"Hey, honey.", Danny said cheerfully to his youngest daughter Michelle. "Hey... Is supper almost ready?" "Almost.", Danny replied. "We're having your favorite..." "What's that,", Michelle interupted. "turkey in a boot?" "Michelle Elizabeth Tanner! That was extremely rude! Give poor Vicky a break! She could have just not cooked us anything that night. I know it was utterly disgusting, but you don't have to insult her. Remember our talk about respecting your elders?" Danny stood there a bit stunned at Michelle's reaction.

About this time, Danny's brother inlaw Jessy walked in the kitchen. "Danny? Have! Mercy! What in the heehaw was that all about?" "Good question.", said Danny whilst scratching his head in complete perplexion. "I agree with you, Jessy. That's definitely not like her to make wisecrack remarks like that. Especially not on a holiday like Christmas eve night." "Kids!.. You can't live with 'em, you can't live without 'em.", Jessy laughed. "I guess not... Anyway, can you call the other girls to the table? I think they're all up in their rooms." "Sure thing, Danny. Oh, by the way, merry Christmas, bro!", said Jessy while reaching out and giving Danny a hug. "Why thank you Jessy! You didn't have to do that. That means a lot to me! The feeling is mutual." Girls! time for dinner!", yelled Jessy upstairs. "We're coming, Uncle Jessy!", said both DJ and Stephanie in unison.

"Daddy?", said Michelle. "Yeah?" "I'm going to go eat at Teddy's tonight. Is that OK?" "Um, yeah... I... I guess. Wouldn't you rather eat here with us though? I mean, sweety, it is, after all, Christmas eve. Not only that, but you need to be back in bed early tonight so that Santa Clause can come." "I know. I don't plan on being out late. I promise. Please?" "Oh, all right.", said Danny. "Just please don't be late, OK? "I won't. Feel free, by the way, to give my helpings to Comet." Michelle then took a dash for the door.

"Dad?", whispered Stephanie. "Where's Michelle? I have an early present I'd like to give her." Stephanie held out her hand revealing a middle aged Mr. Bear. "Steph,", Danny said very timidly. "she's not gonna be here tonight for dinner. She just went to Teddy's. Why, I don't know."

"Stephanie, has Michelle been acting a little weird around you the last little while? Please just be honest with me. You won't be in trouble." "Erm, you know...", pondered Stephanie intensely, "Now that you mention it, yes. A little bit. I don't know, Dad. She just seems lately... um... I dunno... maybe... a little off kilter, I guess?" "Yeah, it was the weirdest thing! She came in the kitchen, and said she wanted to go eat at Teddy's tonight but would be back soon. Then, she said something totally random. She asked me to give her supper to Comet. This is getting really weird."

"What's getting weird, Dad?", said DJ as she came downstairs. Michelle! Dinner's going to get..." "DJ, Michelle's not here." "Huh?", gasped DJ. "Is... is she OK?" "I don't know, hon. it's a long story. Let's just eat, all right?" "OK! OK! Dang! You don't have to be so ill tempored with me. I was just asking a question, for goodness sake. No need to be an Ebenezer Scrooge the second." "I'm Sorry Deej.", said

Danny. "I'm just really concerned. This isn't at all like her. I mean... how she's been acting lately."

"Danny,", said Jessy. "You know Michelle loves you like crazy. I trust in my heart completely that if something's bothering her, she'll come to you about it. Breathe easy, capiche?" "Oh, puh-leez!", said Danny while laughing quietly. Capiche was something that Jessy normally only said to the girls, and mainly only Michelle. This therefore did indeed lift his spirits enough to get him successfully through the rest of dinner uneventfully.