Blue water swirled around Connie's feet and Mew flew overhead, squawking a greeting, then circling down to greet her. Connie held out her hand for Mew to land on.
"Hey Mew," said Connie quietly. The seagull cocked her head, sensing something was wrong. Connie sighed.
"You're right. It's just... Kullervo. I don't know how to tell anyone that he isn't really gone. What if it just turns even more people against me? What if people start thinking I am a monster? What if..." Mew nudged Connie with her beak, cutting her off. She squawked indignantly at the thoughts in Connie's head.
"I know," agreed the girl. "They're my friends, we've been through a lot." Mew nodded her smooth white-feathered head. "I haven't even told Col yet," added Connie, her voice almost a whisper. "That's the part I'm most worried about." Mew nudged her again, as if to tell her not to be silly. The seagull chirped one last time, then took off, spreading her wings and gliding smoothly over the sea. She dipped one wing into the water, then sharply swerved up to avoid a wave, almost as if she were playing with the sea. Connie smiled.
"Goodbye, Mew," she called. "Happy hunting." The universal turned and walked back up to Number 5 Shaker Row. Her worries about her newfound powers slid to the back of her mind as she remembered a more urgent, nerve-wracking, and yet exciting, arrangement. Tonight, in exactly six and a half hours, was her and Col's first date.