as i spoke , he was giving me the senior officer stare , or maybe it was the staff sergeant stare , but the intent was clear . he looked to be in his late teens or early twenties . surely that would turn the tide of battle . could daddy put the baby into his tummy ? a clap of thunder made piper jump on the couch . `` i appreciate what you 're trying to do here . then , soon after , he found a small flower behind his knee . 