The next day, Kitty sat with Ma.Xitlalli, who was teaching her to knit. She had nothing better to do, as there were no shops, or malls, or anything here. She looked as Ma.Xitlalli counted the stitches. She didn't know is she could complain, exactly. Here, she was always treated like a queen. Lance always gave her expensive gifts, and even though, they were married, he always send flowers with special notes in them for her.

"You would need about I think fifty. You see, I've never knitted for newborns, before. However, for a child Guillermo's size, you use about one hundred, so for a newborn, I don't know, fifty, maybe twenty five. Mama Teta could probably tell you."

"Just why do you call her that?"

"I don't know. Everyone always has. I suppose it was because we couldn't pronounce the name 'Petra', Teta was just easier. So, it stuck."

Jesus came running in.

"Guillermo has disappeared!"he said.

"What? Where?"

"I don't know. Mama Teta said to call you guys, because she needs someone to go search for him."

"Well, where did he go?"

"I don't know. She's calling everybody in San Pedro, to see if he went to town, and is staying with someone."

"I don't Guillermo could've gotten to San Pedro."said Ma.Xitlalli standing up.

In the parlor, Juanita was dialing the phone, while Mama Teta noticing that Ma.Xitlalli coming, said, "Apurate, hija. Ve y busca a tu primo!"

The dectuplets ran outside to tell all the workers to drop what they were doing, and look for him. Kitty thought that Mama Teta was going to make her nervous, because she kept complaining that she was too old to be looking after that child, how could anyone possibly have let him out of their sight, where could he be, and so forth.

"And then those boys,"she meant Arthur and Jesus. "Those boys, I ask them to do something, and they take forever, do you know? They should've been back to tell me if they found him or not yet. Where could he have gone. He knows he's not supposed to go anywhere without telling anyone. But then, of course, that child is just so, 'inquieto', he won't sit still for a second. Perhaps if I could at least walk, but with this knee, I just can't walk long distances, or very fast."

The dectuplets looked in all the workers' houses, but he had not gone visiting with any of them. They looked around the stables. Maybe he had wanted to see the horses. But he wasn't there, either. They found him, trying to climb one of the oldest trees.

"Memin, what are you doing? Mama Teta has already called everyone in town, thinking you were gone. Everybody's looking for you!"Ma.Xochilt said.

"I was just trying to go up there, I've seen Arthur, Manuel, Jesus, and Adrian climbing it."

"They're big boys, they can climb trees, you can't."

"Why?"

"Because, come on. They're very worried about what happened to you. Let's go."

Back at the house, when they arrived Mama Teta was very angry at Guillermo.

"Why did you leave without telling anyone?"

"Arthur and Jesus left."

"Arthur and Jesus are older than you are. You could've gotten lost, and we wouldn't known where to look for you."

"I wanted to go outside. You don't go outside by yourself, you tell someone to go with you. It's dangerous. What disgraceful habits you have, boy. Is that how your parents have accustomed you at your house?"

She went on and on.

"Geez, is she always like that?"Kitty asked the dectuplets.

"Most of the time. She complains about everything. She's an old lady, you know. She complains, but if you don't let it bother you, it's fun."

"Yeah, I can see it is."Kitty said sarcastically.

"She won't get mad at you, Kitty. She has no reason to get mad at you. Guillermo, just because he's very active, and won't sit still. You know, it's stressful."

Pietro had still not given up on the dectuplets. He had just been waiting for a good opportunity. He couldn't give up this life of luxury, and if the cost was marrying one of these girls, he would pay it gladly.

"So, is he all right?"he asked.

"Oh, yes. Just fine."

He chuckled.

"Heh, heh, kids."

"Memin's a very good little kid, just very active. He loves to go exploring. We used to play with him a lot when he was little. Bathe him, dress him, everything. We taught him his first word. Memin. That was all he said for the longest time, you know."

"That's cute."

"Yes, it is. He's still cute. Just annoying at times."

Pietro also showed Lance his best face. The way he noticed things were done around here, he would have to give Lance a good impression, if he was ever going to marry one of his sisters.

At dinner, that night, Kitty asked Alfonsina. "How come your not married?"

Alonsina smiled.

"I'm too old to be married."

"You're not too old."

"People marry when they're in late teens. Besides, I don't really think marriage is for me."

"Eat your vegetables."Mama Teta told Rebecca and Guillermo. "Or you won't get any chocolate. Juanita, don't give them desert until they've eaten all their vegetables."

Rebecca and Guillermo groaned.

"Guillermo,"whispered Arthur. "Is it true that you're gay?"

Guillermo got very mad.

"He's calling me names!"

"What?"said Jesus innocently. "I didn't hear anything."

"Stop it, you guys."said Ma.Xosefina.

The next morning, the dectuplets were in a deep conversation with Sissy.

"Really, Sissy, are you sure? That would be great. That would be so cool."

"Of course, I'm sure. Now, you better go see how Ma.Eugenia is doing. You shouldn't say anything just yet. Though, it shouldn't be a surprise, either."

The dectuplets were very happy. Meanwhile, Arthur and Xavier were talking to el Padre Juan.

"You want to convert?"he asked.

"Yes."

"You see, Padre, he's always wanted to be Catholic, but, well, you know, they're mostly Protestants, over there, and you know people always want to be like everyone else."

"I think we should stay here."Evan told Kurt. "The people here aren't afraid of us. They treat us...better."

"Yes."

"Wow."said Maru when the dectuplets told her the news Sissy had informed them. "It's a pity I can't knit like this. My back hurts, and I can't sit up. Ironic, I can stand up, but I can't sit."

"Yes, it is a pity. But don't worry, Maru, you will be fine in no time."

Lance had no trouble learning to ride. After all, the dectuplets said that he had learned even before he learned to walk. He always rode everyday, with his sisters, and cousins. Ma.Eguenia couldn't come, and no one would allow Kitty on the horse, for fear of an accident. He had never been happier in his life. He felt...free. Here, it seemed that he could just be himself. He understood why he had so many 'strange' tastes and habits. Just like the dectuplets, Ma.Eugenia, and Alfonsina, he could never seem to keep his hands quite still. He always wanted to hold something. As they were girls, they always held fans. And they always moved them when they talked.

He also seemed to have acquired quite a liking for brandy. The one thing he didn't take up was smoking, of course. He also liked to sing, and found that he had a very nice voice, and he also danced very well. No one was surprised, as all of his sisters sang as they did things, or just for the fun of it, and they also danced. He visited his mother every day. She was recovering very quickly, and she loved to hear him sing. He also changed the way he dressed a little. He wore a hat, and his boots always matched his belt.

"You guys know, what Sissy told us?"asked Ma.Xaviera.

"No, we don't talk to the cat, you know."Rogue answered.

"I don't know if you'll believe it. Sissy said you won't have a baby."she told Kitty. "You'll have a set of octuplets. Eight identical girls. Just two less than us."

"Are you serious!"cried Jesus.

"No, Chuy, it's actually just a stupid joke Sissy came up with. Of course we're serious."

"Octuplets!"gasped Kitty.

"Yes, and you know, one of them should be named Ana Patricia. That's a nice name. Ana Patricia."

"What are octuplets?"asked Guillermo.

"Eight twins."

Mama Teta also couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"Isn't it wonderful?"said Ma.Xulia.

Jesus just laughed. Arthur couldn't help himself, and he laughed, too.

"It's just too good to be true."said Ma.Xosefina.