I own myself, and that is enough.

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Name: Alexandria

Age: 7

Favorite Color: pruple

Favorite Book: 14 Bears

Favorite Animal: Daddy

The crayoned list hung crookedly over the couch. Its wooden frame slipped and caught perilously close to falling as the floor shook. Hideous screams resonated through the house. Outside the windows, Manhattan was stepping into summer, and no one heard. Finally, as the picture sailed from the wall and slid behind the couch, the screaming turned to breathy giggles.

"Ha," Alexandria said, flushed and still giggling "You can't get me again!"

She watched with fascinated interest as her father, transformed into a fierce monster, crouched on the floor, snarling a little, and inching closer, ready to pounce. The seven year old backed up slowly, ready to break for the hallway, but unwilling to provoke another 'attack.'

Slowly, slowly…

Another scream echoed through the apartment as the monster sprang. Alexandria shrieked with laughter and kicked out wildly as her father tickled her mercilessly. One kick caught him in the midriff and left him breathless for a few moments. She wriggled away industriously, but a long arm held her firmly around her middle.

"Oooh, you're in trouble now," he threatened "I am especially angry now."

Alexandria giggled irreverently. And attempted her escape.

"You're really wearing me out," he said, under his breath, and resumed the tickling.

53 years stretched between the father and daughter. At sixty, you might look better than most people do at forty…but you are still sixty years old.

"Mean-meanie!" she said, and swiped at his nose.

With a final desperate effort, she squirmed away.

"You're never going to get me," she said confidently, smoothing her t-shirt with one hand.

"Are you sure?" He curled his lip in a horrible way.

There was a mad scramble. After a few minutes, and a lot of screaming and growling, Alexandria Jones was being carried off to bed, upside down, over her father's shoulder. She pounded on his back vigorously.

"A-ha, I have you!" he said "It is time for bed Alex, so stop trying to kick me in the head and you can read me a story."

Suddenly cunning, Alexandria switched her tactic, and relaxed, becoming a bony sandbag that succeeded in slipping from her 'enemy's' grasp.

"Carry me to bed," she said impishly from the floor, and held out her arms.

"Oh Lexi," he grumbled, swinging her into his arms "Sometimes I wish the goblins would come and take you away."

She pinched his nose cheerfully.

"Say all of it." she said "And I'll pinch your nose."

He laughed, and spoke in exaggerated nasally tones.

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away," he said "Right now."

And in the moment, she was gone. He almost tripped over his own feet; surprised by the sudden loss of weight in his arms.

"Lexi?" he said, idiotically, as if she had pulled the same trick and wiggled her way from his grasp.

Somehow, from a summer city, there came a strong blast of winter air. A bang, like an opening---or closing---door came from nowhere. He turned, feeling something squeeze his heart like a vise.

In the absolute familiarity of your own home, it is difficult to be easily frightened. So when, instead of his seven year old daughter, he saw a tall, extravagantly dressed stranger leaning one hand against the wall, he didn't even stop to think to be afraid.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" he demanded.

The stranger widened his eyes in mock surprise.

"Shoot the messenger." he said, sadly "I'm just here to give the terrible news that I--" he flourished a hand "Have taken you seriously."

"Look," the outraged man replied through clenched teeth "I don't give a damn about your theatrics. What have you and your f-g friends done with my daughter?"

Even in the midst of his anger, he felt a strange recognition, an almost sickening realization. Something also flickered over the stranger's face, and he leaned closer. In one moment, the thought exploded in each of their heads. Twin-colored eyes---one blue and one brown---matched in either face.

"My God," the stranger said, still managing a mocking tone "I've found my twin---in a human!"

David Bowie and Jareth, King of the Goblins, stood face to face.