Bounding the Forbidden by Dan Bieger

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As the debate continued, the eight eventually noticed that Art wasn't participating. That realization finally brought the debate to a halt.
"Okay, Art, what's on your mind," Carter asked.
"Nuttin."
"Nothing?" Bennie asked. "That doesn't sound like you, Art."
"Well, maybe I got one little thing buggin' me, you know? So, I'll tell you what: I'll just offer one little rule that ought to get rid of my reserbations and make it easy for the rest of you. Then, we can stop all this rule talk and get on with club busy-ness."
Dreading what was coming, Carter asked anyway: "What one little rule do you have in mind?"
"Well, I'm thinkin' a rule like "what we ain't spefically forbid is okay." I mean we already started with this list of "don'ts" so making more don'ts won't be a problem. And, this way, we'll all know what we can do."
Carter frowned as he considered the implications of what Art proposed but the other seven seemed to think this was a good idea. They kicked it around for a few minutes with no one finding a major fault.
With that decision made, the discussion of rules lost its place as a topic of conversation as someone suggested going over to Bennie's house for cookies. Clapping each other on the back, smiling broadly at the work they had accomplished, enjoying the broadest possible feeling of friendship and good well, they trooped out of the clubhouse.
Carter was the last out the door, his frown out of place among the boisterous laughter of the others. Carter still had a bad feeling but he couldn't put his finger on just what was bothering him.