Chapter 13

Cassie

Rachel was so happy when she saw her mom. I knew she hid it, but I could tell. I decided tomorrow that I would visit my mom and dad. I haven't seen to them in a while and I wanted to tell them about Rachel. They were almost as sad as Rachel's mom, when they found out Rachel had died. They would be very happy, too. It seemed as if everyone was happier. Tobias definitely was and so was Jake. I couldn't really tell with Ax, but he seemed to be happy. Jake must feel relieved, with that guilt off his back. Even Marco was glad to see Rachel again. I was also happy, of course.

The next morning I woke up at 10:00 AM. I recalled my plans for the day and hurriedly got dressed and morphed to osprey. I hoped my mom and dad weren't having company. I didn't have that much time so I was just going to show up. At least their house is only a fifteen-minute flight.

I hopped out of the window and started flying. As usual there were several tourists below my window, hoping to get a glance at one of the Animorphs. As I flew out, they all started pointing and jumping and waving. I was in such a good mood that I called out and said hello to them. I think some of them nearly fainted. On the way to my parent's house I decided I must be in several hundred photo albums by now. I didn't really mind. Only a few were actually of me, not one of my morphs. Besides, it was nice not having to keep anything a secret anymore.

When I landed and demorphed I saw a car in my parent's driveway that I didn't recognize. I just hoped it was some relative, not one of my parent's friends. Relatives usually don't go nuts and treat me like the president or something. I decided that, oh well, I was here and might as well go in. I knocked and called to my mom, telling her that it was me.

"The door's open, Cassie." I walked in and closed the door.

"Hi, Mom. Just thought I'd drop by."

"I didn't hear your car-oh, never mind." said my dad.

"Honey, you probably don't remember her, you were so young, but this is your Aunt Sarah."

"Hello Cassie. I can't believe how big you've gotten. The last time I've seen you was when you were two."

"Hi," I said. I remembered my parents talking about an Aunt Sarah, before. But she had move to Pennsylvania a long time ago. Also she had one son who must be around nine by now.

"Well, I know you must be busy with your job and all, but could you perhaps watch my son, Shaun, for a week or two. I have this important business trip around here and I couldn't think of anyone else to watch him. I would have asked your parents, of course, but they have that important animal seminar out of town for a few days." Oh yeah, I forgot about that.

"Well I guess I could. I might be busy tomorrow." That's an understatement. "But, yeah, I probably can." I told her.

"Thank you so much Cassie. I'll drop him off at your apartment around 1:00," she said. "Well, goodbye everyone. See you soon, Cassie."

After she left, I decided I did not have any time to tell my parents about Rachel. So I just told them to watch the news tomorrow.

At precisely one-o-clock someone knocked on my door. I turned off the TV and walked over to see who it was. I expected it was going to be Aunt Sarah, but when I opened the door only Shaun stood there.

"Hi, you must be Shaun. Come in. Where's your mother."

"Hi. My mom had to leave right away so she wouldn't be late. Is it true you can really turn into animals? Did you really save the world? I asked my mom, but she thinks that everything was just special effects."

This boy was certainly not shy.

"Yes, it's all true. Where are your bags?"

"Someone said he would bring them up here. How many animals can you turn into? Can you do it right now?"

Fortunately at that moment his bags had come up. We spent the rest of the afternoon putting his clothes and things into a spare dresser. After that it was time for dinner. We went to a pizza place I go to a lot. Most of the waiters there knew me, but some on the people turned and stared when we walked in. Then it was back to the apartment where I was sure I would have to answer a whole bunch of questions and maybe even demonstrate my abilities.

"So you can really turn into different animals?" asked Shaun.

"Yes I can."

"I don't believe you. My mom said you couldn't and she wouldn't lie."

"Well I can, and if the interrogating is over I'm getting some sleep."

"No, wait! I want to see. All the kids in my class would be so jealous," he said. "I could tell them I'm related to one of the Animorphs! They wouldn't believe me."

"You can tell them you're related to me without me having morph."

"Please, Cassie, please," he begged.

"I will on one condition. You'll let me go to sleep afterwards. I have to get up early tomorrow. Then we need to visit someone."

"Okay."

"What morph?" I sighed.

"Umm, wolf!"

"Okay."

I began to morph. As usual, things happened unpredictably. The first thing that happened was that fur swept down my body, starting from my head to my toes. Then my mouth and nose stretched out to form a snout. My ears move to the top of my head. My hands and feet turned into paws and I fell forward unable to stand upright any longer. Finally my morph was complete. All during the time I was morphing, Shaun was staring at me like he'd seen a ghost or something.

"Wow! Cassie, is that really you?" he asked.

Yes, it is.

"That was awesome. You're so lucky you can do that. I wish I could. It must have been fun to might the Yeerks. And all of your friends can do it to?"

They can. But Shaun, it was not fun fighting the Yeerks. It was horrible. I won't even go into the gruesome details of it. But it was not fun.

"Could you tell me about it later?"

Sure, but you must have heard the story on the news many times already.

"I know, but it would be even cooler to hear it from you."

Okay, later I'll tell you. But now it's time for bed. I'll get you up at 7:30 tomorrow.

"Why so early?" Shaun asked.

Because at nine Jake is going to call me and we, us and the other Animorphs, have to get together to. discuss something.

"The Jake? Wow! And I'm actually going to meet him? Cool!"

Yes, I know but you need to get to bed now, it's late.

"Okay."

I demorphed and tucked Shaun into bed. Then I went to bed myself. Tomorrow was bound to be hectic, I needed all the sleep I could get now.