The next morning Piper got up earlier than usual. She had a houseful of people to fix breakfast for and she wanted to get an early start on it. As she walked into the kitchen she noticed that granny and Maribelle were all ready there. And breakfast was very nearly ready. Angus Todd was in the backyard apparently looking for something.
"Mornin' sleepy head," said granny as she stood on a chair looking at the top of the refrigerator. Maribelle was pushing buttons on the microwave with a confused look on her face. "You people shore do sleep late 'round here. We's been up fer hours."
"Apparently," said Piper. "Maribelle, is something wrong?"
"I cain't git this here television to work," said Maribelle. "Granny and I was gonna watch it but it don't seem to come on."
"That's because it's a microwave," said Piper. "Granny, can I help you with something?"
"Jes trying to figure out where the ice goes," said granny. "Ain't no drip pan neither. This is a strange icebox."
"That's because it's a refrigerator, not an icebox," said Piper. "It's electric. You don't put ice in it."
"Well what do you know 'bout that?" asked granny, stepping down off the chair. "Y'all shore got some fancy stuff in this here kitchen."
"Just standard items," said Piper, looking out the back door at Angus Todd. "Nothing you can't find in any kitchen in the city."
"Do tell?" questioned Maribelle.
"What is Angus Todd looking for?" Piper asked.
"Yer outhouse," said granny. "He cain't seem to find it nowheres."
"That's because we don't have an outhouse," said Piper. "We have bathrooms. I'll tell you what. Call him in and I'll give you the grand tour. And I'll explain anything you don't understand. That should make your stay here just a bit easier."
Piper gave the group a tour of the entire house, minus the attic. She didn't want to have to explain to them about the Book of Shadows. They all seemed impressed with many of the "new fangled gadgets" as they put it. Piper was very careful to explain to them that such things as a toilet, electric oven, and even an electric water heater were normal conveniences that most houses had.
"Piper, you've outdone yourself," exclaimed Cole as everyone except Leo sat down to breakfast a little later. Leo had orbed to the Elders to see if he could get any more information on their guests. "This is one of the best spreads you've ever set."
"Don't thank me," said Piper. "Thank granny and Maribelle. They fixed most of it."
"Well, it's very good," said Paige. "At least you now have some help in the kitchen."
Piper just glared at Paige.
"Granny's the best cook 'round," said Maribelle. "She been teaching me."
"Well, she is a good cook," admitted Piper.
"Now that's high praise coming from Piper," said Phoebe. "She's a professional chef."
"Well, I don't know how to fix some of them fancy restaurant meals," said granny. "Just some good old fashioned home cooking. The kind that sticks to yer ribs. That's the kind we eat in Myrtle Creek."
"This is good," exclaimed Piper. "Maybe you could give me the recipe for some of it."
"Well, ordinarily I'd say no," said granny. "But seein's how youse kin and all, I reckon it would be okay."
"Who knows?" questioned Piper, "maybe I might even have a recipe or two you'd like to have."
"I reckon it couldn't hurt," said granny. "Might be nice to have a fancy meal now and again."
"By the way," said Cole, "I made some calls after I got up. There are a few social agencies that I think might be able to help you get settled. We can call and set up some appointments if you'd like."
"You mean gov'ment?" questioned Cletus.
"Well, yes," said Cole. "Most of them are funded by tax dollars."
"No thank ye," said Cletus. "I done had my fill of gov'ment folk. They done took the farm what was in my family fer generations. Cain't say I want to be beholding to any gov'ment people."
"But they can help you get settled," said Paige. "It would be a lot easier than trying to do it on your own."
"We don't take no charity," said granny, "'specially from no gov'ment people. Ain't done it afore and ain't gonna start now. We Mcellhennys stands on our own feet."
"Well," said Cole, "there are some private organizations that could help. Ones that aren't connected with the government. And it's not like it's charity. They just give people a hand up when they need it."
"I'll have to think on it a spell," said Cletus. "We always fended fer ourselves. Be kind of hard to change now."
"Just think about it," said Cole. "I still have a few friends out there who can probably help you."
"You always seem to have that satchel with you," said Paige, noticing the satchel sitting on the floor near granny's chair. "Is there something important in it?"
"It's the family heirlooms," said granny, looking nervously at Cletus. "Taint worth much to no one else but it's all we gots in the world. Jes wanna make sure they's safe, that's all."
"Really, heirlooms?" questioned Piper. "Maybe you could show them to us later."
"Oh, y'all wouldn't be interested in none of that," said Cletus. "Jes some stuff what's been in the family fer a couple of generations. I doubt anyone would be interested in it."
"I would be," said Paige. "I'm still learning about the family history and I'd love to see some heirlooms from another branch of the family."
"Maybe later," said granny.
"Morning everyone," said Leo, coming into the kitchen. "Sorry I'm late. Everything smells good."
"Morning young fella," said Cletus. "Y'all shore do sleep late."
"Oh, well, I had some errands to run this morning," said Leo. "I just got back."
"Funny," said Angus Todd, "didn't hear no car pull up."
"Uh, a friend dropped me off," said Leo uncomfortably.
"So, did you get what we talked about last night taken care of?" Piper asked Leo.
"Not yet," said Leo. "But I'm still working on it."
"What might it be?" asked Cletus. "Maybe I kin help. I done learned a thing or two in my day."
"Probably not about this," said Leo. "It, uh, has to do with my work, that's all. Kind of specialized work. I doubt they have anything like it where you're from?"
"Jes what do you do fer a living?" questioned Maribelle.
Piper and Leo just looked at each other. They couldn't tell them the truth. And it didn't seem right to lie to them. Still, it wouldn't do to say that Leo was a White Lighter. That would be too hard to explain without giving away the girls' secret. Before anyone else could speak a pillar of flame erupted in the entryway.
When the flames died out a creature was standing in the entryway. It turned and immediately moved toward the kitchen. It stood over six feet tall and was a deep green color. Its eyes resembled cats' eyes. Its ears were pointed and three spikes stuck out from the side of its forearms. Everyone stood up from the table and moved into a defensive posture.
"Give me what I want and I will make your deaths quick and painless," said the demon forming a fireball. "Refuse, and you shall curse the woman who bore you."