Principal Mandy and Nanny Stephanie

by The Spirit of Lonely Water

Tanners’ bond wSamantha grows; she tries to help Michelle & Mandy - who's in Steph's old Principal's Assistant position - when a classmate is drawn away by serious temptation. Fourth in Sam series, revised a bit, split when new doc wouldn’t upload whole

1. Chapter 1

Tanners' bond wSamantha grows; she tries to help Michelle & Mandy - who's in Steph's old Principal's Assistant position - when a classmate is drawn away by serious temptation. Fourth in Sam series, revised a bit, split when new doc wouldn't upload whole

A/N: First, if you've never read the Sam Series, welcome. I (with author "Me''s help) tried to make every story stand alone in this series, begun in late 2003 and updated a lot over the last year or so. But, if this is your first foray into it, or first in a long time (like, since 2004-5), I hope you enjoy the others, too. I replaced the stories when they were updated before, so the whole thing has had a fair number of updates in the last couple years. This was actually among my 1st Sam series ideas, but by the time the rest of the canon was fleshed out, it was too out of character for Samantha, but the Michelle & Friends characters fit quite nicely.

As the summary says, this had to be split in two since the whole thing wouldn't upload when the last update was done. (I just realized it's 10,000+ words longer than my next longest.) This may work out well, though, because thouse who hadn't noticed the series because it was so far back can red; and, I'm sure there have been a number of newcomers to this site since 2003/4. This is fourth in the Sam series, fifth if you count Samantha and Friends, which grew from a ficlet into a larger story.

Anyway, on to the story. One of their classmates is drawn away by some serious, dangerous temptations, while Samantha has a chance to do what Stephanie decided was too much for her - dedicate herself fully to dance in hopes of becoming a professional ballerina. And, she now tries to be like her "big sister" Michelle and help that classmate, too. BTW, thanks to the author "Me" for letting me allude to his stories, which if you read will shed light on Michelle helping Rachel. They are "Join the Club" and "My New Friend."

PRINCIPAL MANDY AND NANNY STEPHANIE

"All right, look at that," nine year old Michelle Tanner shrieked excitedly. Her best friend, Mandy Metz, had just opened a package with a pen inside. The name engraved was "Principal Mandy."

Michelle smiled excitedly. She was at a party at Mandy's house, to celebrate Mandy's position as an office aide next year. Of course, "aide" only scratched the surface.

"I'm glad Stephanie could come for a couple minutes," Michelle's other best friend, Cassie Wilkins, said. She spoke to Stephanie, Michelle's fourteen year old sister. "You'll have lots of advice, I'm sure. And, she'll really need it." Stephanie nodded, then turned her attention to Mandy's younger brothers for a moment. She joined Mandy's parents in trying to assist in settling a dispute between the boys over a toy.

"Come on, Mandy's not nervous. Are you, Mandy? Your next step is running for President of the United States, right?" Michelle teased. She knew her auburn, curly-haired friend was probably a little ill at ease. But, Mandy and the others loved to joke about it.

"I hope you don't feel too left out, Cassie. Michelle was fourth grade class president this past year, and I'm going to be an office aide. I'll be helping with counseling and even disciplining of other kids while we're in fifth grade," Mandy said. Cassie had known Michelle longer than Mandy had since Kindergarten, in fact. They had matching ponytails, though Michelle's was strawberry blonde while Cassie's was pure blonde. Cassie had been quite jealous when Mandy clung to Michelle so much the first few weeks after moving to San Francisco in third grade.

Cassie had matured quite a bit in the last eighteen months, though. "I'm not worried about lack of attention. I can still be Homecoming Queen; that would top both of you," she quipped. "Seriously, my brother and I get all the attention from our parents, unlike you two."

Mandy hailed from a "Brady Bunch" family of six children. Her grandmother also lived with them. Michelle lived with her dad, Danny Tanner, and two sisters, Stephanie and nineteen year old D.J. Since her mom died when she was a baby, Michelle also lived with her Uncle Jesse and her dad's best friend Joey, both of whom had moved in then to help. To top it off, Jesse had met and married Becky Donaldson, Danny's co host on a local TV program. They had twin boys, four year olds Nicky and Alex. So, Michelle's house also had nine people.

This made being in such a small family feel extra special to Cassie.

Stephanie had felt the lack of attention quite a bit herself once. She chided Cassie, "I'm glad you don't feel left out. I'd hate for you to run off and get married like I did when I was six."

"What's this?" Mr. Metz asked through giggles. Stephanie explained how she'd had a play wedding with a classmate/friend named Harry Takiyama in her backyard one day, thinking a husband would have to pay attention to her.

"I guess I haven't told you all the funny stories I've heard when I'm over there, Dad," Mandy replied. "It's hard when there are so many."

"They give you more experience for when you help solve problems, I'm sure," Mandy's grandma said.

Stephanie nodded. "That's right; you might have kids coming to you complaining of unique things; like wanting to legally change their names. I can remember when I was being called 'Step On Me' in third grade. Luckily, my dad convinced me 'Dawn,' the name I wanted, would produce just as many things that could be teased about."

"That's what my mom always says," Cassie noted. "Lassie rhymes, so I'd get Lassie Cassie a lot a few years ago. But, at least Lassie is Scottish for a young girl, not just a dog's name. I could have lots worse. Although I refuse to wear a kilt just because those boys think I'd look perfect in one." Several boys in particular had teased Cassie about that last year. "Calling a girl a dog means she's ugly," Cassie said with disdain.

"At least your name isn't Cassie Olivia Wilkins," Mandy said.

"Oh, yeah, 'cow.' That would be bad. But, you know, Cassie, the dog that played Lassie was a boy. You can always come back with that." Cassie smiled thankfully as Stephanie added, "If we were in New York, everyone would bug Michelle because her initials are M.E.T. the name of the baseball team."

"That's right. It could always be worse," Mandy summarized. She was glad they were having this discussion. The position was a great honor, which required very good grades, excellent behavior, and a proper mix of compassion and firmness that she'd demonstrated she would show with everyone as equally as she could. However, there were also many things she'd have to think about. There might be weeks when she hardly had anything to do in the office. But, she could be called upon several times a day on unusually busy occasions. She'd learned that from Missy, the outgoing fifth grader who with the principal had helped groom her as a successor.

The banter made Michelle quite happy. She was extremely proud of her friend, mostly because she knew she couldn't be a PA herself. Being President had been easy. She sometimes tried too hard to please everyone. But, at least she hadn't had to punish anyone. She'd learned from Stephanie that Mandy might have to almost be like a mom to some kids, with how she would nurture and discipline. She couldn't believe some parents wouldn't take any time for their own children.

Samantha Lynne Burke was one of those. Michelle was extremely proud of how far Samantha had come from the days when she was known as Sam. However, that had only been because of great effort on the part of Stephanie and others.

Oh, well, at least it hadn't been as bad as it could be. Samantha's parents must care a little, Michelle pondered. She just presumed they knew the best person to handle Samantha was Stephanie, because of a lack of any self-confidence whatsoever. Michelle's dad hadn't punished her till she was well past her third birthday, letting D.J. do all the timeouts and removing privileges, and had been inconsistent at times since then at times. That was because he really missed their mom, Pam, and having her to help, so much. So, Michelle assumed they were like her dad, instead of totally not wanting to help like the Burkes really were. They co-operated with what Stephanie did, but only paying lip service, endorsing whatever the Tanners decided for Samantha.

Mandy would also be learning some possibly painful things. Michelle prided herself on being nice. So, it would be hard for her to see some things that happened to kids. "You'll have lots of hard things to do. Didn't you have to watch a tape and your parents had to sign a paper afterward? It said you watched and talked about it with them," Michelle asked, trying to remember exactly what Mandy had told her about that. She only recalled that the subjects were quite difficult.

Mandy looked around. Worried that her younger siblings might be paying attention, and not wanting to scare them, she squirmed slightly and said, "Yeah. It was about what to do if kids tell you certain things. Things the police might need to know about."

"It takes a special personality to handle that. That's why it's important to have a good family like yours to help you and give advice," Stephanie said. She remembered telling her Uncle Jesse about such a kid in fifth grade. It wasn't necessarily as part of her position. Still, she wondered if the boy, Charles, had felt more comfortable telling her he was beaten because of how she helped kids. "When I first took the job, Mandy, it was sort of by accident. I gave this one kid, Aaron, who was being a bully and then really disrespectful to a teacher, a really harsh lecture on the playground before school when I was in fourth grade. It had a bunch of how rude's and things. And, he shaped up," Stephanie said. For the most part, she added to herself. Aaron had been a bully in preschool who'd enjoyed pinching. However, he hadn't tested limits near as much as he could have, and his bullying had ended almost completely by this time.

"So did the whole rest of all the Kindergarten classes," Michelle commented. "I heard Aaron suddenly gave back all this lunch money he'd taken. But, a lot of other Kindergarteners also shaped up real fast. Some of that was because I'd been telling them to come to you since that first day when you helped me feel better."

Stephanie simply nodded, disliking the "genius" tag Michelle had placed on her that day. Though very talented, she was really quite modest compared to how she could be.

She continued the thought. "More and more teachers started to send kids to me to comfort them, partly because they also remembered I helped you feel better your first day of Kindergarten, Michelle," she acknowledged. "But, a couple, then a few more, sent me small discipline problems, too. As winter went on, I got the job of principal's aide. But, till that time with Charles, a year later, they didn't really think about it being a full time position. That's when they set guidelines and the principal and school counselor helped me groom a successor." Stephanie smiled, and put a hand on Mandy's shoulder. "And now, one of Michelle's best friends has the grades, the attitude, the personality to take charge like I did. I know your family's really proud, but I'm all excited, too, just like Michelle," Stephanie said, reminiscing about her days in grade school.

She looked at her watch. "Oops, I better run. I promised Allie and Darcy I'd go to the mall with them. But, I had to come say 'hi.' Maybe after Michelle comes home from camp, when I'm not busy babysitting or...well, sometime this summer we'll have to get together and play school with Nicky and Alex. You get quite a lot of practice here, but you'll likely have questions, too."

"Okay, thanks," Mandy said as the girls waved goodbye. Stephanie smiled warmly and mussed Michelle's hair, then left.

"This is going to be so cool," Michelle said as she straightened her hair a little. "The words to your pledge were cool, too." She read the pledges off of Mandy's certificate. "I pledge to comfort those who need comforted, and to discipline those who need discipline, with fairness, kindness, and self control. To never let malice, hate, discrimination, or my own over reactions enter into my actions. To deal with the behavior of each child while keeping in mind the child's age, size, understanding, and temperament. To be above reproach, doing nothing that would cause the students to lose respect for me. And yet, knowing that I may fail in small areas, accepting my punishment, if it is needed, with all humility, and moving on. To always be prepared, physically, mentally, and morally, to do what is right for each student and for the school, so to make the world a better place.'" Michelle grinned. She always wanted to be nice. But, Mandy had accepted a role that went far beyond merely helping others. "Think you can do all that?"

"It'll be hard, but...come on, your Aunt Becky said that's how it worked back home in Nebraska. Older kids helped keep the younger ones in line; as well as the older ones who weren't being nice."

"That's right, Mandy. It really goes back to the days of the one room schoolhouse, in a way There were usually older siblings or cousins who helped comfort younger ones, or keep them in line. The last part, about being prepared in several ways to do what's right, sounds like it's from the Lone Ranger's creed," Mr. Metz pointed out. He had been a big fan of the Lone Ranger when young. "And the part about not being perfect is good, too. You don't have to be scared of losing the job if you mess up a little," he told Mandy.

"That's right. Steph got grounded while in office. She got her ears pierced after Dad said 'no' in fifth grade," Michelle recalled. "Dad says if I'm really good he'll let Stephanie take me to the salon for my tenth birthday and have them done. We're taking Samantha, too. Her parents would let her; they spend so little time with her, they even let Steph ground her and stuff," Michelle said, still in awe of the situation after a few years. "Steph doesn't want her to get it done like she did and have them get all infected."

"That's nice. You're a big sister to her, in a way. And, Steph's more of a mom than Samantha's mother, with all she's had to do, huh?" Michelle nodded sadly at Mandy's comment.

Mandy sighed. The discussion had helped a little, but it had also reminded Mandy of one very important thing.

"That's going to be hard, dealing with kids who don't have any other attention. I'm sure I'll lay awake over the next few weeks and have a ton of questions," Mandy said.

She had called a few times to ask questions. Finally, in early August, the girls managed to all have the same free time on their schedules. Stephanie's babysitting business flourished in the summer, and Michelle loved to help as an assistant at times. Finally, the children being babysat were Nicky and Alex, and Michelle wasn't busy with her friends. Danny and Becky were at the station that morning, Jesse was helping his parents - his dad had recently broken his leg - and Joey was performing comedy in Cleveland. D.J. had taken time off from minding the household in the morning to go shopping.

Michelle, Cassie, and Mandy were out riding their bikes when they spotted classmate Sidney Wainwriight. They were a little surprised Sidney wasn't with Rachel Tilly. Rachel had only started to be a little nicer, but was still somewhat mean and could be very arrogant and snobby. She had come to Fraser Street Elementary in fourth grade.

Sidney, on the other hand, had been there since Kindergarten, and had always been a little unfriendly. With Rachel leading her on, however, she'd become even more so; though Rachel wasn't even nice to her all the time. Sidney hadn't really tried to make any other friends, though.

Mandy remembered Sidney just riding around sometimes last summer, after a good friend of hers had moved away, before Rachel came. However, she didn't do it too often - she had lots of allergies, including ragweed and pollen. "Hey, Sidney," she cried. "Where's Rachel?"

Sidney pulled up on her bike a couple blocks from the Tanner home and explained. "Well, Rachel and I had a sort of fight." She didn't like to say it, because Rachel was the only girl she hung around at all.

"A sort of fight?" Michelle asked, raising her eyebrows.

Sidney inched her largish glasses up onto her nose. "Right. We're never speaking to each other again. For a while at least," she emphasized, showing that she was still at the age when friendships broke up and went back together somewhat quickly.

"I'd hate to see a really big fight," Mandy told her.

"Well, see, I'd resolved to be more assertive with her. I mean, my mom's right, I shouldn't just let myself get picked on by Rachel. And, I'm glad I'm away from her, in a way; it would be nice to make new friends. It's just so hard sometimes to be assertive," she complained. "I'm kind of like Samantha, I guess."

Sidney only knew that Samantha was very timid and shy, but assumed it was because of her size, just as Sidney's sickliness and allergies hampered her in her mind. Of course, Samantha's size did play a part in her docility, but Samantha's life to that point played much more of a part, with her parents neglecting her so much. Stephanie and Michelle, along with others, kept a close watch on Samantha; Stephanie was, after all, not just like a mother, but also Samantha's nanny in all but official title.

Sidney's parents were much more involved, of course, but Sidney didn't always find the right kind of friend. Sidney liked the "stars" like Rachel, who was so good at dance, skating, and other things, or her best friend who'd moved away a couple years ago, who was a very good soccer player for her age, like Samantha was now, too - but who was at least quite nice. Sidney had hung around and put up with Rachel's bad attitude for almost a year. She'd clung to Rachel when Rachel started at their school because Rachel paid attention to her, even if it wasn't the best kind of attention.

Michelle knew Samantha preferred that lots of her past, especially her emotions and her parents' neglect, stay confidential, except to close friends. So, she simply agreed that Sidney was right about Samantha's size. "So, are you trying to make new friends?"

"Actually, I have. I met some really cool boys yesterday."

"Why not do stuff with us?" Cassie invited. "We're going to have lots of fun with Michelle's cousins, getting Mandy used to being the PA. And you'd like Michelle's house, it's nice and clean."

Sidney shook her head, rather disinterested. "No, thanks. I never really felt like playing with you when I was hanging around Rachel, after all. Even though I know your dad's a neat freak, Michelle, so I wouldn't have any problems with allergies at your house."

"Don't take it too hard, Cass," Michelle joked. "From all my sisters have told me, I think the key word is 'boys.'" Sidney blushed slightly. "Told you."

"So, you've got a little crush, huh?"

"Just a little, Mandy. Nothing huge."

"Well, if you ever need to talk, I'll be here," Mandy offered. "Don't play too rough…listen to me, I sound like my grandma." The girls rode in opposite directions.

Nicky and Alex nearly bowled Mandy over when the girls came through the door. "Hey, be gentle, guys," Stephanie reminded them in a voice only slightly louder than normal.

"But Mandy's taller," Nicky said.

Alex added that, "You only said not to run Michelle over."

Stephanie took their hands and walked them toward the train set they had been playing with on the living room floor. "Well, Mandy doesn't need little sneaker prints all over her shirt, either."

"We just saw Sidney; she said she met a couple boys yesterday, and she's already got a crush," Michelle noted.

"Oh boy," Stephanie said with a bit of trepidation. "I sure hope we don't have that problem from Samantha for a while. Putting her in the middle of a bunch of boys would be like putting a knight in shining armor in the middle of a tank battle."

Michelle tried to insist Samantha wouldn't fall that badly for a boy, but Stephanie deftly conceded Michelle could have a point while quickly changing the subject, not wanting to think about it. Stephanie pointed at the girl with curly auburn hair and said, "Mandy, how about you being in charge for a little while."

"That's a lot of kids at once, Stephanie, if we all pretend to be sent," Cassie reminded her. "Even Samantha was only one kid back when she was Sam, even though she did the mischief of four in Kindergarten."

"Come on, I deal with it at home a lot. My brothers can drive me up the wall sometimes," Mandy explained. "Okay, what's first on the list?"

Michelle leaned forward expectantly. She knew Stephanie would have lots of great ideas.

"First, let's pretend one of them is one of your younger brothers," Stephanie said.

"Oh, come on, that's silly," Mandy asserted.

"Yeah, they don't have twins," Nicky exclaimed.

"That, too," Mandy said, holding up a finger. "But, what I mean is, they can get wild at home. But, I've talked to them a couple times about how I'm going to love them but treat them just like any other kid."

"They'll be just another kid?" Alex asked. Mandy nodded. "Then she has to treat them like us, right?"

"That's right," Stephanie agreed with a grin.

"Then, why can't we just be us?" Nicky wondered.

Stephanie chuckled. "Because, Mandy might have trouble remembering she has to lay down the law if one of her brothers gets sent to her."

"Come on, Stephanie. I'm sure you never expected Michelle to get sent to you," Mandy asserted.

"I had a bad attitude sometimes at their age," Michelle confessed lowly. She didn't like to admit it. But, among friends, it wasn't too bad. She just didn't like everyone to know.

Stephanie said that the first couple months, she thought it could happen. "Michelle still had a bit of a rude and bossy streak at home. But, she remembered D.J. and I teaching about being nice and polite and stuff. She was, if not a perfect little lady, certainly a very good one at school. That's why she's never been sent to the principal.

"Now, Nicky, Alex, let's say you did something bad in class. Let's say all the others are singing Skip to the Loo..."

"We keep singing Elvis!" Nicky shouted. Their dad, the girls' Uncle Jesse, was a huge Elvis Presley fan.

Michelle couldn't help but giggle. "Guys, that's if you're you. I don't think Mandy's brothers even know any Elvis songs. Do they?"

"They might know 'Hound Dog.' Okay, I'll play along. My one brother keeps singing 'Hound Dog'..."

"Maybe a rap song. One with really bad words," Cassie suggested.

"You mean like poo poo?" Alex asked. Michelle's belly shook almost uncontrollably, she giggled so hard at the thought of a rap song with the word "poo poo" in it. Anytime the twins got involved, it seemed that things got quite silly. And, Michelle's giggles always reminded the other Tanners of the girls' mom, Pam. Pam had had the same delightful smile and laugh.

"Thankfully, they don't know any rap songs," Mandy informed her.

"But, they could sing one of those songs with bad made up words," Cassie said. "I overheard a fourth grader on the playground singing 'Deck the halls with gasoline' before a teacher made him stop. You don't have any really bad kids in your family, but something little like that could happen if he gets wound up enough. And, if he refuses to listen, you'd get called."

Stephanie said that was exactly her point. "We don't have rebels like that in our family, either; nothing like what Uncle Jesse was like when he was young." And he was way better than Sam had been her first year, she considered. "I mean, even when I backed Joey's car into the kitchen, I was naturally remorseful. That is something very bad that I did. But, I wasn't trying to be a rebel. Turning the car on and assuming 'r' meant radio was just really dumb. I pressed one little button, and boom."

"That's why this is kind of a bad idea, Stephanie. I mean, I can see them singing 'Hound Dog' like crazy. But, they'd listen to the teacher when she yelled at them to stop. And, besides, even if they did something really terrible, they'd be sorry. With what my youngest brother calls 'bad behavior kids,' I could have problems. I might even have to hit, just like a principal would, like Missy says. But, hitting's just not even considered in our family. Nobody's had to do it because other things work well enough."

"I know. It's the same with us," Stephanie remarked. "Our dad couldn't think of hitting; none of the adults would." "Even D.J. would have only given light fwaps as a last resort," she told herself, "and thankfully we never had to consider that with Michelle, even though he'd waited a while to enforce any limits." Their dad had also been a bit lax afterward, till he really got used to sending her to her room or taking away privileges.

"Part of that's the kids, isn't it? My grandma says it is. I'm sure you would have never thought of hitting Michelle, even if she had been sent to you," Mandy said.

"Nope. We always got her to behave pretty easily, and at school she was great. Thankfully, except for Sam and Aaron, the kids who have given me the most trouble have been older, at least a grade ahead of Michelle. And, I'd only ever give a little pop as a reaction to their extreme rudeness, disrespect, and refusal to listen; not on purpose. That's even with the worst of the 10-15 worst kids where that happened once."

Cassie gasped. Giving a reaction pop was one thing. She couldn't believe Stephanie would think of doing it on purpose, though she wondered when Stephanie said that.

Stephanie felt she had to say something now, just to get it off her chest, since she'd brought up her toughest case. "Just deciding that it was okay to stop listening to that little voice saying not to hit was hard. Dealing with Sam...well, at least with her I tell myself if her parents had ever paid attention to her and set rules for her from the beginning, the problems never would have happened. So, when I have kids, I won't have near the problems. Because, I'll be involved, I'll show lots of love, give lots of positive attention, and set rules from the beginning."

Mandy looked relieved. "I've heard about a few ornery kids from Missy. If you didn't mean to hit, hopefully I won't have to worry, either."

Stephanie smiled proudly, wanting only to think about Samantha's growth. "That's right. Samantha went by Sam back then. You know how Miss Wormwood, Calvin's teacher in the comics, is always driven so crazy because he won't listen, he prefers to act wild and crazy in his own imaginary world, and so on? Well, Sam made me feel almost like Miss Wormwood." Her proud smile disappeared as she thought back to her days in fifth grade. "Although, unlike Calvin, she didn't spend her time in an imaginary world. She spent it being very rude and bossy, as well as quite mean toward other kids the first few months."

"Wow!" Mandy exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I hope I don't have anyone like that!"

"She's a lot better now; she even got a fair amount better by the end of Kindergarten, though there were problems elsewhere. I saw her a couple times a week in Kindergarten, sometimes just to help her when it wasn't a discipline problem. I was a mom to her even back then. But thankfully, I was usually able to get in some discussion time with her instead of just lecturing her and using timeout or taking recess away." Stephanie inhaled deeply, then chose to ignore the saddest part of her job. Mandy knew from Missy what principals or, here, their aides needed to do to at times when so called "bad behavior kids" got too bad.

"Sam was still a problem in first grade, but not nearly as much," Michelle said, hoping to further encourage her friend. At least Michelle had known from talking to him that her Uncle Jesse was something of a rebel when he was in school. But, Mandy had never known anyone who was that wild. "Having Steph and I to guide her really helped."

"Michelle's right, Mandy." Stephanie spoke solemnly, thinking of how sad it was that a child would be so ignored. She wanted Mandy to understand how some kids lived, though. "Sam never had any limits at home; that is, the few minutes a day her parents had time for her. They were always too busy with work. When the school sent letters home or called they just ignored them. Her daycare wasn't a lot better. She had a few there, but she didn't like those. So, the school had to be the one to teach her. And, she was really used to getting away with everything; she would at home on the weekends."

Stephanie leaned forward, her mood brightening a little, as she spoke of Sam's improvement, quickly bypassing the unpleasant parts. "I babysat her that summer after first grade, and I could tell a difference. It was one of my first babysitting jobs outside the family. Although I was thankful to have nicer kids to deal with before her," she said with enthusiasm. "I was only there three hours a day. And she was still wild, because I was the first one to really enforce any rules at home. But even there, those rough first couple days, she was getting better. A lot of work was paying off, and she didn't have 'go to timeout' as a middle name for very long." The girls laughed. "Luckily, the positive attention and love I showed her meant that Sam respected me enough that she wasn't totally defiant." For the most part, she said to herself. At first…well, she didn't like to think about that. She really cared about Samantha. She and Michelle both knew Samantha needed lots of love and comfort. She wanted to protect Samantha's privacy; she knew her past behavior was very embarrassing now. However, she'd also needed to explain things to Mandy. She worried that Samantha still needed to be watched, after all, because there were no limits other than Stephanie's. And, more importantly, as she said, there might be kids with major problems where something lay beneath that Mandy would need to get to the bottom of to help them.

Michelle instantly hugged Stephanie, which brought a smile back to her face.

Mandy could tell it was hard for Stephanie to think about Sam. "She must have really driven you up the wall. Let's talk about kids who aren't that rebellious."

Stephanie smiled. "Okay. Good idea. I bet you won't have any problems like I did. I just wanted to warn you, though. Michelle's told you Samantha needs lots of attention, but she kept a few things from you, so as not to embarrass Samantha. But, now you know the full story. I'm just glad the worst part is over."

She decided it was time for Nicky and Alex to be used as the examples, and asked them to give her their attention. They did. "Let's say Nicky and Alex are sent to you."

"What did WE do?!" Alex exclaimed. He knew it was bad to be sent to the principal's. He couldn't understand why he would be sent.

"You know the bookmobile that comes every couple months, like a moving library? Let's say you back it into the school," Stephanie suggested, remembering her own worst misdeed.

"But we can't drive," Alex shouted.

"That didn't stop Stephanie," Nicky said.

Stephanie laughed. "Okay, now these kids somehow backed the bookmobile into the school. What's the first thing you think about?"

"Michelle might want to come with me..." Mandy began without thinking. She spoke her next sentences with more authority. "But, I'm the one in charge. And, I think she'll accept whatever I do."

"You're really nice with them, Mandy. You'd do a good job. And, I know you will with Samantha, too," Michelle said warmly. She was glad someone like Mandy would be in charge. And, she was really glad Mandy would think of her. But, truthfully, she didn't want anything to do with Mandy's job.

Stephanie's mind was on something different. "That's good, Mandy. You have to be honest with yourself. And, if you would think of that first, and then have to remind yourself you're the boss if they're in that office, that's fine."

"That's right, I'm the one who has to decide their punishment. They'd get no recess for at least a week, for one thing."

"Okay; it depends on if they're sorry, too," Stephanie said.

"We're sorry."

"We didn't even know we did it," Alex added to his brother's comment.

Cassie smirked. "I would think they'd be better at pretending than this."

"Yeah, you like playing with stuffed animals. And, you'll usually play house with me," Michelle told them. She wanted them to get involved in Stephanie's playing so they could help Mandy.

Alex shook his head. "Not when we're pretending to be this bad."

"Why can't we just sing Elvis songs? Stephanie's the one who drives cars into kitchens!"

"Ouch. Okay, boys, I give," Stephanie said, holding up her hands while trying to avoid chuckling. "And, Nicky, I only did it that once. Plus, it's okay to say that now because Cassie and Mandy know about it. But, please, don't go around telling people about it. It is embarrassing." The twins promised.

Stephanie then turned to another subject. "Mandy, speaking of friends, let's say Michelle was sent to your office."

"Come on, Steph. I would never get sent there," Michelle declared.

"You almost did by that one sub we had last year, and you copied some ideas from your Uncle Jesse and Joey. Luckily, he had the bright idea of making you teach and acting bratty to teach you a lesson," Mandy pointed out in as conversational a tone as she could. "I don't mean to lecture, but it's true."

Michelle passed Mandy a tired look, then relented. "Okay, okay. And, there was Field Day last year. I was too busy arguing with Denise about that sweater to pay attention." Michelle had given Denise Chow her lucky sweater, but demanded it back when she kept losing games. "You had to yell at me a little to make me realize I was about to cost our class a chance at victory over the others. I did deserve that," she admitted lowly.

"That's right, Michelle, nobody's perfect," Stephanie said warmly. "Now, Mandy, Michelle has been sent to your office. I want you to give her your best lecture."

"What?!"

"Michelle, she has to be ready in case one of her closest friends gets in trouble. She can't back down just because she likes someone and doesn't want to hurt their feelings."

Cassie reluctantly added, "Stephanie's right, in a way, Michelle. That's why neither of us wanted to be considered for the position. You said so yourself."

"Yeah, but a really loud lecture?"

"Michelle, you love being on stage," Stephanie pointed out.

"Yes, acting funny or nice. I could even be serious if I had to be. But, I won't be that naughty." Michelle turned to Mandy. "All right, let's say I get a little carried away with a sub, and you try to calm me down. And, tell me what I did was wrong."

"Michelle, you're missing the point. She has to learn to be tough. She already showed she could get in your face a little on Field Day," Stephanie insisted, holding out a hand.

"And what makes you think I'd be bad enough to do anything where I need a harsh lecture? I needed those from you before Kindergarten, not now," Michelle shot back.

Cassie stood between Stephanie and Michelle and held an open hand toward each. "Wait a minute. I can see this could be a problem. So, instead of letting you two fight, why don't I be the friend she has to grill. I always try to be nice, like Michelle. But, I'm willing to pretend I did something bad and got really sassy."

"Okay, fine." Stephanie inhaled deeply and tiredly, telling herself not to insist that Michelle should have been able to pretend the same thing. If Michelle took this much pride in being good, maybe that was for the best. In fact, the more she thought about it, she knew it was. She hoped Samantha held the same amount of pride. She had changed, but still kept things inside a bit at times.

The girls came up with a scenario, and Cassie acted it to the hilt. Mandy followed with a very firm lecture, even throwing in one of Stephanie's "how rude"s. That had become a somewhat common phrase at Fraser St. Elementary, though certainly not everyone said it.

"All right! Nice going, you two," Michelle said enthusiastically. "You could be on stage with that."

"Yeah, and I can just hear my mom after the play. ' I better never catch you acting like that in real life, young lady.'"

"Me, too. Your mom's just like D.J. and Steph when it comes to things like that."

A few weeks later it was Michelle's 10th birthday. As promised, Stephanie took Michelle and Samantha to get their ears pierced at the local mall's salon. Joey dropped the girls off at the mall entrance, then found a parking place. While he parked, Stephanie, Samantha, and Michelle stood in wait.

Samantha's hairstyle was similar to Michelle's, with bangs and a nice, though not too fancy, ponytail; the only difference was, it was glossy black rather than strawberry blonde, and a fair deal longer. She also shared similar taste in clothes, though preferring fancy dresses a bit more than Michelle did. While a couple of her more upper class relatives had commented on this, Samantha brushed it off - it just wasn't her and people should accept that. Sure, she could afford an expensive hairdo and outfits but she chose not to buy them.

"Can you believe we actually had a president named Pierce?" Michelle asked Samantha.

"No way!" The girls giggled. "I'll bet he got teased."

"They couldn't have done much worse than 'Step On Me.'" Stephanie opened the door for her younger sister, Joey, and Samantha, then went in herself. "Besides, from what I read, his term was so bad, he probably wished he'd gone into the ear piercing business."

"Who's this?"

"President Pierce. I guess he wasn't very good at being President," Michelle told Joey. She'd only heard the name. She was anxious to get more details, though. She'd always loved learning.

"Well, he could have handled fourth grade like you did, Michelle, it wasn't that. It's just that he served before the Civil War. And, the Presidents in the 1850s grow worse as you get closer to that war, because the problems kept growing and they couldn't do anything about them,' Stephanie explained.

Samantha grinned while listening to Stephanie's explanation. She'd hated school at first. All the rules were a real pain. She had always liked to do whatever she wanted, and not have to think of others. Now, however, she enjoyed many things about school. Learning was one of them. "One of my friends has a great-grandmother who memorized the Presidents in order at my age," she said as Joey got to the check in booth to sign permission for Michelle and Samantha to get their ears pierced. Stephanie held a note from Samantha's parents, as well, in case Joey's authorization wasn't enough.

"I guess I should put down guardian," Joey remarked. "Although I'm really like a dad to D.J., Stephanie and Michelle, but...well, you could almost call me a nanny. Or, rather, a manny." He then made a sound like a bat cracking against a baseball, followed by a crowd cheering. "Look at that ball go, awaaaay back, and gone!" He tripped over his feet as he turned, and fell down.

Getting up, he smiled. "Get it, like Manny Ramirez." The young, inexperienced slugger was noted for making base running blunders at times for Cleveland that season. He had greatly improved from a couple years before, though, and would one day be considered a potential Hall of Famer.

Samantha smiled, yet also looked a little tiredly at Joey. She really liked him, just like Michelle did. He was very good at talking and getting kids to understand things; especially using humor. Samantha loved how he made her feel better so quickly. He'd had a rough childhood with constant moves and his parents often fighting and finally divorcing before his teens, so he'd suffered some similar problems. And yet, he'd shown that it was possible, years later, to still enjoy life as a child would see it. Samantha hoped to always be the same way. However, Samantha was at the age where she started to feel a little embarrassed to have Joey doing comedy acts in public places like the mall.

She certainly didn't want to be totally like Joey. Her feelings were akin to Stephanie's feelings about her dad's protectiveness. She expressed them in small ways, but out of respect wouldn't let her frustration get out of control. "I sure hope you don't act like that if you start having to take me to dance rehearsal every day," Samantha said.

"Every day? I know you love dance, but Michelle loves chocolate, and even she doesn't eat it every day."

"Of course not, Joey, sometimes she eats cookies instead," Stephanie teased lightly, passing Michelle a loving smile, which was returned.

"Well, it's not for sure yet. But, my teacher might recommend me for dance school next summer."

"Wow, all right!" Joey excitedly hugged Samantha. "This is awesome. Isn't it, Steph?"

"Yeah, it is. Look…" How did she want to word this? She had been trying to think ever since yesterday when Danny and she had picked Samantha up at her regular rehearsal.

Samantha sensed the hesitation. "You're thinking about when you didn't want to go, huh?" Stephanie agreed. "Well, I want to go. And, I'm going to go. You had a life outside of dance. You had a family."

Michelle put an arm around her. "Sammie, you've got a family; in fact, you've got two families, counting Courtney's."

"Can I help if I want to make it three?" They laughed. "Look, you guys are great. But, well, when I'm on the dance floor, it's like, I don't have to think about what I went through, how my parents don't care. And, they're like a family, too."

"Well…" Stephanie sighed. Her dad had often told her that the hardest part of parenting was letting go; especially for him, probably because of Pam's death. "I guess you have to try to find out. It would mean lots of extra practice."

"I can do it!"

"Sure, and we'll all be there for you," Joey promised.

"If you do it, I'll help with your homework after supper," Michelle added.

Stephanie remarked that she wouldn't have as much time to play. "But, you'll be doing something you love. I guess that's the important part. I really liked it, I just didn't love it so much to give up everything else. But, if it's something you really want to do…" She could tell it was. "Well, that's great. You're right; I am really happy for you!" Stephanie and Samantha embraced as they were told it was their turn.

Michelle offered to go first, although she was a little timid. She squeezed Stephanie's hand tightly, with Stephanie squeezing back, as the ear piercer did her job. She gave Stephanie a warm, thankful look as it happened. "I'm glad Samantha was there," Michelle confessed to Stephanie later. "I really needed that squeeze, but I think without her there, I would have screamed anyway."

Next, it was Samantha's turn. She fidgeted a little, reminding herself that this was not Kimmy Gibbler, D.J.'s dumb friend. It was stunning that Stephanie had done something like that, getting them pierced at home by someone so inexperienced and so...well, dumb back then. At least I'm not the only one who does dumb things, she told herself.

Still, she squeezed extra tight to both Michelle's and Stephanie's hands. Each of them squeezed back, for which Samantha was very thankful. As the studs were placed in, and she and Michelle admired each others', Samantha considered that, despite her size, she probably looked quite grown up now. Samantha looked like a typical seven year old, not a child who had turned nine the previous March.

"Here's a mirror, girls," Joey said as he pointed them to it. "Wow, look at you. Those are fabulous head ornaments. Now, all you need are some really teeny fuzzy dice to hang on each ear."

"Happy birthday, Michelle," Stephanie said sweetly.

"Yes, Michelle Tanner, you're a double digit girl. What are you going to do now?" Joey joked, sounding like the announcer to a great player on a national championship team. Players on those ads, of course, always said, "I'm going to Disneyland."

"I'm going to the ice cream stand," Michelle responded. She led the others toward the stand.

Stephanie smirked as she looked at Samantha. "To her, that's just as good as Disneyland."

Samantha smiled wistfully. The love shown by the Tanners was so incredible. She felt very blessed to have such nice friends, as she felt the studs in her ears. But, at the same time, she wished she had companions like this all the time, instead of parents who didn't seem to care. She imagined the friendship between her and Michelle was like that between Michelle and Stephanie. And, while the relationship was a lot closer between the Tanners, it was still quite close between Michelle and Samantha.

But, that's one reason the prospect of being a professional dancer excited her so much. She'd heard that pro athletes often saw their team as a family; one of her friends had a dad who played part time for the Giants. Now, she could be in such a family, too.

Several weeks passed. Students gathered in the auditorium for the opening assembly of the school year. Third graders ate and had recess with second and first graders. So, Michelle and her friends had had little contact with the incoming fourth graders, except for seeing them in the halls and, if they rode the same bus, on the school bus.

A smiling girl with long, flowing black hair tied back in braids and wearing a floral dress shook Mandy's hand. "Good luck," she said to Mandy. "I bet you'll do a great job."

"Thanks, Samantha." Mandy was amazed at the change in Samantha from the stories she'd heard. She knew Michelle had done a lot of work with her, and Stephanie much more than that. But, still, she was stunned that this was the same girl who had decided to ditch school altogether in second grade; to say nothing of how Stephanie said she'd been in Kindergarten.

"Steph spent lots of time talking to her. So did Jen and Missy. Mr. Posey even did, when he could. But, Stephanie's the one she really looks up to, the one who's been the nicest. Shhh," Michelle said as the principal began to speak.

After some opening remarks, the principal invited Mandy to come up and say a few words. Mandy unfolded a paper with a prepared speech, and started out by saying, "Thank you, Principal Posey, for that warm introduction. I hope to be able to be helpful to everyone this year. However, as the principal says himself, beware. Just because I want to be nice doesn't mean I always can be. There are rules that must and will be enforced. This will be done because I care about each of you, just as he told you he did. And, in turn, you need to respect me. Not because I'm any better, but because I hold a position of very high honor. And, when we're nice to those in charge, it makes things run a lot smoother. When we do wrong, we need to accept it and move on. If you don't...well, you get in trouble, just like anywhere else in life…."

"That was a nice speech," Samantha told Mandy as they filed out of the auditorium. She had been cheering quite loudly for Mandy, glad to see one of Michelle's friends become a PA. She thought of Michelle as a big sister, in a way, because of how nice she'd been to her, and how much she'd encouraged her.

"Thank you." Mandy wondered whether to say anything else. Finally, she decided it would be a good idea to encourage her. "Maybe you can help me a little this year, too."

Michelle knew this was wishful thinking. Or, did she just think that? She reminded herself that she'd been amazed, too, by some of the changes in Samantha. And yet, she'd had lots of confidence, too, in what Samantha could do.

Back in their fifth grade classroom, Michelle told Mandy, "I know you'd like to see her be as good as you. But, Steph says Samantha still needs some help emotionally. She's over at friends' houses every night, but she's still technically a latchkey kid, and oshe usually just rides her bike to friends' houses or around the city."

"Yeah. One of those kids with no supervision. Nobody to really know she can talk to," Mandy said sadly.

"Steph wishes she could help every kid like that. She's talked about adopting so a child will feel wanted when she grows up. Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky have their names in with an agency, too."

Cassie asked, "Does Stephanie keep total track of her?"

"She can't run herself through a copier, Cassie," Michelle joked. "But, she has friends who look out for Samantha. And, a couple times when you were each away for a while, I tried to call and find out where she would be, if I knew she wasn't with us or Courtney." Courtney was in Samantha's grade, and Samantha's other best friend besides Michelle.

Michelle cared for Samantha like a younger sister. She waved to her on the playground - because of Michelle's work as class president, fourth graders now had access to the fancier playground the fifth graders were allowed to use. So, she knew Samantha would often be there for lunch recess.

"Hey, Michelle," Samantha said as she ran over to Michelle and her friends. "Guess what? I'm going to dance right after school. I'll be going a few times a week now!"

"Awesome. So you're going to try to get into that dance school?"

"Yep, my teacher said she'd recommend me. I've got a rehearsal coming up in early November!"

Snobby Rachel Tilly overheard. Her long, flowing black hair, which reached down to her waist, swished around as she turned and said, "Great, you and me can dance with the San Francisco ballet together some day."

Cassie rolled her eyes at the boasting. "Oh, good grief!" The San Francisco ballet, like the Bolshoi in Russia, was one of the most prestigious ballets in the world! Quite a few professional ballerinas couldn't dream of that! Rachel boasted a lot, though.

"Rachel, can't you feel happy for Samantha instead of boasting about yourself?" Michelle asked.

"Hey, I feel good for her. I think she can be just as good as I am. In fact, I'll do you one better; I'll even say she might be as good as I am now," Rachel said, doing a twirl as she said this. "See, I'm being nicer than I was when I moved into this school last year."

Samantha did a similar twirl - only she let her hair fly loose, and one of her long braids hit Rachel in the back of the head. "Yep, just as good as you." She wasn't saying that to be boastful, though, but to be funny. She continued by doing a cartwheel.

"I can do that, too," Rachel said, doing the same cartwheel.

"Well, what do you know," Michelle good friend Jeff Farrington joked from the basketball court. "I've seen boys play h-o-r-s-e with basketballs, but I never knew girls did it with gymnastics."

"That would be an interesting contest." Mandy swiftly jumped to another subject, hoping to get Rachel's mind off her own talents. "I saw you and Sidney talking earlier today; I guess you're over your fight?"

"Yeah, we made up. I guess it's like Michelle helped me realize bit by bit last year, it's important to have friends," Rachel said without a huge amount of enthusiasm, though she showed some. Her focus was still on her own skills quite a bit, but at least there was some improvement, the others considered.

Sidney dialed the correct combination and unchained her bike from the bike rack as Michelle and her friends walked out to the bus after school. "Hey, good to hear you and Rachel are back to being friends," Michelle hollered to her as she waved.

"We didn't see you on the bus this morning," Mandy noted as they met Sidney near the bike rack. "But, we saw Rachel and she said you guys were friends again." She liked to be able to encourage other kids at times like this.

"Yeah, well, I rode my bike today. She'll have practice this afternoon, so…I wanted to ride around with some friends."

Samantha mentioned a couple landmarks, and asked if they'd seen them. "I really love going past Mrs. White's. Can you imagine how many different flowers she has?!"

"Oh, you go in a different direction. These friends are in another school," Sidney said with a little anxiety.

Mandy thought she noticed that, too. "That boy?"

"Come on, Mandy and I both have older sisters," Michelle said, trying to get Sidney to talk as Cassie motioned for them to hurry. "We've heard about these things."

"Does he ever use a log as a ramp? I tried once in the park near Michelle's house a couple years ago, like some boys were doing," Samantha said, trying to make conversation. "I wasn't on it a second before I fell. The boys said I needed more speed, but I didn't want to go that fast. One of Jeff's friends even did a wheelie on his bike."

"The boy's not too much older than you, is he?" Mandy wanted to know. She hoped it wasn't a teenager, but she could understand sixth grade.

"Oh…no, his friends are, b-…I mean, he's just in sixth. Look, I'm running late, my parents know where I'll be, so don't worry."

Michelle looked solemnly at her, sensing the evasiveness. "We understand. Just stay out of trouble."

"I will," Sidney promised tiredly as she rode off on her bike.

Michelle could sense a Rachel-like, superior manner in Sidney - she could see why the two got along. Of course, Sidney didn't boast about her own abilities like Rachel; but Sidney sometimes had an attitude that said she didn't need any help and was a bit better than Michelle and her friends; the latter was really Rachel's doing. That had disappeared slowly, like Rachel's, but could still be there a little at times.

She motioned for the others to follow. They watched until Sidney was out of view. "Hmmm, she is going toward another school, and Steph's always gets out after us."

Cassie remembered Michelle's look from the start of an incident with what turned out to be a renegade Flamingo - a member of a snobby, mean group of girls in Stephanie's middle school - had been hanging around their grade school. "You think there's a problem?"

"She was defensive; more than usual. And what about that boy's friends? Did she mean they're older or what?" Mandy wondered as they boarded the school bus just as it was about to leave. "I know we don't know her well, but it just seems unusual."

"I agree. Let's go that way on our bikes, just to make sure," Michelle said. "She was headed toward another middle school, not Steph's, but still…" She laughed at herself. "You know, I think Steph's getting to me. I'm starting to get this really protective feeling like she does with you, Samantha."

Cassie could understand. She said that at first, it would be fun to have Samantha's freedom. However, "After a while, it would get boring. You need someone to hang out with on a regular basis, too. Someone who is a really true friend, like you guys."

"Yeah, I'm glad I have you guys. It's nice to ride or come in a car. But, it's fun to ride the bus with you." Samantha thought for a second, glad to have met so many people in the Honeybees club Michelle helped get her into, and in dance. "Does Sidney have any friends besides Rachel?"

Michelle knew last year was Sidney's first in their class, and that Samantha likely didn't pay much attention to Michelle's group of friends a couple years ago. "She's had a few, but never very many. One good friend moved away in third grade. But, she's always been a little unfriendly. Nothing like Rachel, but more from being around her. So, we just don't know about Sidney. And, with the comment about that boy's friends…"

Mandy agreed as they got off the bus, thinking as a PA. "We did the right thing. We invited her to play with us when we heard she and Rachel had a fight. We just need to be more encouraging. If she's with the right group, fine. If not, we just steer her in the right direction." To her, it was just part of helping everyone and keeping kids safe in the little ways a child her age could do - one of the main parts of being a PA.

Once they got off and told their parents where they'd be, Michelle's Aunt Becky took Samantha to dance class, and the others gathered on their bikes at Cassie's. Michelle explained that, "There are lots of bad kids around. That's one reason I don't want to be class President this year like I was last year. I can spend more time helping you as well as helping Samantha."

"Even if we push you to run again?" Cassie asked as they rode.

"Yeah. Even with Samantha at dance more, since she's still playing soccer, too. If she starts struggling with homework, I'd like to help her in the evening. Steph and her friends could help in the summer, but she says it's easier for us fifth graders during the year. We don't have as much homework. Although, it sounds like it'll be a lot more than before, huh?" The others nodded.

"By us, you mean all three of us?" Cassie asked. Michelle confirmed it.

Mandy pledged to try. "I'll have a bit more homework than you guys now, though, since I might be out of class a fair amount of time some days. Although, I was lucky I didn't have anyone sent to see me today."

Michelle and Cassie laughed as they stopped at a traffic light. "Even Sam didn't get sent to Stephanie till her third day of Kindergarten."

"Oh. Well, then I have time to think about my hair."

"Your what?" Cassie asked as the light turned green.

They sped toward the middle school they assumed Sidney went toward as Mandy explained what she meant. "My hair. Michelle, it looks the same as it was after your horse riding accident over a year ago. And, when I visited you in the hospital, the nurses all said I looked like one of two girls Shirley Temple or Little Orphan Annie."

Cassie looked both ways with the others as she spoke. "Annie was a leader," she said.

"Yeah, but just the kind who comforted the other kids, not the kind who had to punish anyone. She took life as it came really well. But, I think she was a bit more like Michelle in how she led. A future class president, not a PA."

"Mandy, it doesn't matter what's on the outside," Michelle declared as they crossed the busy street. "It's what's in your heart. And, you've got the heart to take charge if you need. I don't think anyone's going to challenge you just because you have curly hair. The real question is, are you creative enough to solve problems?"

"I hope so. Schools are facing some real bullies, though. I mean, it's easy to talk to Kindergarteners. I know it was easy for D.J. and Stephanie," Mandy added.

"It will be with older kids, too. You just have to know how to reach them. And, that takes practice for everyone. Even Steph had to grow in her job, she says. She wasn't perfect right away," Michelle said. "You'll learn from your sisters the same way she learned from D.J.. But, Missy was an only child, and Jen just had a brother who was older. So, you'll use your grandma and your parents a little more, like they did."

"And my mom's always available, just like Stephanie will be," Cassie promised.

Mandy hummed. She was kind of amazed to think of Stephanie growing in her job. Of course, part of that was she hadn't known Stephanie till she moved there, and Stephanie was already turning thirteen then. Not only that, but from the way people talked, Stephanie was almost legendary.

Still, she decided she had to agree. "I guess I can make it without losing my curls. I wouldn't have been chosen if people didn't think I could do it, huh? And you think my name..." She laughed. "Well, Missy can be like 'Miss something,' but even so, I guess it's no different than Mandy." The girls shook their heads as they came upon a park.

It was near the school, and they spied Sidney with several older boys most all teenagers planning something. Michelle motioned for them to be quiet. What they heard shocked them. Sidney was chatting with the boys about some things that they'd brought.

The boys seemed to enjoy having Sidney along as a little sister type they'd helped her to get used to the spooky home, which she described as being really cool as long as she didn't get near the dust. But, these guys were obviously not the kind Sidney or any kid should be hanging around with! Even if they could tell Sidney was giving the youngest boy looks as if she really had a crush on him. At least that part of her story was true.

The three friends could tell that the boys didn't appear to have any weapons, and they weren't making any threatening moves. They would be able to get out in a hurry if they had to, but the young teens looked harmless – probably all from the other Middle School, which housed 6-9th graders.

"Freeze!" Michelle shouted. Sidney didn't know that Tanner house rule that one had to stop all movement but it had made her, and the others, turn around. Even if it came from a ten year old girl.

"Michelle...what are you doing here?" Sidney said nervously. A can of spray paint clattered on the sidewalk as she involuntarily dropped it.

Michelle ordered Sidney off of her bike. When the older boys protested, Mandy said, "Leave her alone!" in a firm voice.

"Oh, what are you, her sisters," one asked tauntingly.

When assuring her family they'd been safe, Michelle would later say the group seemed similar to the Sweathogs, a group of toughs who only did little things, but nothing really violent, on the TV Series "Welcome Back, Kotter." These kids likely weren't into much really bad stuff – yet.

Sidney cast Michelle a look requesting help, but at the same time wishing she wasn't there. She was quite torn about what to do, as she liked hanging around these boys. And yet, what they were doing was going beyond just talking tough. She knew she was in trouble, and didn't like that part.

Mandy was the first to speak. "We heard all about what you're planning to do. As the official principal's aide at Fraser St. Elementary, let me warn you you are all going to be in big trouble. I want nobody to leave, and if you do we will track you down. I am going to get your names..."

"And what, you'll tell our parents?" the oldest boy scoffed.

"We'll tell the police if we have to!" Mandy shouted.

"Don't think we won't." Cassie was a little shier, especially at times like this, but she was helping.

Michelle turned toward Sidney and added in a sweet, yet decisive voice, "And, don't try to get out of it. We may not have heard every word, but I can tell you weren't hired by Tom Sawyer to whitewash someone's fence." Mandy and Cassie stifled laughs.

"I I'm sorry. I just...thought it would be fun. It wouldn't have hurt anyone," Sidney complained, though in a low, muttering voice; in her mind she knew it was wrong. Her voice had gotten lower as she kept talking. She knew what she'd planned to do was bad. But, she tried to justify it even more. "They're just my friends," she muttered.

"We're your friends, too. And, you wouldn't want anyone to mess up your stuff, would you?" Mandy added helpfully. "I don't know what your parents would say. But, if we hear about anything getting vandalized like that I will tell the police who might have done it. Because, you may have only thought about that now. But, you need to learn to be nice before you do something a lot worse than spraying graffiti on some spooky looking old house," Mandy implored them.

"She's got a point. You don't know what the story is, either. The person might not even have any money to clean it up," Cassie declared.

Sidney sighed. She didn't want to admit that she'd been spray painting other things with these boys in the last couple weeks. It hadn't been a lot, but she knew she'd be grounded for a while if her parents found out. "Don't turn them into the police, though. I mean, especially not…"

"Your 'boyfriend'?" Michelle wondered. Sidney blushed slightly. "Come on, Mandy and I have older sisters."

"I know. You told me just half an hour ago."

"You don't need to be so defensive," Mandy said. "I want names, but I won't turn anyone in…this time!"

"Even you, if you did it, too," Michelle said, giving Sidney a pleading, puppy dog look. "Come on, Sidney. I know I'm not Rachel; but that should actually make it easier to admit it to me," she said, thinking out loud. As she hoped, Sidney chuckled a little. "She learning to be a friend, and so can you. But, friends tell each other these things."

"Yeah, right, so you can tell my parents."

"No, so you can. Then we won't have to," Mandy explained.

"We just want to help you not get in even bigger trouble," Michelle said with much compassion.

Sidney sighed as Michelle gave her her famous look. She didn't need to hear Cassie ask if her parents might figure it out anyway; she knew. "Okay, okay. I guess I was spray painting a few things with them the last few days."

"We kind of figured when we heard you talking. It's not something someone just hangs around without doing. If you don't like what someone's doing, you can always say no - and you should!" Mandy emphasized. "Because you'll be helping them realize something's wrong."

"Okay, I guess you're right," Sidney said resignedly. "I guess I'll tell my parents…if you'll help me."

"Sure, we will. We care about you," Michelle said. "These guys are turning you into something bad. Do you really want to hang around with them? Or do you want real friends?" Michelle challenged her.

Sidney sensed the disappointment in Michelle's voice, as she considered how she was tempted to follow this gang. She knew she shouldn't be hanging around these boys. She tried to mutter, "But Brad's so cute," but couldn't bring herself to say it. Yet, little stuff like what they'd been doing seemed fun.

Finally, she simply mumbled, "I guess you're right." She knew she shouldn't think of herself as being any better than Michelle and her friends. They really knew what they were talking about - Rachel had found that out when she was stopped from getting involved with the Flamingoes last spring.

The boys had been having fun laughing at the elementary school aged girls; they didn't think they were much of a threat. However, a couple had ridden off in the interim. Mandy didn't follow them, but she would get any information she could from Sidney.

In response to Sidney turned away from them, one of them – likely the oldest - spoke in a tone that reminded Michelle of John Travolta's character, Barbarino, on the sitcom. "Hey, girly, what's wrong, aren't we your pals anymore?" he asked.

"She doesn't need to be visiting friends in jail," Mandy announced. "I don't know if graffiti can send you there. But, you need to stop doing bad stuff before you wind up doing something that does."

Michelle and Cassie grinned. Mandy was becoming almost as blunt as Michelle, it seemed. She wasn't really trying to warn Sidney away from the boys as much as tell the boys where that path could lead. Michelle's Uncle Jesse hadn't gone that far, but she didn't know if these boys had the upbringing or desire necessary to stay away from the really bad stuff.

Once they were away from the boys, Sidney thanked Michelle. "I really didn't want to come back, they seemed real nice, like good friends. But, I sort of didn't want to stay there, either," she confessed.

"How did you meet them, anyway?" Mandy wanted to know as they rode to Sidney's.

"That oldest boy, he was my next door neighbor's boyfriend for a while. Her parents really didn't like him a lot. And, they broke up anyway. But, he'd seemed kind of nice. This one kid with him who rode around with him…well, he is kind of cute," Sidney said with an embarrassed grin.

"So is a lion cub, but when they grow up they can bite your head off," Michelle said bluntly.

Cassie agreed while chuckling. "Yeah, they're bad news. Don't go near them anymore."

"I won't." She looked at the others and said, "My parents will say not to anyway. I guess I better tell them myself, huh?"

And, she did. She told them Mandy had found her with them, and Mandy explained that she couldn't get the boys' addresses, but knew where they had been. She made sure Sidney told about the spray painting. Sidney was given a stern lecture once Mandy left, and not allowed to see the boys again, plus grounded for the painting and grounded from riding her bike for three weeks. Mandy hated to see anyone get in trouble, but felt like she'd nipped things in the bud quite nicely.

Meanwhile, Michelle had ridden home for dinner. Samantha had eaten at Crystal's, one of her best friends from dance class. Stephanie knew she'd be out playing for a while after that, but she often tried to check and make sure she was in by a certain time.

Especially with the story Michelle told about Sidney, Stephanie really worried when she called Crystal's home and Samantha wasn't there yet; she and Crystal were still out riding. The parents knew it was a bit late, but their daughter was half a year older than Samantha, and looked it, while Samantha looked a couple years younger than she was.

"Come on, Steph, it's only been a few minutes," Becky said in the living room as Stephanie stared at the phone.

"I know, but still, she was planning to spend the night here, and usually in by now. Tomorrow's a school day."

"Steph, today was the first day of school. I wouldn't even bat an eye until the non-school night curfew. It's harder for her to get adjusted to the new routine, just like for any kid."

"Yeah, maybe you're right, Aunt Becky," she said with a frown. But, was Samantha like any other kid? Well, emotionally, she had problems, but they weren't insurmountable. In fact, they'd done a pretty good job of helping her so they didn't surface much. She was small size-wise, too, though that generally wasn't a problem. And…

Stephanie chuckled at herself, then went upstairs to finish her homework. There were enough "usually's in her assessment of Samantha that she worried. She would force herself not to think of it for a half hour, though, because Becky was right. It was hard to get into a new routine. But, she still found herself concerned.

Finally, after calling two more times, including one thierty seconds after after the non-school night curfew passed, Stephanie decided maybe she'd better start calling people to look for Samantha. And, ask her dad to take her around to look herself.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. One of Michelle's friend's parents, Mr. Chow, had spotted Samantha outside and offered to take her to the Tanners'. She and Stephanie ran toward each other and embraced almost as soon as Danny opened the door. "Oh, Samantha, you had me so worried!" Becky called Crystal's parents to report they'd found Samantha – they reported Crystal had just come home, too.

"I'm sorry, Stephanie. I just forgot what time it was," Samantha said simply. Noticing the extremely relieved look on Stephanie's face, she raised her eyebrows. "Were you really that scared?" Stephanie nodded. "I'll never do it again, I promise!"

Stephanie grinned. Samantha was trying so hard to get away from her rebellious past, she'd become super-sensitive to Stephanie's looks. Samantha really had bonded with her and wanted to please her as she would a mother; Dr. Steiner had hinted at that, but how much was hard for anyone to really fathom. And, Samantha was worried about the lecture that might come.

Stephanie thanked Mr. Chow - a man Samantha knew well so it was okay for her to have gotten in his car. Then, she and Samantha cuddled on the couch for a minute, while Danny got Samantha's bike out of the trunk; her overnight stuff was already there at the Tanners'.

"Samantha, I was very, very scared," Stephanie said lovingly yet quite firmly as they snuggled. "I tried not to let it show. But, I really worry about you. You know how to tell time, it's okay to be running late, but you should call and let me know where you are, or let the Larkins or someone know."

"I know, Stephanie, I'm sorry." Samantha sniffled, partly feeling so badly because she was starting to get tired. "I'll call next time, I promise."

"I hope so. But, more importantly, I want you to learn how to watch the time. You can tell when it's getting darker and stuff…hey, Michelle." Stephanie explained what happened as Michelle sat next to them in her pajamas. Then, she continued to talk to Samantha. "What's most important is that you know I love you no matter what."

Michelle echoed the comment. "Sure. Just like I tell you about God, and how Jesus loves you no matter what. He wants to be able to help you. He wants you to turn to him whenever you need someone."

Stephanie concurred. "I might have sounded harsh just now, but one of Michelle's classmates got in some big trouble today because she got in with the wrong crowd. It scares me to think of what all could happen if you're not careful."

"You mean Sidney?" Samantha muttered, resting on Stephanie's lap; at nine, she was still the size of a seven year old. When Stephanie said "yes," Samantha said, "I wish I could have stopped her."

"Samantha, I'm glad you care. But, she's got to learn what friends to make and what not to. She's got parents who love her very much, just like we and the Larkins love you."

After they talked for a few minutes, Michelle went out into the kitchen to get something to snack on, and D.J. came downstairs. "Hey, Steph. Dad told me what happened. We're glad you're safe," D.J. told Samantha as she sat where Michelle had been.

"I can't believe I was so dumb."

D.J. knew this was not only Samantha's own frustration at herself, but possibly Stephanie over-emphasizing how scared she'd been just a little. "Well, we all do it - or at least most kids do - at some point. And, I guess it's good to know that you're turning into just a regular kid. One who messes up, just like every human, child or adult." D.J. recalled what Samantha had said about needing everyone to care like Stephanie and the others did. "You know, Samantha, when our Uncle Jesse first moved in, he was quite a rebel. Rode a motorcycle, liked to do daring stunts, hardly what you'd call a family man. But, as he grew to know us, and enjoy our family more and more, you know what he said once? He said being with us, he was finding out that there were empty spaces in his heart he hadn't realized were there. And, being with us, that filled those empty spots."

"Yeah?" Samantha could feel that same sort of tugging, an emptiness that Stephanie and Michelle and Courtney and so many others had filled. Yet, she kept needing more.

"That's why Michelle and Steph have told you about God's love a lot," D.J. said. "Samantha, it's great to have people around you. Good people, that is. But, like anything, we're not big enough to solve every problem. God is, though. I once heard a minister say there's a God sized hole in each of our hearts that only Jesus can fill."

"Michelle always says He's like a best friend," Samantha remarked.

D.J. grinned, careful not to tell what Stephanie had done, as it was so embarrassing. But, she couldn't help but tell what she'd talked with Stephanie about the night Stephanie had back Joey's car into the kitchen when she was eight, "I remember Steph did something once, and she couldn't imagine how anyone could forgive her. And I told her that evening, the wonderful thing was God is even more amazing that we were in our love and forgiveness for what she'd done. And, you can receive that same love and forgiveness she did right now, if you want. You wouldn't even have to go to church."

"I'd like to have that," Samantha said with confidence, finally starting to realize what Michelle had meant those times. Samantha didn't care what Stephanie had done. She knew some things were too embarrassing.

"I told Stephanie we all do bad things. Sometimes, like what Steph did then, it was something little that just caused a super sized big problem. But, no matter how little, we've all fallen short of God's perfect goodness. So, He sent His Son, God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, to take our punishment. He died for you and rose from the dead. And, you just have to pray and receive his forgiveness. If you do that and believe with all your heart, He will not only forgive you but come to live in you. Then you can talk with Him and He'll help you with whatever you need."

Stephanie confirmed that it was that easy. As they prayed with Samantha, and Samantha received Christ's forgiveness, she knew Samantha would be excited, but she was almost more ecstatic herself. Just like when she'd backed that car into the kitchen, somehow, something good had come out of that terrible mess.

They - and Michelle, who had rejoined them - talked for a few more minutes about what happened with Sidney. "I'm sure she won't do it again," Michelle said confidently.

"I hope not. I hate seeing people get in trouble," Samantha said, the feeling reminding her of her past bad attitude.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" She told D.J. it did. "I guess you just have to think about the fact she knows someone loves her, and helped correct the problem."

"If someone loves her like that, then why did she do it?" The others wished they could answer that question.

Later that evening, Samantha couldn't sleep. She glanced at the clock - 2:43 AM - and at the Bible she'd been given a few months back by Mrs. Larkin. She'd had fun in church when she'd gone with the Tanners or Larkins a few times. And now, she really felt like she understood much of what had been said about having Jesus to talk to anytime.

"Authorized King James: 1611," the bible said in part on the inside. 1611. So far back in time, yet so current, Mrs. Larkin had said.

Just like Samantha felt. So distant. There was love out there. She felt cared for at last, especially when with the Tanners. But, in another way, things seemed so empty in her heart yet. She didn't want to wake anyone, so as she sometimes did, she got up and walked around in the Tanner home, testing that newly found relationship and faith that she'd discovered a few hours earlier.

"God," she spoke aloud as she wandered the dark hallways, "thanks for loving me and forgiving me. Stephanie says I can talk to you whenever I want. That's really neat. People say you can fill all the holes in my heart. I just have to have faith. Well, now's a good time to start, I guess."

Samantha had gotten up to go to the bathroom. Once it was certain she was out of the room, her favorite animal, Mr. Snuggle Bunny, stretched and hopped off the bed. Michelle had given him to Samantha for her sixth birthday. He walked over to where Stephanie's best stuffed friend, Mr. Bear, was on a shelf.

"Hey. Seems like Samantha's doing better than we thought," Mr. Bear said.

"Yeah. Don't know how much she'll wander around the house, but she seems more confident than she might have after the last few years. I think she's feeling a lot more so every day that Stephanie and the others will still care about her no matter what; she's really gotten to the point she's harder on herself than Stephanie is."

"Makes sense." Mr. Bear had been really stressed at first after Stephanie's mom had died. But, helping her had been nothing like advising Mr. Snuggle Bunny on how to assist Samantha. "She has a lot of friends around her. Especially you."

"Thanks. I try. She talks to me and tells me stuff like Stephanie probably did you. But, she is improving. At least she talks,' the bunny said. "And, her imagination is good; she imagines positive, healthy things now. And, has for a long time."

"So, she doesn't think Stephanie was too harsh back then?"

"What do you think, Mr. Bear? I don't know. She seems to think it was just right, how Stephanie treated her. She's become another Michelle in a lot of ways, but there's parts of Stephanie that rub off on her, too. Like mother, like daughter they say."

Mr. Bear laughed out loud. "Well, that could be true. I don't think she was too harsh. I'm glad she's so active and really wants to be good. Michelle still talks to some of her animals some, and I've heard Samantha might go to dance school. That's the kind of thing she needs to focus on, I think."

"Agreed; I'm glad to hear what you've said, that there's no way Stephanie would revoke that, even if she'd done whatever that classmate of Michelle's did earlier. She is a great ballerina, in her mind. That's what she focuses on to keep her mind off of problems. She has a lot of other great positive traits, too, and stuff like soccer she's good at, but dance is the biggest one. And, the only one she's able to think about sometimes," Mr. Snuggle Bunny concluded.

"Samantha's wandered into the kitchen. We have a few minutes to talk ourselves if we want," a unicorn of Samantha's said.

Mr. Snuggle Bunny brought up a point. "I'm still puzzled by what she asked me the other day. If the Velveteen Rabbit story is true, and stuffed animals become real ones before they can be destroyed, what would you become?"

"Good question; I guess people would wonder about a unicorn walking around. Although, I could just take off my horn and be a horse."

Mr. Snuggle Bunny was stunned. "You can do that?"

"Come on," the unicorn said. "We're in Samantha's imagination. I could become a ballerina, too, if I wanted."

The animals chuckled. "Maybe I'd become a baseball player," Mr. Bear joked.

Samantha made herself a small sandwich and a glass of warm milk. She ate it, then placed the dish and glass in the sink. She walked toward the picture window in the living room, and sighed as she peered outside.

"You know, God, I was so lonely back then. I just didn't think about others way back when I met Stephanie. I guess maybe I didn't care about myself since nobody else did. But, I know You care about me. You think I'm special. Just like Michelle and Stephanie and Courtney and all the Tanners and Larkins do. And, I believe what they say; that you loved me even back then. I'm glad you loved me so much. And, they did, too."

Samantha gazed at the deep blackness, with only streetlights providing illumination. It reminded her so much of her world. And yet, there was something special in her heart. She really did have a family. She had two, in fact.

"It's amazing. Just like that doctor said that picture meant that I drew," she remarked suddenly, her eyes brightening. She hadn't quite understood some of the things Dr. Steiner had said when the Tanners first took her to see the psychologist a couple years before. But, now she was starting to realize that that doctor had been quite accurate in understanding her.

"I guess I hadn't wanted to think about it," she remarked. "I mean, I've told Michelle she's like a sister, and stuff like that. But, it was really just because she said that's how I felt. I never really thought about whether it was true. But, it is." She grinned. "I told Michelle I wished my parents could give me a big sister like her. But, you know, she already is one. She might not live in the same house. But, in a way, I think she is one."

Samantha smiled, said a simple thanks, and did something unique for her in these moments. She skipped up to the bedroom, a warm, happy smile on her face. She was finally able to look inside some of those deep crevices of her soul, and surprisingly enough to her, some of those holes were being filled.

But, maybe she shouldn't have felt surprised, she considered. Stephanie had said it would happen, if she just had faith.