Prologue
I sat down upon my son's bed, and was quickly surrounded by both him and his three sisters.
"All right, then," I announced with a grin. "Which story would you like to hear today, my children?"
"Ooh! Treasure Planet, Momma!" the four yelled simultaneously.
"That one again? Oh, very well then," I replied, and leaned over to pick up the dog-eared, much-loved book.
"No! Not Uncle Jim's version, Momma," my son demanded.
I frowned slightly, and looked at him curiously.
"Hmm. Well, that's the only one we've got, I'm afraid," I told him.
"Uh-uh, Momma," the boy returned. "Dad told us that you and he met on your trip to Treasure Planet. That's the one we want to hear!"
"Oh, yes, Momma! Please tell us that one," Victoria asked, her big brown eyes pleading.
How could any parent resist those eyes, I ask you? I sighed and sat down upon the bed next to Del, while my girls moved over and sat clustered about me, looking up to me in that adorable way that all children have.
"Now, you lot," I began, putting an arm around Del on my left, and Victoria on my right, "listen and I shall tell you about that fateful trip…"