Changes - January

"Thanks for this, we really need you at Rangeman even if it is only part time." Tank pushes her copy of the contract they both signed over his desk to her.

"No problem, low end skips are just not doing it right now. Got to keep Rex in hamster crunchies, right?"

"I thought the little vampire lived on blood," wisecracked Ranger.

Steph whacked him on the arm on her way past. "When do you guys leave? Or if you tell me you have to kill me..."

"In two days, Zip is stepping up and running Rangeman Trenton. Cal is going to be his second in command. Cal is going to be managing your training, he has the medical information from Bobby for your physical training. I think that Hector is going to handle lock picking and other security bypassing, and Ram is handling weapons, and Binky for self defense."

"I wish you didn't have to leave so soon." Steph scooted past Ranger and slid her contract into her messenger bag. She grabbed her utility belt out of the top drawer and put it on. "And I promise, I will really keep my gun loaded and carry it any time I am not at my desk."

Hal popped his head over the cubical wall and added "Am I still going to be her first partner?"

Lester answered "yes, so you also get Granny Duty, so be careful of those fingers!"

Hal groaned.

Lester snickered.

"Guys, I *am* sitting here, and she is my grandmother ..." Steph teased. "Buttheads."

"Stephanie" shrilled that annoying voice "It's your mother"

"Hello Mom, you don' need to shout, I can hear you just fine," sighed Steph.

"Well you don't need to be so rude about it" she went on.

"How many times do I need to remind you not to shout on the phone then?"

"Well, fine. Did you know your grandmother has been in *Connecticut* gambling?"

"No, just that she and her crewe, as she calls them, had gone to Atlantic City. I have been busy this week and didn't have time for the whole soap opera."

"Now that is just rude..."

"Well, rent needs to be paid, and I need to work to get the money to pay."

"If you would just quit that nasty job and go to work at the tampon factory and marry Joseph you wouldn't have money troubles," her mother spouted the eternal whine.

"Mom, I like my job, and I am not marrying Joe. I don't care what you say."

"Well I never..."

"Obviously you just did. So Grandma Mazur was gambling in Connecticut instead of New Jersey and this is important why?"

"Well, she just came home."

"And?" I really wish she would come to the point, if there was actually a point and no just some random reason to call and whine at me. "What do you want me to do about it after she got herself home?"

"Well" she huffed.

"Well what? She is home, I would guess she is safe, you know where she was, so what is left?"

"Fine. Dinner tomorrow at 6 pm."

"OK. So it is Friday dinner as usual. See you then." Hanging up Steph shakes her head and thunks it down on the arm of her sofa.

Edna Mazur got her heavy blue woolen coat out of the closet and put it on, hung her purse on her arm and eased her way out the front door closing it softly so Helen wouldn't notice she had left. Walking the 2 blocks to her friend Lorraine Zupek's house she enjoyed the crisp morning air. Knocking at Lorraine's door, she winced slightly at the pain it caused the touch of arthritis in her shoulder.

Lorraine opened the door "Hello Edna, I just called the taxi for you, he should be here in a few minutes. I suppose you don't have time for a cup of coffee?" The burg houswife in Lorraine showed in the gracious offer of hospitality.

"No thanks, Lorraine. We can have coffee when I am done. This newfangled phone Stephanie got me for Christmas takes dandy pictures so I can show you the funny indian statues up at that casino in Connecticut, they are the darndest things!" Hearing the short beep of the horn on the cab outside, Edna opened the door and waved at the driver to let im know she was on her way out. "This shouldn't take too long, maybe an hour. I will see you when I get back and we can have coffee!"

"Changes" David Bowie

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
and every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace
I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time