involves a royal meeting in the park. The game quickly reveals the children's personalities—Alex’s impatience, Barbara’s quiet defiance, Cedric’s solemn loyalty, and Emily’s mischievous storytelling—while the watchful nurse watches over their antics.

As the children scramble to finish the narrative before the nurse intervenes, the simple pastime becomes a window into their imaginations, rivalries, and the subtle power struggles of a household bound by strict rules. The opening invites listeners into a world where innocence meets creativity, setting the stage for a story that will explore how a harmless game can echo larger consequences in the lives of those who play it.