As the Hamilton family stepped into the new home of the Parrs, Helen was prompted to extend a hand of greeting. Avoiding the temptation to literally "extend" her hand, she walked over to the guests in a normal fashion. "I'm Helen Parr," she introduced herself.

"Ike Hamilton," said Mr. Hamilton, whose head came up to the level of Robert's collarbone. "My wife Gloria, and our daughter, Chris."

"Wonderful," remarked Helen as she lay eyes on the girl. "I have a daughter about the same age." She turned and summoned her children. "Dash, Vi, we have visitors."

Into the living room hurried the two oldest children, fifth-grade Dash and high school freshman Violet. Baby Jack-Jack was tottering on his feet nearby, struggling to take his first steps.

"What a cute baby," gushed Mrs. Hamilton, who set down her little Billy so that the toddlers could frolic together.

"Hey, nice hairdo," Violet complemented the neighbor girl. "I used to wear my hair like that, until I started wearing a barette."

"I like it this way," Chris lied, making a quick brushing motion to make sure that the left half of her face was completely hidden.

"We just moved here from Municiberg," Bob told Mr. Hamilton. "I work in the insurance industry. And you?"

"I install security systems," Ike responded. "We've been living here since we were married."

Dash suddenly popped up in front of Chris and asked her a rude question. "Do you have a face behind all that hair?"

"Yeah, I do." Glancing around to make sure the men weren't watching her, Chris drew aside the blond hair blanketing her face. As Dash beheld her true appearance, he felt so irresistibly attracted to the girl that he couldn't move or look away.

"I think he's in love," remarked Violet. Chris allowed her hair to fall over her face again, and Dash started to reflect on the strangeness of what he had just experienced.

Chris, accepting Violet's invitation to check out her room, followed the raven-haired girl. Violet's bedroom was neatly organized, the bed sheets carefully arranged and free of wrinkles. Her walls were decorated with posters of various paintings, both classical and contemporary--Van Gogh, Monet, Gaugin, Warhol.

"Oh, my God," exclaimed Chris breathlessly when she recognized one of the posters on the far wall. "Robert Mapplethorpe!"

She caught herself, remembering that it was her duty to appear unexceptional and mediocre. "Uh...who's that?" she asked stupidly.

"A photographer," Violet informed her. "I like to take pictures. I also like to paint. My house in Municiberg had an extra room I could use as a studio, but this house is so small, I can't sneeze without getting someone wet."

"Will you show me something you've painted?" Chris asked.

"Sure." Violet pulled open the top drawer of her desk, and took out several framed acrylic paintings. "They're mainly forest and mountain renderings, taken from photos. I try to capture the essence of the scenes instead of the details."

"They, uh, look weird," said Chris, although she greatly admired Violet's skill at conveying the grandeur of nature through simple shapes.

"You have a nice face," Violet complimented her. "I wouldn't cover it up if I were you."

"Why not?" said Chris flippantly. "The left side looks just like the right side."

"So what do you like to do?" Violet inquired.

"Oh, the usual. Hang out with friends, shop for clothes, listen to boy bands."

As the Hamiltons departed for their own house, they shared their impressions of the Parr family. "I think they'll make a good addition to the neighborhood," Mrs. Hamilton opinionated.

"Violet has so much in common with me," Chris related. "I'd rather hang out with someone like her than with the shallow girls at school."

"I know, dear," said her mother. "But given our family situation, you can't afford to have more than a superficial relationship with anyone."

"There's something uncannily familiar about those two," Mr. Hamilton mused. "I can't quite place it."

"If I were a boy, I think I'd want to have a girlfriend like Violet," said Chris wistfully.

"Don't get any ideas," Mrs. Hamilton cautioned her.

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A/N: Sorry this chapter is short.