This isn't a Dance; it's Hell with Streamers.
Chapter Four: Doin' it Karaoke Style
Now I get into the Karaoke machine…hehehehe, ahh and what fun it is… ^ - ^. Thanx very muchly for the people's that reviewed…yeah you rock!J (but now I have a taste for reviews, I want more MORE MORE!!) Okay err you know the usual drill, I don't own ccs or cc (why? Why did they have to change it so much WHY NELVANA WHY?!) Any-who, onwards and upwards as some…person…once…said…yeah…
* thoughts *
* telepathic communication *
Ooh and in case you're wondering, the CCS characters (i.e. the ones I didn't make up) are all about 13-14 yrs old, but you probably already realized that, or you just didn't care…but anyway, now you know!! ^ - ^
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I almost yelled out in complete exasperation when a burst of familiar Clow Card magic caused us both to jump back.
The Clow Card had surrounded Sakura in a strange pink aura. And it wasn't her aura. It was too bright a pink. Almost…Barbie doll pink…But when I asked her if she was could sense it, she gave me a look as if I had sprouted a second head or something, and looked up on stage. I followed her gaze. Up on stage, was the girl dressed as Barbie, the very same one that had bumped into Sakura before. She was watching us, winked, then picked up a microphone. The slow song finished and the couples split apart to see why there was a lull in the music. 'Barbie' grinned brightly and said "Like, hey everyone! Now you're all probably wondering why the music, like stopped…"
There were a few scattered, but very unenthusiastic replies. 'Barbie' giggled childishly and continued, "It's time for KARAOKE!!!" Most of the crowd actually seemed to like that idea, there was, of course, a few scattered groans here and there…but I had more important things to worry about. Sakura seemed okay, but that weird aura was bugging me. 'Barbie' was trying to rally up some would-be singers, "Well like, who wants to be first!" She smiled as she scanned the area for any volunteers. Completely ignoring the raised hands her eyes landed on Sakura. "Hey there! Like, what about you fairy girl? You look like you have, like, a great voice."
Everyone on the floor spun around to look at her.
I smirked slightly to myself. *Nice try Barbie…not even her best friend has managed to get her to sing, even in privacy…you have no chance…*
Sakura smiled then said, "Okay sure, can I choose which song?"
There was a loud thump as my jaw quite literally hit the floor.
Sakura trotted up and started talking to the DJ, obviously choosing her song. Kalla and Ike walked over, with equal astonished looks on their faces. Madison, who was grinning so much from behind her camera, that I wouldn't have been surprised if the top half of her head would drop off, and Mei Lin, who was just smirking, followed. "Well, I think she's finally cracked, knew it was going to happen eventually."
I ignored Mei lin's comment, but Kalla answered, "She hasn't cracked, the Clow Cards got her."
Madison peaked out from behind her camera, "Is she in any danger?"
Kalla shook her head, "…no I don't think so…hang on, I'll just check something…"
She frowned in concentration, but a second later, her eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"What? What's the matter"
"Well, she's not in danger as such, but she's none too happy right at this moment…"
"What do you mean?"
Kalla paused, as if debating whether to tell me or not, but sighed and said, "okay, I'll give you the ability to read her mind," she grimaced as she glanced at Sakura, who was getting the mike set up. "but don't say I didn't warn you…" With that said, Kalla waved her hand around in a complicated looking gesture, her face a mask of concentration.
Nothing happened at first, then I winced as my 'mental ears' were filled with screaming.
*AAAAAAAAAARGGGGGHHHHHHH!!! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!!!*
I first thought that she was yelling at me, but soon realized that she was talking about the Clow Card, 'Barbie'. She had taken control over Sakura's body using her magic.
I tried to mentally call out to her, just as her possessed self announced "Okay, this is a song I want to dedicate to very special guy out there…" which only made her 'yell' out louder, drowning out my call. One part of me was worried about Sakura, while the other felt a pang of jealousy. I needn't have worried though, as a second later 'Sakura' waved at me and called out "Hey Li!!", then blew me a kiss. I blushed bright red, as Sakura's mental yells got to a level that probably would give me a migraine for a week.
Then the music started.
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Sakura's POV:
I couldn't believe this was happening to me. For one, I was possessed by a Clow Card who had taken over my body, and two, I had been this close to kissing Li. Not sure why he had wanted to, maybe he just got caught up in them moment or something, but at that particular moment in time, I hadn't really cared.
So sue me. He's hot.
Life just was not fair. And to think, I was getting all worried about dancing in public before, now I was going to sing.
Life wasn't just unfair, life sucked.
And, to top it all off, 'I' had just dedicated a song to Li.
It was 'Closer' by The Corrs.
Madison looked like she had just had all her birthdays and Christmas's rolled into one, and was getting into a good vantage point to record. The piano intro started, and I was powerless to stop, well myself.
'I see you walking everyday
with a smile beneath a frown
But I won't look away, yeah
What does it mean?
What's there to see?
If I look closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, yeah'
I wasn't a bad singer, but this was still, the most humiliating moment of my life.
Where are you going?
And what are you thinking at all?
Your eyes show nothing more
than a dazed oblivion
What does it mean?
What will I see?
When I look closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, yeah
'I' was gazing lovingly at Li. Really, it was enough to make anyone nauseous. But it just plain scared Li. His eyes had bugged out, and his face was bright red. I think he was really angry too. I knew he could sense that I was being controlled by a Clow Card, he had asked me about it before, but 'I' had just looked at him as if he had a rather large rodent growing from his forehead or something. He probably thought I was just too weak to fight it off.
You don't see me
watching everyday
My smile could warm your frown
And I'd never look away
never look away
There's more to me
than what you see
When you look closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, closer
Closer, yeah
The fading music was drowned out by applause. My controlled self bowed, and waved. I just wanted to curl up and die, but the Clow Card, i.e. 'Barbie' hadn't finished with me yet. "Hey, that was like, great! Who wants her to sing again!"
Her request was met by deafening cries of agreement from the crowd. It was actually kinda flattering. But, putting it lightly, I was still pissed. If I had control of my body, or at least my arms, I think I would have had to strangle her. I'm never going to look at a Barbie doll the same way again. Luckily, she wasn't controlling my thoughts. At least in my mind I could vent some rage.
*GRRRR DO YOU HEAR ME DAMNIT!! I'M GONNA BURN YOU, YOU SADISTIC PIECE OF PAPER!
Li still looked kinda miffed, but that look suddenly vanished, as his body was surrounded by a pinky colored aura.
'He' grinned, actually grinned. Li, Mr. Emotionless…Mr. Not-so-Happy-Sunshine, was actually grinning.
Well, I suppose you could argue that it wasn't really Li grinning, but the fact still remained that his face, that is so often seen frowning, was now being pulled into a nice grin.
But the fun didn't stop there.
Ooh no.
With a sweep of his coat, he strolled over and hopped up on stage in a single bound. He was given a mike by 'Barbie', then turned to me a grinned lopsidedly. Under normal circumstances, a grin like that would have made me weak at the knees. But these were not normal circumstances. It was bad enough that several teenage girls on the floor started to swoon.
The music started up again, as 'I' started to sing. {AN: Now for any of you who are wondering my reasons for this whole singing part, I've got three words for ya…Think 'Disney Movies'… This is about a Cliché Card after all…But I thought I would jazz it up a bit and make em' do Karaoke against there will. I suppose I should have done it more like they do in the movies, where complete strangers suddenly get the urge to sing and dance around to a song they have never heard before, and a dance that technically never existed until now, and to a score that comes from nowhere. C'mon, you know what I'm on about…But I really just couldn't bring myself to do it. Plus it would have taken too long to explain. Ooh F.Y.I., the song I'm using now is 'I know' by Save Ferris, the version from the '10 things I hate about you' soundtrack…^ - ^}. This was defiantly going to be one video tape that will come back and bite me on the ass on my 21st birthday, if I ever survive till then that is.
'My mama said to stay from guys like you.
She said they were nasty, make me do things I don't wanna do.
Stay away from bad boys they've got one thing on their mind
Their hormones are raging and they want it all the time.'
I wasn't even paying attention to whatever I was singing, I was too busy yelling at the top of my -err- lungs.
*AAAAAAAARGGGGHHH MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STTOOOOPPPPPP!!*
Nothing, however, prepared me for what happened next.
*Sakura! Calm down, you're giving me a headache…*
My mental voice suddenly went up a few pitches, *LI?!*
'And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go
And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go'
*Yeah it's me, but calm down could ya? Kalla gave me the ability to read minds, and you're yelling really loudly…*
* uhh…sorry Li…* I paused in complete embarrassment, giving me a chance to actually hear what 'I' was singing. * wait a minute…I like this song! Hey, maybe this won't be so bad after all!*
*huh?!…oh god, you've seriously cracked Sakura…*
We both paused as 'Li' started to sing the next verse…
'I love you very much, you're nice to see and nice to touch
And I'll never ever ever treat you wrong,
I've been waiting for you all along.
If I had control of my eyebrows, they would have shot up in shock. * Why Li…I never knew…*
Li's mental voice interrupted me, sounding uncomfortable, * look Sakura…I…*
Finishing my sentence, I cut him off, *…you have such a good voice! wow, you should do it professionally!!*
*WHAT?!*
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Li's POV:
I couldn't believe it. Sakura was actually starting to enjoy herself, despite the fact that we were both under the control, in my opinion, by a very sadistic Clow Card. On the outside, we looked like a pair of professional signers. I was singing.
We were even dancing.
I was even dancing…
This was like some weird, twisted, psychotic nightmare that I just couldn't wake up from.
'And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go
And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go'
Can't let you go, ooooh
Never let you go
Her controlled self was really getting into it. As the music swelled up, she started to really belt out the next verse.
I said I want you to know
I said I want you to know right now
Whoa-ooh want you to know
I said I want you to know-ooh-ooh-ooh
Whoa-oh-oh-oh!
And the crowd was really getting into it. They were dancing around, singing along, and pretty much looking as if they were having a real good time. Maybe too good a time. Someone threw a bra onto stage. {AN: and no, I'm not saying that said person was getting naked or anything, coz that's just kinda disturbing, but well you've heard the stories of crazy people in concerts throwing bra's, underwear, and what not on stage right?} It landed on my mike stand, swinging back and forth. Me, in a physical sense, just ignored it. All I could do, the real me, was stutter. Sakura on the other hand found it all rather amusing. My mind was filled with peals of her mental laughter. I don't think I've ever heard her laugh so much before.
SHOUT! SHOUT! SHOUT! SHOUT!
HEY-EH-EH-EH
(HEY-EH-EH-EH!)
HEY-EH-EH-EH
(HEY-EH-EH-EH!)
YEAH-YEAH-YEAH-YEAHA
(YEAH-YEAH-YEAH-YEAHA!)
YEAH-YEAH-YEAH-YEAHA
(YEAH-YEAH-YEAH-YEAHA!)
'And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go
And I know, know cuz she said so
And I can't just let you go'
NEVER LET YOU…GOO-OH-OH-OOOOOO!
The end of the song was once again drowned out by deafening applause, as I felt the Clow Card release its hold on our bodies, and move onto somewhere else. Both completely embarrassed, we hopped off stage. As we tried to walk off the floor, people kept coming up to us, wanting to pat us on the back. Well, the more sane people did anyway. A group of costumed hysterical teenage girls came up to me, some of which were actually crying.
"LI LI! CANI HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?"
"NO NO! HE WANTS TO KISS ME!"
*Uh oh… this is going to get real ugly real soon isn't it? * The girls were looking quite rabid. Sakura smirked. *Hey, they're your fans…you should be flattered…*
"BACK OFF BI-ATCH, HE WANTS TO MARRY ME!"
*are you two finished flirting with each other, coz I think it's a really good idea to get out of there right now…before you get ourselves in the middle of a rather large cat fight…and you might want to watch out for those creepy looking guys over there too…*
Ignoring Kalla's earlier comment, we slowly made our way out of the erupting brawl. Most people who were mature enough, parted to let us through, while everyone else was just too wrapped up in 'the match' to see us go.
We ran off and hid behind one of the haunted houses. After her giggles died down, the reality of what actually just happened hit her, and she sighed and ran a hand down her face. "Oh god, that was so embarrassing." Madison smiled reassuringly and replied, "Sakura you have nothing to be embarrassed about, you have a great voice." She turned and looked straight at me, "Wouldn't you agree Li?"
I was caught off guard, and my face went, for like the hundredth time that night, bright red. "uhh-well-uhh-umm-yeah-I-mean-umm" *oh yeah, smooth moves Casanova, that was a real good answer…you don't look like an idiot now…*
Ike chuckled, then asked, "I can't sense the Card anymore so what say we go do something, -err-relaxing for a while huh?" He smirked, looking as if he was trying to hold in more laughter, "And preferably something that doesn't involve people flinging their underwear at you…"
The girls erupted in giggles again. I just shot Ike the dirtiest of my looks.
Kero, whom had at some point returned to his hiding spot under Ike's hood, poked his head out and said, "So what do you have in mind?"
Ike just grinned, then pointed to the Ferris Wheel.
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Sakura's POV:
I should really be given the award for the slowest learner, or biggest dumb-ass in the world. But going on a Ferris Wheel after what had just happened to me, sounded like a really good idea at the time. The line wasn't long, and I was standing at the back of our group, which happened to 'coincidentally' be next to Li. It was a second before a chamber stopped in front of Ike and Kalla, who were at the front of the group that I realized that only four people at a time could fit.
On went Kalla, Ike, Madison and Mei Lin, (and Kero of course, but you couldn't see him), leaving me and Li to catch the next. My eyes followed them up as I said to Li through slightly clenched teeth, "If I ever go nuts and start senselessly attacking people, you'll show this event as evidence to back me up right?"
He stepped up onto the next chamber as it arrived and answered "heck…I'll probably be joining you…".
We sat across from each other, in silence, as our chamber rose. I didn't have to look behind me to know that Madison would be happily recording, while the rest would be pressed up against the glass, trying to get a good view.
I sighed and looked at my feet, "I'm going to be explaining this to a therapist one day, I just know it…"
Li smirked crookedly and said, "at least you can't complain about ever being bored"
I laughed softly in answer. Our chamber stopped and slowly rocked back and forth. We were right at the top, giving us a perfect view of the proceedings below. A full moon was slowly rising in the sky, bathing us both in twilight. It was all a little too perfect. Like from a movie. Made me feel that something was…missing.
Li eyed my small frown. "What's wrong?"
I paused before answering, "It's just that I can't help shake the feeling that something more is supposed to happen…this all seems a little too predictable…"
"Meaning?"
I shook my head. "I dunno…" *she'll probably set off some fireworks to make things 'more romantic'*
My eyes bugged out as a voice chirped in my mind, *hey what a great idea!*
Li sat forward, looking worried, "what? What's wrong"
BANG!! FIZZLE!! {AN: umm, dunno how to describe it, but you all know what fireworks sound like when they go off… ^ - ^}
His head snapped around as the blast filled the air, and a shower of sparkles glittered in the night's sky.
My eye started to twitch as I clenched my fists, "that's it…I…am…going…to…hurt…her…" I released my wand, and was about to jump out of our chamber, when Li's hand jerked out and grabbed me around my wrist.
"Sit down Sakura, you can't use your magic here, there are too many people around…" We both sweat-dropped as a barely audible squeal came from the vicinity of the other chamber, "ooh they're holding hands! I am so going to make copies of this…." His hand dropped my wrist and he glared in their general direction "No matter how tempting it can be…"
I sat down dejected and shrank the wand, "ughh, I really need to learn how to block telepathy…" At his questioning look I continued, "…I was just thinking about a scene in a movie I saw, just like this, and it had fireworks and stuff…." I swung my hand around as another firework went off, "And she must have been listening."
"Oh…so much for privacy…"
The ride was soon over, and we both hopped off, only to come face to face with four slightly disappointed people. I just glared at them. Madison, trying to lighten the mood, smiled and broke the silence, "so, what are we going to go on now?"
Our decision however, was made for us. I sensed the Clow Card flare up it's magic. In one of the 'Haunted Houses.'
"Ooh great, this night just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?"
Kalla looked amazed, "Wow, you actually sounded sarcastic…Good for you Sakura…"
The 'Haunted House' in question was called the 'Tower of Terror', despite the fact that it was actually only two stories high, and the only thing that actually resembled a tower, was the crudely drawn 'blob' on the sign. It was designed as a sort of mini-indoor rollercoaster things. I could sense the Clow Card up somewhere on the second floor, so I had no choice but to go in and sort it out. The carts that took you in had six sections, and each section had two seats. I don't really have to go into details to tell you who I ended up sitting next to.
The ride started with a lurch, and we were dragged towards two ominously painted doors. They creaked open a second before we hit them and everything went black.
I creepy scratchy voice floated from somewhere in the perpetual darkness, "Welcome to the TOWER of TERROR…prepare to be…TERRIFIED! MWAA-HA-HA-HA!!" The evil laugh faded, and I whimpered, as we lurched upwards. Mei Lin's voice drifted up from the front end of the cart, sounding bored, "Can it be more tacky…oooohh I'm real terrified…."
The ride lurched again, and I let out a bloodcurdling scream and buried my head in the nearest available hiding spot, as something creepy looking and white suddenly appeared out of the darkness right in front of my face.
I heard soft chuckling in front, so I peaked open my eyes. The darkness had been slightly lifted by strategically placed fake candles on the walls, and I realized that I had actually buried my head into Li's shoulder. I sprang back, actually thankful for all the make-up that Kalla had lathered on my face, as it almost hid from everyone else the fact that I was blushing like an idiot.
I sat back again and mumbled, "s-s-s-sorry Li…" He sort-of half smiled at me reassuringly. The section we were travelling through pretty much looked like a hall, though I couldn't really see too far in front. It had the usual fake spider webs everywhere and the white thing that had scared the crap out of me, was actually a fake skeleton…thing. It was missing a leg and someone had stuck the skeletons finger up its' nose. Not particularly scary when you really think about it.
The same creepy voice from before, floated out from wherever the speakers were hidden, as the cart slowed down, and stopped "The TOWER of TERROR is experiencing TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES due to a pair of FRIENDLY POLTERGEIST'S…please sit tight…" the voice became lower and more menacing, "and hang on…MWAA-HA-HA-HAA!". I squeaked at the mention of poltergeist's but then…nothing. We just sat there. Mei Lin fidgeted in her seat and turned around, "umm isn't something supposed to happen now?"
Trying to hold back my fear, I shakily replied, "wh-wh-what do you mean? The creepy guy said th-that they were experiencing…^gulp^ technical difficulties."
"Yeah but that's just to get you off guard, we should have been hurled forward or something." Mei Lin turned around, and leaned over to look over the front of the cart, "hey the track dips down a slope here, I think we're supposed to go down it…" There was a pause, and Madison spoke up, "So why are we just sitting here?"
Kero fluttered out of Ike's hood and hovered above us. "It's the Clow Card, it's tampering with the ride…" The fake candles started to flicker, and we were once again plunged into darkness. The cart we were still sitting on started to vibrate slightly, but then I felt it give way from under me, and I fell to the ground with a thump. Kalla groaned "Owww…ughh that's gonna bruise…" The lights came back on again, but everything looked different. For one, the cart and the track that it was running on had disappeared. We were still in a hall, but it now looked more authentic, more realistic. One side of the wall was lined with windows, and the light of the full moon outside was what was lighting the hall.
Kalla glanced around, "something tells me we aren't on the ride anymore…"
Mei Lin stood up and brushed some dust off her costume. "So what do you suppose we do?"
I was trembling, "Go home and never ever come here again?"
Ike looked apologetic, "We can't do that, you've got to seal the card…"
I just whimpered, but stood up and summoned my wand. "I know…let's go and get this over and done with."
Kalla looked chirpy again, "Aah now that's the spirit! Let's go!" She looked around and stopped in front of a door. "This looks good, let's go in here…" Not waiting for an answer, she swung open the door, and stepped in.
It was a study, poorly lit by the light from the moon shinning through a grimy window. Ike paused suddenly, then swung around to look behind me. "Wait a minute…" he swung back and looked suspiciously at the grimy window in the study, "If the moon is shining through that window…how come it's also shining through this one…they're on completely different sides of the house…" He was right. It was as if there were two moons or something. Kalla frowned, "hey you're right," she stepped back out the room, and returned a second later, "hey this is really weird, every single window shows a full moon…no matter which direction you face…weird" She shrugged and wandered back in, and started to poke around in the study. Madison, who had been looking at something on the huge oak desk in the room spoke up, "hey guys, come and look at this…" She was reading an article from an old yellowed newspaper.
'Professor Still Missing, Police are baffled'
Dr. Edmund Bartley, a professor from Minecast University, who disappeared three weeks ago today, is still missing. Police say that he was last seen in his house, where it was rumored that he performs strange experiments to support his bizarre theories. Dr. Bartley teaches a course on genetics, but it is said that he obsesses with the concept of cross-species cloning. A colleague of his, Dr. Peter Jackson, says that the doctor saw himself as a 'modern day Frankenstein' and was prone to lengthy explanations on how two species of animal can be cloned together at a cellular stage, to build a sort of 'super beast'. For whatever reasons he has for doing this, we will probably never know, as the police say they have no idea where else to look, and have regretfully given up the search. Dr. Bartley has no living relatives and lives alone in the mansion, which he inherited from his late father.'
Madison stopped reading and skimmed down the rest of the article, "it says here that they're going to sell the house if he didn't turn up in a months time…"
Mei Lin picked up another yellowed paper, "Looks like they never found him, look here it says that the house was sold to a family who had recently moved into the town from the city…" she gulped and continued, "and who disappeared a month after moving in…." A sudden crash of thunder made us all jump.
"Wait, there's more, this other paper says that several months later, an elderly couple moved in, only to disappear three weeks later…wow that's really creepy." There was another loud crash of thunder outside, the lightning lighting up the whole room for a split second. But it was long enough for me to notice a stack of envelopes that had fallen on the floor, which had been hidden previously in the shadows. Madison followed my gaze, and picked up the stack. She read the label, and her face went white. Well, I don't think that was really possible, she was already white. I think it would be more accurate to say that she went transparent. "What what's wrong?"
She pulled one of the envelopes out of the stack, and pointed to an article that had written the address of the house, as it was being sold at an auction. "Look, it matches the address on the envelope…". I whimpered and discreetly stepped closer to Li…for protection. I wasn't in the mood not to act like a wimp. Thankfully, although he looked kinda mad and red in the face, he didn't move away. "S-S-So, you're trying to tell me…th-th-th-that this house is…" my voice got high pitched, "haunted"
CRASH! Rumble rumble rumble…{AN: I'll just write thunder/ lightning like this from now on…}
Kalla looked solemn and simply replied, "yes"
CRASH! Rumble rumble rumble…
"But it's the Clow Card that created it…just like the Illusion Card."
My voice was still all squeaky, "that doesn't make me feel any better you know."
Li summoned his sword and moved towards the door, "c'mon, we're not going to find the card just standing around here…" I reluctantly nodded, but followed, closely, behind him as he exited the room. We slowly made our way down the hall, everyone else following fairly closely behind. The hall led us around a few corners, then down another hallway. This one was lined with doors on both sides, and as there were no more windows for the full moon/s to shine through, lanterns lit this hall. We walked without talking, the silence only broken by the sounds of our feet softy tapping on the dusty floorboards. I stepped ahead a bit, when the hall led to a T-junction, and glanced left and right, trying to get some indication of the Clow Card. "I think I can sense the card to the right. But it's really faint so I'm not sure…" I spun around to get everyone else's opinion on the matter.
But no one was there.
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Oooooh, kinda a cliffhanger! And this is probably like the longest chapter I've ever written… Yay! Go me! There is going to be lots of S & S sap coming up in the next chapter, eventually…hehehe…I have to pull em through the ringer first…you know, near death experiences, evil things, angst, etc. But it will all be made up for, let me tell you…or I could just be getting ahead of myself. As usual, please send in reviews. I like reviews. I live on reviews…well not quite, but you get the picture!! Ta-Ta and toodles for now!