Foreword: For those of you who don't know, what happened to Booker while Elizabeth and Anna were at Carnegie Hall in the last chapter is being covered in Alone in the Infinite. Now, for something a little... different, I hope.
February 22, 1896, 4:45 PM
A tiny yawn escapes as she climbs the stairs with her family, a smile touching her lips once it subsides; they'd been out all day, and she'd napped in the carriage ride home, but she's enjoyed herself plenty. And she can't wait to get how; it is her birthday after all.
Anna looks up to her daddy and big sister, she walking between Booker and Elizabeth with her hands in each of theirs. Elizabeth carries something under her left arm that she called an 'easel' and 'canvas', Anna's big sister wanting to try her hand at painting again and spending a lot of her time at Central Park at lakeside with the easel, canvas and a brush.
And Anna had fallen asleep next to Booker on their blanket before lunch, her early morning catching up with her. "Big sister, did you have fun with your painting?" Anna leans forward just enough to peer at the canvas beneath Elizabeth's arm, and she grins as she lets herself brush against the soft blue skirt her sister wears.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Anna. I just wish it turned out a little better; I might've been too ambitious, trying to paint the lake the first time out." A small smile appears on Elizabeth's lips, and Anna grins back at her big sister happily as they step out of the stairwell. A chuckle comes from her right, Booker fishing his keys from his pocket once they near the door.
"Booker, maybe we should ask the Luteces for another Infusion or two. If you're getting shot enough to have your shield collapse when I'm not around, don't you suppose it would be for the best to strengthen it, or at least you?" A coy grin touches Elizabeth's lips, and Anna cocks her head as she looks up at her big sister; what's an Infusion?
Booker just shakes his head wearily, Elizabeth chuckling softly, "Just poking fun, Booker." But Anna can't help but hear a bit of worry in her sister's voice. She remembers the worried look Elizabeth wore the day after they went to listen to pretty music; she said daddy did something foolish, and wouldn't tell her what. But Anna puts it from her mind as Booker sighs, he unlocking the front door and pulling it open.
"We're home!" Anna slips inside the moment the door's open, and a delighted smile crosses her face as she sees what awaits her inside, "Uncle Robert, aunty Rosalind!"
"Welcome back." Rosalind turns from her brother as Anna shouts, nodding quickly, "It's nice to see you again, Anna." She's sitting at the supper table with Robert standing beside her, both Anna's aunty and uncle looking the same as ever and wearing the same look on their faces as always. "Did you have fun today?"
"We went to the park!" Running up to Rosalind, Anna gives her a big hug while smiling from ear to ear, the redheaded lady awkwardly putting her hands on her shoulders a moment later, "I had a lot of fun!" Turning to Robert form Rosalind once she's satisfied with her hug, Anna gives the brother Lutece an equally fierce embrace.
"Why, thank you, Anna." Robert nods as Anna hugs him, she looking up at him with a silly grin on her face.
"We went and had a picnic by the lake; I had sandwiches, and pears!"
"Nice to see you two again." A chuckle comes from behind her, Anna turning to see her big sister smiling as she steps past, "Anna, you should wash up; it's almost supper time." Elizabeth wearily makes her way to the bookcase once she finishes, resting the easel and canvas against the wall.
"Okay… oh, big sister went and painted the lake!" Anna grins as she looks to the covered canvas, stepping away after a moment and heading for the bathroom; there's a footstool in there, so she can reach the sink on her own.
"Anna's quite fond of Central Park, isn't she?" Rosalind's voice sounds from the other room as Anna steps into the kitchen, she spotting Booker at the counter beside the stove. A notion to surprise her daddy with a quick hug tickles Anna's fancy, but she just grins and slips towards the bathroom door.
"Yes, it does seem that way. And this is quite nice; you seem a touch reluctant to show off this painting of yours. Why is…?" Robert's voice comes in answer to Rosalind's just as Anna closes the bathroom door, fading away the moment the door clicks shut. Climbing onto the stool and washing her hands like her big sister told her to, a tiny smile crosses her face as Anna thinks about what Robert and Rosalind were saying; she really likes the park, it's one of her favorite places to visit, even though they had to visit the other one with the strange, smooth stones all lined up in a row first.
Drying her hands, Anna stops to pick at her dress and straighten it, her happy grin growing wider on her face; her daddy had given her this dress a few days ago, and it looks just like her old favorite dress while fitting her a lot better, the white with blue stripes the reason for her happy smile. Anna doesn't know why she likes it so much; just that it feels so wide open and it makes her happy.
Reaching for the doorknob once she's finished, Anna stops once she manages to get it in her tiny grasp; her big sister had nudged her daddy with an elbow at the park, asking again about what had happened on the day they went to the symphony. Anna still doesn't know what she's talking about, and daddy had just groaned and said 'it was nothing, I just had a client come in.'
Elizabeth had just rolled her eyes in mock exasperation and grinned playfully, but Anna could tell she was still a little worried. Not that she understands why, and little Anna just shrugs.
"I'm back!" Strolling back into the living room, Anna smiles as she glances over at the bookcase; the wooden shelves are still mostly empty, but the books that are there are mostly high up. But that's not what she's looking at right now; the sheet that Elizabeth had draped over her painting had been pulled away, the sight of the pretty lake from the park making her smile grow even wider.
"Did you wash your hands like I said, sweetheart?" Elizabeth's seated next to Rosalind, Anna's big sister raising an eyebrow at her.
"Yes, big sister." Anna nods and holds up her hands as proof, a lopsided grin appearing on Elizabeth's lips as she does; her fingers are still a little wet, Anna having hastily dried them before hurrying back, and now she wipes them on her dress as she steps slowly over to the bookcase. There's something very specific that she wants right now.
"It seems the little one is in need of a book." Uncle Robert's voice catches Anna's ear as she touches a hand to the smooth, shiny wood of the bookcase, her gaze going from looking up at the books to her big sister, uncle and aunty.
"Oh. Anna, don't try to climb it now…" Elizabeth looks over form the table, quickly climbing to her feet and hurrying over, "Why don't you tell me what you want?"
"Okay… Paris, big sister." Anna giggles as a knowing smile touches Elizabeth's lips, her big sister slowly shaking her head as she turns back to the bookcase."
"Anna, before you sit down with your sister, why don't you come and have a chat with us?" The even voice of Rosalind draws Anna's attention, the redheaded lady motioning to the chair Elizabeth had just vacated.
"Sure." Padding over quickly, Anna climbs into Elizabeth's chair without too much of a struggle, "What is it, aunty?"
"Do you like going to the park, Anna?"
"I do!" Despite herself, Anna bounces in her seat for a moment, she giggling once that's over with, "It's my favorite place to visit! But… it's not as fun when daddy and big sister aren't there." Screwing up her face as she thinks back, Anna just shrugs after a moment, "When I went with big sister and Ms. Pearl, it wasn't the same…"
"Surprising." Uncle Robert leans closer, Anna almost able to reach up and touch his nose, "What if, perhaps you visited Central Park with your family and Ms. Pearl? As I recall, it's been done once or twice."
"Yeah! It's really fun!" Anna just smiles at Robert and Rosalind, the twins sharing a look that she can't read.
"Here we are; c'mon, Anna, let's sit on the couch and read it together."
"Okay, big sister. Bye, aunty, uncle." Waving at the twins before hopping off the chair, Anna scurries over to the sofa and climbing atop it just as Elizabeth arrives herself. "Can I sit on your lap, big sister?"
"Sure, Anna." Taking her seat after shifting part of her skirt out of the way, Elizabeth gives Anna a small hug before picking her up and setting her little sister on her lap, "Here we go, little banana."
While Elizabeth slowly opens the cover and thumbs through the first blank page, Anna breathes a tiny, happy sigh as she settles in; Anna's always loved the feel of Elizabeth's pretty blue dress, and she'd hug her big sister even more than she usually does whenever she wears it. The touch of the blue jacket and skirt is so soft and smooth, so comfortable, and Anna's never felt anything like it at all. And she doesn't understand why Elizabeth doesn't wear it more often.
Elizabeth turns the page to an image of a giant stone building, the caption labelling it the Notre Dame de Paris, and Anna touches the page as she smiles slowly; the way the picture looks reminds her of her big sister's painting, just a little. Anna had practically bowled her big sister over as they had lunch, Elizabeth having taken a break from the painting to enjoy the picnic. She'd just told Anna that Ms. Pearl was making an extra special cake for her, and she'd run up to Elizabeth to give her a big hug. And she hadn't let go for a while, burying her face in her sister's soft blue jacket.
"Look, Anna; there's the Seine."
"Oooh…" Anna focuses on the picture of the river, a happy, if small, grin gracing her features; Anna loves almost everything in this book, but her favorites are of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine river, a smile always finding its way to her face when she sees them. Elizabeth's lake painting had gotten her thinking about the river, and Anna leans back to rest against her sister and her pretty jacket.
"Look, big sister," pointing at a particular picture of the river, Anna smiles up at Elizabeth, "It's just like your painting!" A small smile appears on Elizabeth's lips, and Anna giggles as her big sister gives her a quick peck on the forehead.
"Thank you, sweetie… but it's just… I've fallen out of practice with painting, and it's just not coming back to me…" Elizabeth's smile turns a touch sad, and a small sigh escapes her, "Singing still feels the most natural to me. You still like my singing best, right, sweetheart?" Anna only nods, her big sister giving her a hug before turning back to the book.
As they finish and Elizabeth closes the book, Anna glances up at her big sister slowly, "Elizabeth, are we going to have our birthdays together, like last year?" She's all too aware of what her birthday means; friends, presents and cake.
"Umm… Anna..." Shaking her head slowly, Elizabeth gives her a light squeeze on the shoulder, "Last year, we did that because we missed mine in the October before that, remember? But we celebrated mine this time around."
"Oh. Okay." A quiet sigh escapes Anna, the little girl sliding off her sister's lap and landing on the rug feet first, "So…" But a knock on the front door cuts little Anna off, she and Elizabeth turning their attention to the shadow cast on the glass.
"Allow me." Robert steps around the sofa as Elizabeth makes to stand, the redhead stopping at the door for a second before reaching for the knob.
"Oh, good afternoon, Robert." A smile appears on Anna's face as she spies Ms. Pearl in the doorway, a large plate in her gloved hands and bearing what looks like a round layer cake, covered in light brown, fluffy looking frosting. The frosting forms a decorative circle around the edge of the cake's top, and is especially thick near the base of the dessert. And Anna can hardly wait, only Elizabeth's hand on her shoulder keeping her from running up to Ms. Pearl.
"Right this way." Robert steps aside to allow the elderly woman in and leads her to the dinner table, Ms. Pearl resting the cake atop it.
"Oh, thank you." Ms. Pearl gives both Robert and Rosalind a smile as she takes a seat. But Anna has something in mind; her sister's hand disappeared from her shoulder the moment Ms. Pearl put the cake down. "Where's Booker…?"
"Ms. Pearl!" Running headlong into Ms. Pearl, Anna hugs the older lady as best she can, "Is that for me? Thank you!"
"Oh, Anna! Oh, it's so good to see you, too!" Anna's smile grows as Ms. Pearl hugs her back, a hand stroking her long hair, "I wish I could pick you up still, but you're growing so fast!"
"It's okay. I can help myself up now." Grinning at Ms. Pearl as she releases her embrace, Anna clambers up onto the next chair, Ms. Pearl turning to face her. "See?" But her eyes are already drawn to the cake; white frosting spells out words on the cake, reading 'Anna's 3rd Birthday'.
"Thanks for coming, Ms. Pearl, and for bringing the cake." Elizabeth joins Anna and Ms. Pearl at the table with a smile on her face, giving their neighbor a warm hug the moment she's close enough.
"No trouble at all, dearie." Speaking the moment she and Elizabeth part, Ms. Pearl gives both Anna and her big sister one of her kindly smiles, "It was my pleasure, really."
"Oh, Ms. Pearl!" Scooting forward so she's on the edge of her seat, Anna grins mischievously at the older lady, "Big sister painted the lake today! Look, it's over there!" She waves a hand towards the corner where the bookcase and canvas rests, more than a little excited by everything that's happened so far.
"Anna." One hand comes down on Anna's and the other cups her left cheek, Elizabeth turns her so they're eye to eye, "It's your birthday, sweetheart; why are you so interested in my painting? It's your big day; shouldn't we be doing what you want to do?"
"Oh, yes, dearie. What is it that you want, Anna?" Ms. Pearl nods in agreement, and even Robert and Rosalind turn their attention over to Anna.
"Umm…" She has to stop and think about it for a good while; Anna could have a great big tea party with Ms. Pearl, aunty Rosalind and uncle Robert here, or she could ask daddy and big sister to play for her again. Truth be told, Anna likes it when her family plays for her more than when she went to the symphony. "I want… I want Elizabeth to brush my hair. Daddy always does it, but he's too rough sometimes."
"Heh… alright, Anna. Stay right here, and I'll get your brush." Smiling as she nods, Elizabeth hurries into the bedroom hallway, reappearing after a couple minutes. And little Anna sits back as her big sister starts to brush her hair, a smile creeping onto her lips and her eyes closing slowly. She's barely aware of Ms. Pearl with Robert and Rosalind, or of anything else, for that matter.
But something intrudes on her peaceful state, and Anna feels a frown coming on. "Big sister?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do we go to the funny park with all the smooth, lined up stones on my birthday, and on Christmas? You and daddy always look so sad."
"Ah…" Elizabeth's voice falters and her brushing stops, Anna glancing back at her big sister. "Anna… I don't know how to… how I can explain it to you. It's just… too hard to put into words." A sad, wistful smile flashes across Elizabeth's face, and Anna's suddenly sorry she asked.
"It must be really hard, if you can't answer it, big sister." Turning her gaze forward again, Anna leans back in her seat. It takes a short while, but the brush begins moving again, the strokes becoming steadily surer as Elizabeth goes. Her big sister says nothing, and Anna slowly lets her eyes close again as her hair is brushed, and she's dozed off before long. At least until dinner time.
6:05 PM
"I'm finished!" A grin appears on Anna's face, the birthday girl bouncing in her seat; she'd just finished her second slice of birthday cake, and her lips and the surrounding area is coated with chocolate frosting, something which seems to amuse everyone at the table. Even uncle Robert and aunty Rosalind seem a touch amused, even though they don't join in on the chuckles coming from around the table.
"You're a mess, sweetie. C'mon, let me clean you up…" Anna's big sister scooches her chair closer, Elizabeth procuring a handkerchief that she promptly dabs in a cup of water and begins wiping up the frosting.
"No!" Anna tries to get away from the handkerchief, not feeling especially cooperative and not willing to part with the tasty coating, but to no avail; Elizabeth's wrapped her free arm around her shoulders, and Anna can do naught but squirm and crane her neck to get away as her big sister cleans up the sweet, chocolaty film. "Aww…"
Leaning back in her seat, Anna lets out a low, disappointed sigh before cracking another smile; she doesn't know why, but Anna's feeling especially full of energy right now, bouncy, almost giddy. "Your cake was real yummy, Ms. Pearl! Can you make it again sometime, please?" She draws out the 'please', eliciting another round of chuckles.
"Maybe, Anna. Baking like this is hard on an old lady like me." Smiling back at Anna, Ms. Pearl shrugs after a moment and rubs her hands and wrists.
"Okay… dinner was good, too." She pats her stomach, smiling as she does; daddy had made stew again, but it was tasty, and Anna doesn't have any complaints. Now, she's full and happy, though perhaps she'd allowed her excitement to get the better of her earlier.
When Booker had come out of the kitchen with dinner, Anna wakes from her dozing to find everyone at the table and setting it for supper. And she'd managed to slip away unnoticed, for she saw gifts resting on her daddy's desk; she'd opened them all by the time Booker had noticed her and rushed over, Anna somehow managing to keep her excitement in check until all the wrappers were torn away. She found toys and clothing mostly, though there was also a book in the mix.
Now, Booker's cleaning up the table while Robert and Rosalind step away to chat about something or other, and Elizabeth and Ms. Pearl stay in their seats to talk. Anna can't help but wonder why Robert and Rosalind always eat so very little, but a yawn escapes her before she can voice her question.
"Ah, a moment of your time, if you will." Just as Booker's got all the plates, bowls and cups stacked and is about to pick it all up, Robert appears at his side, "There's a matter we need discuss."
"Can't this wait, Lutece?" Leaving the plates and the like on the table, Booker turns to Robert and crosses his arms. But Robert doesn't waver, and Booker breathes a sigh, "Guess not. What do you want?"
"Our mutual friend would like a word. We can make that possible now; he's waiting on us." Anna glances over at Booker and Robert, wondering at their meaning.
"Huh? Are you talking about him?" Elizabeth leaves her seat to join Booker and Robert, Anna and now Ms. Pearl listening in, with some curiosity on the three year old's part. "Is this in regards to what we talked about last time?"
"Indeed it is." Rosalind steps over to the growing group, "Jack's situation has changed, and would like the opportunity to speak to the two of you in person."
"Jack?" Thinking to herself, Anna grin secretively; she remembers that name. She'd spied on her daddy and big sister one night, when they were talking to a man through that glowy, pretty window thing. His name was Jack. She'd giggled quietly when a girl ran by on the other side of the window with another chasing her, and Booker and Elizabeth had caught her when she'd peeked through the crack of the door again.
"I suppose that now would be a good time for me to depart." Ms. Pearl slowly rises, a gloved hand on the table for support, "From the sound of it, there'll be another of your 'Tears' soon. Goodbye, dearie, and many happy returns, Anna." Smiling first at Elizabeth, then Anna, Ms. Pearl turns and slowly shuffles towards the door with a yawn.
"Thanks for everything, Ms. Pearl." Elizabeth splits off from the rest to walk with Ms. Pearl to the door, and Anna jumps off her seat to follow as her big sister gives the older lady a hug. "Goodnight, Ms. Pearl."
"Goodnight to you, too, dearie. And to you, little Anna." Kneeling, Ms. Pearl grins as Anna hugs her goodbye, gingerly returning the embrace.
"Everything alright?' Booker's voice draws a smile from Elizabeth as she steps back to the dinner table, Anna glancing back and forth between her daddy and big sister once she's climbed back onto her chair.
"Yeah. Ms. Pearl's just not comfortable around Tears, aside from those that let her see Abigail."
"Then shall we proceed?" Robert steps away from the group to stand in the middle of the room, Rosalind following suit as he turns to face them again.
"Sure…" Booker's voice sounds a touch exasperated, but Anna doesn't think much of it; she's watching uncle and aunty Lutece eagerly, waiting for them to make the glowy window appear. She doesn't know what it is, only that they can make it open. She only barely notices the exasperated groan coming from both her daddy and big sister as they look at her, Anna having a hard time staying in her seat as the excitement grows. Anna doesn't know why she's so excited, and she doesn't care.
A delighted smile spreads across her face when the glowy window appears, the man called Jack sitting at a table and drinking a cup of what Anna can only guess is coffee. And he nearly spills it all over himself when the window opens, the man breathing a sigh once he turns to face them, "Booker, Elizabeth. Good to see you."
"Hi, Jack." Elizabeth steps over to the glowy window as the man climbs to his feet, Booker following suit, "Sorry, didn't mean to surprise you with the Tear opening so abruptly."
"It's fine." Waving her concerns off, Jack comes up to the Tear himself as Anna watches, "Had a lot worse than hot coffee land on me before. Good to see you again, Elizabeth. You too, Booker."
"Evening, Jack." Booker and Jack shake hands through the Tear, "How's the girls?"
"They're doing fine. Rose has been getting a little mischievous lately, and Sally's drawing on anything she can get her hands on… including the walls, once in a while." A smile touches Elizabeth's lips, Anna grinning as she watches her big sister talk to Jack.
"But, we're finally done. We've moved into a house just outside the city, and we have plenty of room to relax now."
"House? I'd like to see…" Thinking quietly to herself, Anna hops off her chair and steps over to the Tear while staring up at the man on the other side.
"Anna!" A hand comes down on Anna's shoulder, her big sister kneeling to stop her just as she comes up to the glowing border, "You can't go through there, it's dangerous!"
"Oh." Turning to look up at Jack, Anna waves slowly, "Hi, mister."
"Heh… Jack, this is my younger daughter, Anna."
Jack kneels at the edge of the Tear, giving Anna a small grin, "Nice to meet you, Anna. How old are you?"
"I turned three today!" Anna grins widely as she holds up three fingers. "Why do you-" But Anna's cut off when a girl appears on the other side of the Tear, the girl's eyes going wide as she turns and sees them.
"Look, it's Elizabeth and Booker!" The brown-haired girl cries out as she runs towards Anna, and several more appear a moment later, the three year old taking a step back as five older girls come up to the Tear but stop behind Jack. None of them are that much taller than Anna, and she smiles up at them.
Booker, Elizabeth and Jack are all shaking their heads slowly while chuckling as the five girls peer around the latter, looking at Anna and her family curiously. That is, until Elizabeth speaks up, still kneeling beside Anna, "Hey, Sally… this is my little sister, Anna. Come say hello." Smiling, Elizabeth motions towards the blonde girl, "Anna, this is Sally."
Sally steps around Jack hesitantly, and Anna finds herself almost toe to toe with the older girl. "Hi."
"Hello." Sally answers with a smile. The other girls slowly come out from behind Jack and join Sally at the Tear, Anna being introduced to each of them in turn.
"So you're Rose, you're Caroline, you're Masha, and you're Leta? Nice to meet you." Anna smiles as the other four girls all nod, happy that she got their names right; they're all nice, and Anna wants to play with them. But her big sister's grip is still holding her fast, and Anna has to settle for talking with the older girls.
After several minutes, Jack puts a hand on Sally's shoulder to stop her stream of questions, for both Anna and Elizabeth, he chuckling a little as his girls look up at him curiously, "It's about time for the girls to go to bed, so let's end it here, alright?" A collective 'aww…' comes from the five girls, and even Anna finds herself pouting a little. "Booker, we've got plenty of room to put you two up, if you'd like. Just let me know a little beforehand."
"Sure. Much obliged, pal."
"Huh?" Looking up at her daddy and big sister, Anna raises an eyebrow curiously, "What does Jack mean by that, Elizabeth?"
"Don't you worry about that, sweetie." Elizabeth just smiles and shakes her head, standing slowly and pulling Anna a step back from the Tear, "Thanks, Jack; we'll let you know."
Once the Tear closes, Anna feels a sudden wave of weariness wash over her, the excitement of her birthday and meeting Jack and the others taking its toll on her; a yawn escapes the three year old girl, she covering her mouth with both hands.
"Oh, do you suppose it's time for Anna to go to bed, Booker?" A chuckle escapes Elizabeth as she starts to lead Anna towards the bedrooms.
"Heh, I suppose so." Booker grins as he follows, Anna turning to give her daddy a weary smile.
Stepping into her bedroom, Anna smiles again as she sees her bed; daddy had gotten her a bed to replace her crib just after Christmas, and Anna still isn't quite used to sleeping in it. She misses her crib, even though it was becoming too small for her. But it's still her bed, and Anna climbs into it with a little help from her big sister.
"Big sister? Can you and daddy play something for me?"
"Huh?" Elizabeth blinks as she finishes tucking Anna in, Booker leaning against the wall by the door. "Umm… alright. What do you want me to sing for you, Anna? Your favorite?" But Anna just shakes her head; Anna wants to be awake whenever she listens to 'You Belong To Me', and to sing along. "Alright… there's something else we can try. Booker? How about…"
Anna can't make out the name of whatever Elizabeth said, but Booker gives her a sideways glance, "You sure?"
"Yeah. I'm sure it was another song stolen by Fink's brother, but we've practiced it well enough that we should be able to manage. I don't suppose you have a better idea?"
"Alright…" Booker shakes his head before stepping out of the bedroom, returning a moment later with his guitar. He turns the oil lamp up before holding the guitar at the ready, picking at a few notes and tuning the instrument.
"Thanks, Booker. Anna… we're not as practiced with this one, but I think you'll like it." Slowly, Elizabeth takes a deep breath as Anna looks on, a smile appearing on the little girl's face when her big sister begins.
"If I had words… to make a day for you… I'd sing you a morning, golden and true…"
The sound of her daddy's guitar and her big sister's pretty voice makes Anna's smile grow even more, the little girl only closing her eyes reluctantly as the song continues. And she falls asleep happily, Booker's youngest daughter dreaming dreams filled with white, fluffy clouds and golden castles.
Author's Note: Well, it was a very interesting, very challenging chapter to write; trying to depict things from a three year old little girl's perspective turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. And yes, Anna and the former Little Sisters are almost the same height, the former shorter by a few inches; apparently, the average three year old isn't too far off from the average six year old. I hope you found Anna's birthday from Anna's point of view entertaining, and Anna's meeting Sally and the other former Little Sisters.
I'll be checking for errors later, I wouldn't be surprised to find a few. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next time I'll hopefully be getting to something a little different from normal, but in a different manner.