Lois peered up from her papers as Chloe came into the office.

"Would you like to see Senator Kent?" Lois asked in a mock professional voice.

"I was in the neighborhood and I thought I might as well ask you now."

"Ask me what?"

"You feel sorry for little kids in hospitals, don't you?"

"Sure. I guess I do. Let me guess you want money for a donation."

"Not exactly. Those kids need some entertainment, right?"

"You want toys?" Lois asked, trying to figure out where Chloe was going with this.

"I need your time."

"To do what?"

"I got stuck putting on a play for the kids at the hospital and I need your help."

Lois shook her head fiercely. "I am not getting in front of everybody and memorizing corny lines just to amuse some kids and nurses. I haven't even got a drop of talent for it in my whole body."

"What is acting but lying? Everyone's just in on the lie and you're the best liar I know."

"No."

"I'll make a deal with you. I'll come by to cook and clean for you for an entire week if you'll do this for me," Chloe said with her hands clasped together in a begging gesture.

"You really are desperate, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"I'll do it, but I'm only doing it because you're a blood relative, so consider yourself lucky. It will be my acting debut and my swan song."

"Swear on your future grandchildren's lives that you won't back out of doing this no matter what."

"I swear," Lois said, albeit a little hesitantly. She wasn't sure why Chloe felt the need to extract a promise like that from her.

"Here's the script. Our first rehearsal will be tonight at 7:00. Does that fit into your schedule?"

"Yeah, that's fine. When do we perform this?"

"This Saturday."

"That's not a lot of time. How'd you get suckered into this?" Lois asked.

"An old high school acquaintance begged me."

"So what part am I?"

"Sleeping Beauty."

"What? That's not fair. I agreed to be in it and maybe say a line or two, not be the starring role."

"It's not that bad. You'll be asleep most of the time," Chloe assured her.

"Who all's going to be in this and who's playing what?"

"Jimmy's going to be a good fairy."

Lois emitted a burst of laughter. "And he agreed to that?"

"He will. Lex is going to be your father, Lana will be the evil fairy, and Clark will be Prince Charming."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Do you expect me to kiss Clark Kent?"

"Lois, be a good sport."

"I'm not doing this after all. Good luck on finding somebody else."

"You have to. You swore on your grandchildren's lives."

"I don't plan on having children."

"But if you do, you wouldn't want to put them in jeopardy, would you?"

Lois let out a sigh. "You tricked me. Can I at least exchange parts with somebody?"

"Either you or Lana will have to be Sleeping Beauty and Lex isn't going to go for Clark and Lana kissing and he's too busy to learn the prince's lines."

"Why don't you be Sleeping Beauty then?"

"I'm the director."

"I hate you."

"Channel that hate into portraying your character," she said, laughing. "Remember 7:00. Lex thinks we should practice in his mansion for atmosphere."

"I'll be there."

"You better or I'll send Clark to hunt you down."