When you're a kid, there are some things you absolutely do not want to hear your parents say. "The school called." "Divorce." "We're moving." "You were conceived during that movie."

When your dad is a gifted researcher and analyst who works for a company that may or may not be leading it's employees unknowingly down the path of mad science and/or global domination, there's another word you can add to that list:

"Oops."

"I can fix that," said Edgar, staring at the gaping hole where the east wall of the Teller house used to be. The exposed brickwork were coated in a sticky, sweet-smelling substance that resembled nothing so much as...

"Is that dough?" asked Marilyn, in the calm voice that heralded an oncoming storm.

"Yes," said Edgar. Then, "Yes, darling."

"Is that the dough I left in the linen closet to rise so we could have cinnamon rolls for our only daughter's birthday brunch tomorrow morning?"

"...yes..."

"The cinnamon rolls Syndi specifically wanted me to make because she's going to be eighteen and headed off to college this year and this may well be the last birthday she spends with her family at least until after graduation?"

Edgar looked at his shoes. Marilyn took a deep breath.

"Did you experiment with my grandmother's cinnamon roll recipe using the untested product of some after-hours meddling in the Things, Incorporated test kitchen, even though after last time I very nicely asked you not to?"

"I thought it might make the dough rise faster..." Edgar mumbled.

"And what happened instead?" Marilyn enquired, in her politest tone.

"Well..."

"Did it, by any chance, gain sentience and rampage down the street of our new hometown?"

"Maybe..."

"Again?!"

"Uh..."

"Edgar!" Marilyn threw up her hands in despair. "How many times do I have to ask you not to bring the children's birthday treats to life?"

Edgar's shoulders slumped. Marilyn sighed.

"Okay," she said with a resigned air. "I'll get the cream cheese and the cinnamon. You carry the melted butter and the flamethrower. With any luck, we'll catch it before it reaches Eerie's Sauna and Swim and gets too big to handle."

Marilyn Teller picked up her biggest rolling pin, dusted herself in a protective layer of flour for camoflage, and went out to save the world. Again.