CH 40

I hadn't planned on this story going this long but well, things happen...

With their tails on, Bob Helped Allison and Joan stand up at the edge of the dock. Allison turned to him and gave him a hug and a big kiss. Then Joan got her hug and kiss in. Both still had their shining blue eyes. An arm around each of them, Bob honestly said, "I am feeling very humbled, thank you both."

"We had fun, didn't we?" Joan asked with a crooked grin.

"I'll say we did," Allison agreed with a wide grin.

"I have to go but maybe we can meet again next weekend," Joan offered.

"Yes, lets!" Allison agreed.

Joan gave Bob another kiss the dove off the dock.

"See you later Bob," Allison said, gave him another kiss then dove off.

Bob watched them go. Joan erupted in a long jump then Alison did. Damn that was a sight to see. He watched until they got farther away, then picked up their robes and went back inside.

"Hello Bob." His mother said flatly as she was looking at the computer.

Awww shit, no one turned the game off. "Ahh, Hi Mom."

"This looks like an interesting game," she said, not sounding happy. "Care to explain?"

"Ummm, No?" he offered.

"I noticed Joan's bright blue eyes from in here. Allison too?"

Bob scratched his head. "I ahhh..."

"Who's idea was this?" she asked.

"It... wasn't anything real bad," he offered.

Reading from the screen she said, "Joan kiss Allie, Bob kiss Joan's nipple. You were playing this sex game with both of them, weren't you?" she asked eyeing him.

Bob cringed. "We didn't finish it!" he said quickly.

"Yes, I can see where you left off," she intoned. "So tell me, is there any danger of pregnancy?"

"NO!" he cried. "Like I said, we stopped playing."

Carol pulled the plug on the computer. In a hard tone she said, "I will figure out what to do about this after I calm down some. Until then, go get dressed!"

In their rush, Bob was still wearing his robe and boxers. Damn. He hurried to his room.

.

Cameron got a call when they were driving by the lake on the way home. "Cameron ... Hi Carol ... They did, huh? ... I see, Joan and Allison? ..." She suppressed a grin. "Yes I will certainly speak to Joan about this ... I agreed, supervised visits ... No I'm not mad at Bob, I have a feeling this was Joan's doing ... I wouldn't worry too much, they are getting to that age. If they do something they shouldn't, there's really no way to stop them ... I agree but birth control might not work, the nanites in Joan and Allison would inhibit them ... Oh yes, I will speak to Joan about this ... Take a moment to calm down, I'm sure things will work out fine ... right, bye."

Seeing Peggy eye her, Cameron explained, "If Joan swam back home we can tell by her eyes how much 'fun' she had. The brighter the blue, the happier she is."

"Really?"

Cameron pulled into the driveway and parked in front. Pointing to her side she said, "That's Christine"

Peggy got out and looked a the big car. It was pretty, but she could feel something from it. "Acceptance," she said. When Cameron looked at her, she side, "That car feels accepted. Like it's happy. It ... only wants people who love it to ride in it. No outsiders."

"That sums it up," Cameron agreed. She looked down at the dock. Joan got up and flung her tail over her shoulder. "If she hasn't rode the hobby horse, I'll be surprised."

Peggy looked towards the water, Joan was walking with a bounce in her step. Her eyes were a very bright blue, glowing brightly. Yes, Joan was feeling a happy, satisfied feeling. Hearing the fence rattle, Peggy looked to see an alligator leaning on the fence with it's front paws on the top, it's head was watching Joan.

Joan called to it. "Give me a minute momma gator!"

"Let's get your luggage," Cameron told Peggy.

The went to the back of the jeep and got Peggy's suitcases out.

"Peggy?" Johnny asked, wide eyed as he ran over to them.

Cameron turned to him and said, "Here's her luggage to put in her room. You have it ready, right?"

JJ gaped at her as he accepted the luggage.

"Peggy was coming today, don't you remember?" Cameron asked.

JJ flushed, "But..." he stammered.

"Her room," Cameron said firmly.

"She's here!" JJ said, looking confused.

Cameron looked back and Peggy and winked. To JJ she said, "Are you going to keep her waiting?"

JJ looked at Peggy and said, "No, no! Peggy, I ahhh... this way, follow me."

Peggy did, smirking. It was a little mean to get him all flustered, but it was funny. She also noticed there wasn't a bad feeling around, anywhere near them. That in itself was a good feeling.

Going through the house, Peggy met Jackie who hugged her and welcomed her to the family, then John gave her a hug and assured her everything would be fine followed by Delilah. Then Joan caught up with them to put an arm around Peggy.

"Welcome!" Joan said happily beaming her a blue eyed smile. "Don't worry, you're in good hands here."

"Why do your eyes glow like that?" Peggy asked. It was the strangest thing she'd ever seen.

Joan leaned close with a smile and whispered, "I had a really good time with Bob and Allison. Absolutely super-good time. I gotta get changed and feed Momma gator, I'll see you later."

Joan split off into a room.

"In here," JJ said and opened the door. He put her suitcases down by a large dresser that had drawers one could lay in and nervously said, "I haven't got to anything yet, I'm sorry, but I didn't know you were coming! But, Hey, you got a view of the lake and the bed should be big enough."

The bed was gigantic. The bed alone was the size of her room at home! It had a solid wood canopy over it and she though she might need a step ladder to get into it. The whole room was giant-sized.

"I'm sorry it's not ready ... but no one told me you were coming!" he pleaded.

Peggy had to grin at him. "Johnny, it's OK, really. I just found out today. Stop worrying, please?"

JJ let out a huff. "I just wanted it to be perfect for you."

"It is," she assured him. She hugged him. "This room makes me feel like a princess. So do you. Everything's fine now"

He hugged her back with, "I'm glad. I was afraid you'd be disappointed."

Peggy spoke her thoughts. "With all the good feelings all around, I can't be disappointed." She hugged him a bit tighter. "I'm here with you, Johnny, and I'm happy about that."

"Me too."

Over Johnny's shoulder she saw Joan heading for where the alligator was perched on the fence. "Look, Joan's going to feed the alligator."

Johnny went over to the window with her, and arm around each other. They watched the alligator stretch towards her. Joan raised a hand up, the alligator opened it's mouth. She tossed in a chunk of meat. The alligator's mouth closed in a snap. It tipped it's head back and swallowed that chunk. Joan fed it the other piece the same way.

When the alligator tried to get down, it looked like it was stuck. Joan vaulted the fence behind it, Wrapped her arms around it just behind it's front feet and picked it up off the fence, she set it down on the ground, then leaped back over the fence.

"Wow, that alligator looks heavy. How much does it weigh?"

JJ shrugged. "Mom said about 500, 550 pounds."

"And Joan can lift it?"

"Yeah, we're kinda strong," JJ said like it was no big deal. "OH! After you put your stuff away, want to see the bike me and Louise made?"

"I've love to." Peggy agreed. Actually, at the moment she'd love to do anything with Johnny.

.

Cameron talked with Claire, who talked to Carol. It was agreed that they would arrange supervised visits, IE: cookouts, fishing trips and game parties. Although Cameron wasn't overly concerned about Joan getting pregnant, Claire was worried about Allison, since Cameron herself had a baby at a young age and under very extreme circumstances.

"Mom, if either of them do have children, not that I think they are planning it, we will make sure they are taken care of," Cameron told her.

"Yes, I know. Still it's the idea of having a pregnant teenager." Claire replied.

Cameron suppressed a huff. "Mom, Ike's daughter is 15, she has a little boy. Cindy's mother had her at 14. Joe at the garage? he and his wife have six kids, and a grandchild. He's only 41. There isn't a social stigma around here at girls having babies like there was in California. There, even college age girls were coaxed towards abortions. It's different here. The focus is more on family and taking care of family. Loving is fine, and responsibility is stressed."

"I know. I keep thinking about what if she wants a career when she gets older."

"Then we support her. Mom, you took care of Joan and Jackie when we went off places, didn't you? We'll do the same for them," Cameron assured her.

Claire paused then said, "Living here is truly different, isn't it?"

"Yes, and I think it's much better."

Claire chuckled, "Agreed, but for slightly different reasons. It's calm and peaceful here, so long as one checks the yard for snakes and alligators."

A car horn sounded in a long blast. Cameron went over to a window to see a thin bespectacled young man back away from Christine. "Mom, I gotta go."

.

Delilah was the first out on the porch, followed by John then Cameron, Joan then JJ and Peggy.

"Who are you?' Delilah asked firmly.

The bespectacled man with short dark hair raised his arms. "I didn't even touch your car, I swear! I got close and the alarm went off."

Two others, another stouter young man and a young woman with brown hair were by an econo-car.

"I asked you a question," Delilah said firmly as the others came out.

"We're biologists from Texas A&M," Mr. spectacles said. "I'm Richard, this is Pete and Nancy. We've been studying the alligator population in and around this lake. We came for our yearly visit. Last year, houses were going up. The Sheriff said to come see you about access to the lake. You are the Connors, correct?"

"We are," John told him. So, what do you do? Count numbers and gauge animal health, things like that?"

"Yes, that is part of it. We were also working on a DNA modification so the alligators would assist in getting rid of the invasive Pythons in the Everglades," Richard explained.

"Modify their DNA how?" Cameron asked.

"Not greatly. We studied the reptilian brain, there is very little what we know of as memory," Richard explained. "Reptile skulls do not have the room for any brain expansion, so we modified the neck portion of their spinal cord to grow brain cells as well. See, the problem is that unless it is an obvious threat, alligators won't attack a snake unless they are hungry. With these extra memory brain cells, their catalog of threats becomes larger. They can identify a threat and remember it. With this modification, they will seek to kill pythons whether they are hungry or not."

John frowned. "So they can also identify humans as a threat and attack and kill them also, correct?" he asked.

"The lawnmower," Delilah said in a giggle.

"Lawnmower?"

Joan grumbled and said, "I was mowing the lawn and the alligator here attacked the mower to beat the crap out of it. I had to clean up the mess."

"That could have been you," John said firmly.

"No," Joan stated, "She didn't come after me. I ran to the side, she wrecked the mower then left, all the way back out of the yard. She didn't pay any attention to me."

Nancy asked, "Has it done this before?"

"Not really. It was the first time she's attacked anything," Joan explained.

"How do you know this alligator is a she?" Richard asked.

Joan pointed and said, "Her nest is right down there, not far from the dock. I watched her lay her eggs."

Richard grew and excited look. "May we go see it?"

"I'm kind of curious too," John said. "And NO one goes in the water!"

Nancy took a box with an antenna on it. "You say this alligator is female?"

Joan nodded. Richard went over to Nancy and her box. She panned it slightly and said, "She's right there."

Her box was pointing at the nest. They started walking, John halted them. "OK, we're heading for a wild animal nest, Only a few of us go. If we all go, that alligator might get aggressive."

"Dad, I watched her lay eggs and make the nest, she's OK around me," Joan said.

"You father's right," Richard said, "Only a few. Nancy, come with me. Mr. Connor, I suggest you stay back a ways."

"I'll show them Dad," Joan announced and marched down to the dock.

"This could be dangerous," Richard warned as he followed.

"Naw, I come down here and swim nearly every day," Joan stated.

"With an alligator nest right here?" Richard asked in disbelief.

Walking onto the dock, Joan pointed and said, "See that mound of that dead looking grass by the shore? That's the nest. Her head's just behind it, you can see the end of her snout and eyes."

"And you come down here and swim?" Nancy asked.

"Yes, I just swim out into the lake. Coming back I stay clear of the nest area."

"She's already coming out," Richard noted. The alligator was coming around the side slowly and eyeing them.

Peggy came running down. "Joan, she's getting nervous," she warned.

Joan turned to see the alligator was slowly moving towards them. "Ahh, you guys better get off the dock," she said.

"Yes, you too," Richard agreed. He went to give a gentle push in her shoulder, Joan knocked his hand away. "I'll watch her, go."

"Joan..." Peggy said, sounding stressed.

"You need to move off the dock," Richard said firmly and planted a hand on her back. He pushed, Joan bent down then laid a hand on his mid back and said, "Move!"

"Joan," Peggy whined as she watched the alligator now swimming towards them.

Richard stumbled off the dock and onto the ground from Joan's push. Nancy backed away on her own. The alligator was coming faster.

Peggy blasted out, "Richard, that alligator wants to kill you! Get away!"

Richard stared at her.

The alligator came close and right up to the shore. It jumped at the dock. Getting a front claw hold on the edge, it snapped at Richard and missed. It was directly in front of Joan and ignoring her.

"Joan, back up!" Nancy cried.

Watching the alligator closely, Peggy said, "Joan is not in danger. Richard is. The alligator has a memory..." she turned to stare at Richard. "What did you do to her?"

Richard eyed her. "What are you talking about?"

"You, I can see your face in her memory, a memory of great pain, of helplessness. Can't move, afraid, more pain... You are the cause."

Nancy, astonished, asked, "Miss, how can you know that?"

Peggy glanced at her. "I'm an empath. I can feel the feelings of others. Especially strong feelings. That alligator is afraid, not of, but for Joan. Joan feeds. Joan helps. fears Richard will hurt Joan, take Joan away. The only thing it knows to do is kill the threat."

Richard backed up, looked at the alligator, then Peggy. "This is … astounding! We have to get this alligator back to the lab..."

"NO, you're not," Joan stated flatly.

"OK, everyone, back to the house, we'll discuss it there," John said firmly.

Richard turned to him. "This was one of two alligators that were our experiments. We must see how our experiment has progressed."

"I believe Joan said no," John stated. "Well discuss it in the house."

Richard flushed, "We began this experiment,we have a right to finish it!"

"Did you have my permission to experiment on our animals?" Cameron asked.

"We didn't need permission..."

"Wrong!" Cameron snapped. "My land, my lake, my animals. Do you want to be charged with trespassing?"

"I didn't think anyone owned this area!"

"Ignorance is no excuse," Cameron stated. "You can come to the house and discuss it, or we'll help you into your car and see you on your way and let the sheriff deal with you."

Nancy said, "Richard, please, cooperate. This is a big event here! We do not want to get thrown out!"

Richard nodded in resignation. John lead the way, first calling back, "Joan, get her back in the water."

"Yes, Dad."

Richard and Nancy watched Joan pick the alligator up from behind her front legs and drop her in the water.

"That kid is strong," Nancy noted.

Peggy grinned. "You should have seen Joan pick her off the fence when she was stuck up on it."

.

Back inside and sitting around the dinning room table, John, Cameron, Delilah on one side, Richard, Nancy and Pete on the other, and the kids watching, grouped around the other end, John asked, "Richard, do you know how hazardous it is screwing with DNA?"

"We have a very serious problem with pythons," Richard said firmly, "And it's spreading. Even with bounties on them, they are spreading all over Florida and into neighboring states. The only native animal that even feeds on pythons are alligators. Pythons will eat alligators also. It's a matter of who's hungry as to who gets killed and eaten. We need aggressive alligators to get into the deepest swamps and get rid of the thousands of pythons we can't even touch right now. By modifying alligator DNA to accept a larger memory, specifically for threats, it will help Alligators remove pythons as a threat."

"You proved you memory modification worked," John said. "So explain again, what happens when an alligator sees people as a threat to be killed on sight?"

"That shouldn't happen," Richard stated.

"Joan's alligator wants you dead," Cameron stated. "How can you say that won't happen? If you believe what you just said, run down to the dock there and jump in the water. I want to watch."

Joan giggled.

"So how do you prevent killer alligators?" Delilah asked.

"We focus on pythons. We can bring one here..."

"NO. Absolutely not," John stated flatly.

"And if we find a python here, we'll know where it came from, and we'll be coming for you," Cameron said, casting Richard a terminator stare.

"You wouldn't be able to prove we did it," Nancy said.

Cameron eyed her. "Did I say I cared? We see a python, and you'll see us and it won't be pleasant."

"May I say something?' Pete asked. "Richard, I don't think we're wanted here. Our best be is to take a few of those eggs and leave. We can hatch them and see if this DNA modification has taken in the next generation. That is all we really need to know."

"Then what?" Delilah asked. "John has a valid concern. If alligators start hunting humans just to kill them, that is going to be very bad in the long run for humans and alligators. It's fairly obvious Joan's alligator wants your ass for lunch. I don't think we want any part of your experiments, nor any of our wildlife to be taken for your experiments."

"We will deal with what we have. I'm afraid you need to look elsewhere," Cameron said.

Nancy asked, "Can I please stay, just to watch the behavior of the alligator that's here?"

"We'll think about it," Cameron said.

"She wants to study me also," Peggy said.

Nancy gaped at Peggy. Cameron flatly said, "No. When Peggy is older if she decides to let you study her, that is up to her. While she is a child here, that will not be allowed."

Nancy turned her gape to Cameron. "But, her brain is powerful."

Delilah pointed her arm at Nancy and formed a plasma canon. "So is my canon here. If you want to argue, THIS is what you will argue with!"

Jackie laughed. "Go ahead, argue with Mommy's canon! I want to hear it's retort!"

Staring at Delilah's arm that was now some kind of weapon, Richard weakly said, "You aren't human."

"Never said I was. Cameron said no experimenting with our children. There will be no arguments."

"I think you better go," Peggy offered.

"Yes," Cameron agreed. "And we will inform others about your work with modifying animal DNA for specific reasons to make them killers."

The scientists sighed and got up.

"Before anyone goes!" Peggy said quickly. "Joan should go out first, I think the alligator is outside, hunting Richard."

.

Joan and Delilah went out to find the alligator on the porch, not far from the door. Peggy went out with them and did her best to send calm feeling to the alligator. It let Joan hold her mouth shut and gently picked up her head and shoulders. Delilah got her back legs and tail. They carried it down to the dock, Peggy following, keeping up her emitting calm feelings to it. The put her down in the water.

"Joan, stay with her," Delilah said. Joan nodded.

Delilah and Peggy walked back to the house. Cameron came out first then let the scientists come out and head for the car.

Cameron's phone rang. She looked at the number. "John Henry? Yes." Cameron told the scientists, "Turn around." She got pictures of them, then said in the phone. "These are their pictures ... Yes, DNA modifications to make alligators more aggressive ...It does work, the one we have here, will stay here ... of course, we will control the situation ... I agree ... Thank you John Henry."

"Who's John Henry?" Richard asked.

Cameron put her phone away. "You will find out. It's time to leave."

"You know that woman Delilah is not human," Richard stated.

Cameron flashed her red eyes. "Neither am I. If we have to help you into your car, it will not be pleasant."

"Jesus," Pete whispered.

"No, Cameron. Go."

Cameron followed them to their car and watched them get in and leave. She then went in to monitor their progress.

.

Richard drove as they headed back. "I can't believe this! The modification works, and they won't let us even have any eggs! We should sneak in and steal them!"

From the back, Nancy said, "Rich, we can't go back there. Did you see that woman's arm change?And that Joan and Delilah picked that alligator up, and it didn't even struggle."

"Remember those cyborgs in the news a while back?" Pete asked, "I think it's them."

"And one of the kids is an empath, a real, live empath!" Nancy said. "I don't think any of them are base human."

"We do need to stay away from there," Pete added.

In a frustrated voice, Richard said, "But there's so much to learn! That house is a cornucopia of new information! It's not fair! Maybe we should ask the Dean to put pressure on them."

Remembering staring down the inside of that futuristic weapon aimed at her, Nancy said, "That's a bad idea, Rich. At the best, we'd have to let the Dean know what we were doing."

"There HAS to be an answer," Richard grumbled.

Up ahead before the highway on ramp a cop car was sitting. Richard passed it. The lights and siren turned on and the cop car sped up behind them.

Richard grumbled and pulled over on the ramp. "What? I wasn't speeding or anything."

They sat there. And sat there. A half hour later a black van that looked like a prison van pulled up just in front of them. The back doors opened, two men in armor carrying automatic guns got out.

Another came from the passenger side and announced. "Exit your vehicle, hands in the air."

"What the hell?" Richard asked.

"We better do it," Pete said and got out.

They were leaned against the car and frisked while being held at gun point. The one from the passenger side asked their names, then looked at their ID.

"What's the charge?" Richard asked as they were handcuffed.

The man read their names back then said, "You are charged by Homeland Security for attempted terrorism in that you modified Alligator DNA to make the creatures more aggressive, possibly against humans. The animals you modified are being controlled by Homeland Security agents. You will be interrogated upon arrival to the main office. Anything you say can and will be used against you."

"I want to call my lawyer," Richard said flatly.

"Once the charges are filed with the court, you will be able to contact a lawyer." the man said, then, "Put'em in."

"We have rights!" Richard yelled.

"After we complete the interrogations," the man stated. They were loaded up and the van drove away.

Sitting in the back on bench seats they had been belted into, Richard heard the end of the phone call up in front.

"That's right, we got them. Thank you for the information, John Henry."

.

At the large dinner table that Peggy helped set, she got to meet extended family. She'd heard of 'The Amazon' woman around, and now found she was part of this family. Sonya was very tall, and a very nice lady who had a nearly as tall boyfriend. It was her room Peggy was taking over. No wonder the bed was so big!

It was a nice dinner, the food was good and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. She did get cautions against letting anyone outside the family know what she could do, with more concern for her and a bit of poking fun these cautions were given with.

Since the bed was higher Sonya asked, "Peggy, would you like the bed lowered, or we can put some steps up to make it easier for you."

"You'd do that?" Peggy asked. "But, it's your bed."

Sonya grinned, "I got my new bed I prefer. That one's yours now. So, lower the bed or add steps?"

The way Sonya flicked her eyes at Mark, Peggy knew why Sonya's new bed was better. "Steps are easier to make, aren't they?"

"Whichever you want, dear."

"Steps will be fine. Thank you."

"John, help me make some steps?" Mark asked.

"Got some wood in the shed, we'll get to it after we eat," John agreed.

JJ asked, "What does Peggy do in the mean time?"

"I take it you want to help her up and in?" Joan asked.

"JJ wouldn't be that crude," John said. "He's going to help with those steps after dinner."

"We're getting them done today?" JJ asked.

Jackie waver her fork at JJ. "Ah-ha! No reason to sneak into Peggy's room for you!"

Louise rolled her eyes. "Do I have to stand guard over Peggy?"

That caused a round of laughter.

After dinner, the men and JJ went out to make steps. Sonya had Peggy come up to her room. Sonya noted Peggy couldn't even reach the top of her dresser, or the top two drawers.

"Well you need a new dresser, obviously," Sonya said in a musing tone. "And dressing table, chairs, probably a new toilet too."

Peggy looked around. "There's a toilet here?"

Sonya waved for her to follow. She then pointed to what Peggy thought was just a decorative brass knob with designs in it. "Turn the handle."

Peggy did. The wall panel opened up to show a very large bathroom. Her jaw dropped. "I got my own bathroom?" she asked. There was a toilet that was too high for her and a tub that could be a mini-swimming pool.

"You do, but you might want to use the hallway bathroom until the new toilet comes in," Sonya said with a grin. "You don't want to fall in."

The mental picture of her arms and legs sticking up from inside the seat as she called for help made Peggy laugh. Wouldn't THAT be embarrassing!

All of Peggy's clothes fit in the bottom dresser drawer. The closet had a hanging bar that was way too high for her, so Sonya and her got to work lowering it, then the shelf above. They got the closet space arraigned, then Peggy was able to hang up her few dresses and school clothes.

Sonya looked at her collection and said, "Girl, you need more clothes, as well as room for a tail."

"Tail?"

"Yes, would you like to swim as a mermaid like the other girls do?"

Peggy had seen that video in school when Cindy showed it. "I can do that too?"

"You have to learn how, but yes, you can do that too," Sonya said, grinning at her enthusiasm.

Peggy wished mother Mika could see this!

It wasn't long after Sonya and Peggy did some minor but needed changes to the room that JJ knocked and asked, "Can we come in?"

Peggy ran and got the door. Thrilled her room was big enough to run in! "Come in!"

JJ came in and opened the door wide. Behind him John and Mark carried in two long steps, bare wood and eight feet long. They set them down by the bed. "Come give it a try," John coaxed.

The two steps were just enough. Peggy climbed up them and sat on the bed. "Perfect!" she chimed.

"We'll have to finish them tomorrow," John told her, "But now you can get up in bed."

"Thank you!" Sitting up on the huge bed, Peggy was sure even princesses didn't get to have stuff like this!

"Just remember they are here," John cautioned.

"I will." How could she forget anything she was seeing? She swore a load of dirt to her head was not going to dim the smile on her face.

"Just be careful until you get used to it." John told her.

.

There were some chores that needed t be done, but compared to a full day of work after school, helping to clean up and collecting laundry was nothing. Of course she had to keep her room clean and the bathroom. Taking a bath in that large tub by herself seemed a waste of water, but it felt wonderful. It was the first ever soap bubble bath she ever had.

That night, Peggy got into her bed that could probably sleep six of her, easy. She settled down in the center, arms and legs splayed out just because she could.

In a way at the moment she felt alone. She wasn't. Nearby was Johnny, Joan, Louise, Jackie and their parents who were giving off plenty of happy feelings. She closed her eyes and thought hard about Mika. She wanted to send her happy feelings to her, so Mika knew she was doing fine.

In bed herself, Mika bore a sleepy smile. Peggy was doing fine and feeling good. The image she got of Peggy in what seemed to be a vastly big bed that had steps going up to it, was most likely from her semi-dream state.