YOU'RE NOT ALONE - CHAPTER 11 - "Operartion Cheer Up - Part 1" The Tuesday before the biopsies....Early afternoon at the Sanrio store in Tokyo...... Greg gathers all the costumes her older sister dropped off. Darien is there carrying them to Darien's car. "I appreciate her doing this", smiles Greg, "she went completely out of her way to do this". "She sure did", agrees Darien, "thankfully, there were no special appearances so all the costumes were conviently available. She even included gifts for both Molly and Lita but left a couple of special gifts for Molly". "So far, everything is going well as planned", smiles Greg as he puts the gifts in Darien's car, "I informed the others to be at your place tonight at 7". "Did you call Molly and Lita to let them know to be at my place tonight at 7:30?", asks Darien. "Last night", answers Greg, "but it wouldn't be a bad idea to remind them again". "Would you like to use my cell phone?", asks Darien as he offers his cell phone to him. "Hey, thanks, Darien", smiles Greg as takes Darien's cell phone, "that's really nice of you. I'll call Molly first". Greg dials Molly's number. The phone rings twice. "Hello, Molly?.........hi, this is Greg...........I'm doing fine. Yourself?.....Wonderful. Listen, I'm just calling you to reminf you about the gathering tonight at Darien's at 7:30....Still planning to make it?....Great. We'll see you tonight then....You, too. Bye-bye". "Sounds like a confirmation, Greg", nods Darien. "Now to call Lita", says Greg as she dials Lita's number. The phone rings three times. "Hello, Lita?.....Hi. It's me, Greg....I'm going fine. Listen, I wanted to let you know about tonight at Darien's at 7:30. Are you still planning to attend?....I'm glad to hear that. Well, we will see you tonight, then.......alright, bye-bye". He turns off the cell phone and hands it back to Darien. "Thanks for the use of your phone". "No problem, Greg", nods Darien, "so shall we head off to my place for Operation Cheer Up?" Greg places the final batch of gifts in Darien's car and enters the car on the passenger's side. "Let's make preparations for Operation Cheer Up", he smiles. Two hours later....the doorbell rings at Molly's house....Molly walks over to answer door and opens it........... "Hiya, Molly", greets Lita carrying an pvernight bag and two bags full of groceries. "Oh, hi, Lita", Molly smiles, "please, come in". "Sure, thanks", nods Lita as she enters the house with the bags. "So, what's with the groceries and all?", asks Molly. "I was thinking maybe if I could spend the night, or two, here with you", answers Lita, "do you object to it? I just didn't want to be alone because of tomorrow". "I have no problems at all with that, Lita", assures Molly, "that worked out perfect, so we could leave from here and go to the hospital together". "I like it when a plan goes well", smiles Lita, "by the way, do you mind if I whip up my kitchen magic here for you and your mom?" "You mean you're going to fix dinner for my omther and I?", blinks Molly, "that would be wonderful". Lita puts down her overnight bag next to her shoes and walks over to the kitchen to put down the bags of groceries on the table. "I was thinking since both of us are going to go through the same ordeal tomorrow", she grins, "might as well make the best of this tonight. Since we can't eat anything after midnight, we might as well feast out, the homemade way". "That sounds great, Lita", nods Molly, "you reallt didn't have to go totally out of the way for this". "It's no trouble, really", assures Lita as she empties the groceries on the table, "I love doing this. It helps keep my mind at ease about the procedure". She holds out a pack of fresh shrimp to Molly. "Look, I'm even going to make your favorite, fried shrimp. I'm going to fix it the way you like it, coconut battered". "I like it when you make it like that", smiles Molly, "you really give the fried shrimp quite an exotic flavor". "Lita holds up a fresh coconut. "I even got a fresh coconut to make it with", she grins, "use the coconut milk to make the batter and the coconut slivers as an added bonus to flavor". "So that's the secret to your coconut battered fried shrimp", giggles Molly. "One of my many cooking secrets, Molly", grins Lita, "but don't tell anyone. That is until I publish my cookbook". "Oh, I won't", grins Molly, "I was wondering. did Greg call you about some kind of gathering at Darien's place tonight at 7:30?" "Yes, he did", answers Lita, "he also called me. Maybe something special will happen tonight". "It's very possible", adds Molly, "so we should attend". "We should", adds Lita, "but first, would you like to assist me in the kitchen?" "I would love to, Lita", smiles Molly. TO BE CONTINUED.................