I'm proud of getting this up fast for once. Hope you enjoy

Second Generation

The Plan

"Whoa, what did you rob?" Mark asked as I orbed into the bushes beside him.

"Nothing," I grunted, dropping all the stuff onto the ground,"I went to my Aunt's house and Jen helped me get all her Dad's stuff."

"Ohhh. So you didn't really rob, you just...borrowed."

"Whatever," I shrugged it off,"We need a plan."

"Like...where we're going to camp and stuff?"

"Yeah. I think that one of us needs to get a job. Or even both. But we can't be who we really are. Can we?"

"I think we could. There's only one problem...we don't have passports or anything. This could be risky."

"Yeah...but I think we need to try. How else are we going to survive out here? I have a whole $75.00. That won't get very far. And how much do you have?"

He paused for a moment,"About the same,"he finally said. "Great. $150.00. I think we need to get a move on. Let's go find a campsite," I said picking up the tent and stuff. Mark started to walk away in the direction of the road. "Wait!" I hissed at him,"It's a good kilometre or 2 to the nearest city! Why don't we just orb?"

"Good thinking," he rolled his eyes at himself.

"Touch my shoulder," I said, wanting to avoid the problem we had last time. He gently touched me and I orbed out. We arrived in more bushes in the heart of downtown Maalaea.

"Now what?" Mark asked.

"Um..."I looked around, and spotted a small store that had a rickety sign over top reading,'Natural Remedies',"There!" I said,"That store! My mom's always taught me and my sisters about natural potions and stuff, but she told us never to use them for personal gain. I think that this is different though, right? Making potions for other people for money, that's indirect personal gain..."

"Why wouldn't you use them for personal gain?" Mark questioned,"What's the point?"

I looked at him, unbelieving all over my face,"You really don't know?" He shook his head."We're not allowed to use magic for personal gain because we could end up power hungry, and easy to sway to the darkside." I recited what I'd been taught for as long as I could remember.

He nodded with comprehension,"Ok, what will I do though?" he asked.

"Don't you have a job at SuperMart at home stocking shelves?" I asked him.

"Yeah, why?" "Because. Look to your left." he looked.

"A SuperMart!" he exclaimed,"I can go apply for a job!" "Great. You go there, and I'll go down to the natural remedies shop." We parted ways.

I pulled the rickety door open, and was greeted by a faceful of fragrent smoke. I squeezed my way through dusty, crowded shelves and made my way to the front. "Hello?" I called softly.

Suddenly from behind me, an old lady with huges glasses and frizzled gray hair peeking out from under a huge scarf at me,"How may I help you?" she barked.

"Um, I'm-I'm looking for a-a job,"I stammered.

"No jobs here," she said, and pushed past me. As she moved, I caught sight of a tattoo on her lower arm. It was a Triqueta!

"Wait!" I said,"Your tattoo, what's it of?"I asked.

"The Triqueta," she said, slowly turning around,"Why?"

"Um,"I said,"I was just curious..."I said, pulling up my sleave to show my bare shoulder. A tiny imprint of the same symbol was branded on my shoulder.

"Are you a witch?"she asked quietly.I nodded. "Follow me."

I followed her throught the stacks into the back. She pulled a dusty old book off the shelves in the back room for 'Employee's Only', and opened it to a well worn page in the middle. Lines and tiny printed names dotted the page.

"What's that?" I asked, peering at it.

"My family tree," she said. She pointed to a name in the corner, Isabelle Kalia. "Me," she said. I skimmed the page, and, to my surprise, saw Penny Halliwell written on the other side of the page. I looked up at the old lady, and pointed to the name.

"That's my great grams!"I said.

"That's also my...3rd Cousin," she said, looking over the page.

"WOW!"I exclaimed,"We're related!" She eyed me carefully,"Yes we are," she finally said slowly,"So, about that job...?"

"Melissa,"I told her,"And I can make all sorts of natural remedies with herbs and stuff!" I explained enthusiastically,"My momma's always taught me how, since we were really little!"

"We?" she asked.

"My sister's and I. My mom's Piper Halliwell."

"Piper Hall-You're a Charmed One's daughter!" she exclaimed.

I nodded,"So...about that job?"

"You're hired!" she said,"Come in tomorrow morning at 9:00!" she said.

I nodded thank you,"Bye!" I said.

I met Mark down back at the bushes. He looked unhappy.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"What do you think? I didn't get the job!"He kicked some dirt with his toe. He looked up at me,"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to talk to you like that,I'm just a little upset..."

"It's ok," I said, reaching over to hug him,"I did get a job, and with any luck, I'll get more than just a wage. We're distant relatives."

He looked up,"Really? Cool!" he said, smiling a little.

Yeah it is, I thought, as he held on and we orbed out.

---Sunshine Campgrounds, 4 Km outside of Maalaea---

"Your campground's number 713, to your right." The campgrounds admissions officer said to us. He'd given us a discount rate of $10.00 a week, because we were 'kids' as he put it.

"Thanks,"I smiled at him, and Mark picked up his share of the camping gear, and we set off down the dirt path. We eventually came to our campground, a cleared out area in the tree's.

"Well,"Mark said,"Let's get going. I've only set up a tent before once in my life, so it's kinda up to you."

"Alright then!" I laughed, "I've never set up a tent! But it can't be that hard to figure out right?"

Sorry to leave you hanging! But....I'll give you more later...presuming that that little purple button gets pushed.... :P Thanx!:D MayRae