11

"Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?" Geoff stood in the entranceway to the kitchen, hair askew, bleary-eyed, unshaven, wearing plaid pajama bottoms and an old robe left open.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Macy chimed, stirring eggs in bacon grease. "Orange juice?"

"Love some." He meandered over to the kitchen table and dropped into a chair to rub at his face. "Why are you up so early? Why are you dressed like that?"

"Well, after my run, I got a shower and decided I'd go to work with you again."

He stared uncomprehendingly at her like she'd just jabbered at him in an unfamiliar language. "You run? You don't run."

"Hungry?"

He watched her approach cautiously in heels, carrying a plate of hot breakfast. "Did you buy shoes when you went running?"

"Oh, these?" She turned her head and her ankle to glance at them. "You got them for me for that last funeral we went to."

"Oh." He grabbed hot sauce and doused his fried eggs, put orange marmalade on his English muffin. "You sleep good?"

"I slept fantastic!" she enthused.

"Like you were dead."

"Yeah," she said.

"I didn't get much sleep at all."

"So I see."

"This is good."

"Just how you like it," she agreed.

"And why are you coming to work with me?"

"I want to learn more about the Quasar Program."

"Okay." He stuffed muffin in his mouth and chewed. "I'm pretty sure Dory's going to be busy."

"I thought I'd talk to John."

"Dr. Happenstance? I think he's on vacation."

The change in her face was dramatic. She appeared absolutely devastated. Geoff ate crispy bacon while he pondered her over-reaction. "Well, maybe Dr. Halbot might let me ask her some things?"

"Like if she prefers to roast children in her oven or her fireplace? I thought you didn't like her."

She shrugged, eyes downward. "She's okay."

He was curious as to how this would all play out. "Okay. Come to work with me. Learn things. I'll want a full report by the end of work Friday."

"Okay," she agreed.

"What day is it anyway?"

"It's Wednesday."

"Oh. John's not on vacation yet."

Macy's fists flew up and she shook them while hissing an excited, "Yesssss!"