Disclaimer: Not to I can credit of fanciful characters be given, but unto creators of such adventures can praise fall. In other words, I didn't make WordGirl & co. I merely write about them. Though I claim Jennifer.

"Do you ever wonder about your kids?"

Mrs. Botsford had finally made it to her lunch break. She had retreated to the City Hall lounge where she had made for herself a microwavable meal.

She, and the entire office, had been working on a case that involved three cities in three different states, note why she needed to head to Florida.

It had been the most stressful time she could remember as every state fought over the evidence and whatnot, but regardless this was Sally Botsford's first major case. Usually she was only asked to handle matters involving the rather large city she lived in, which was great as she enjoyed being home with her family every night, but this case required her to travel and, being she never wanted to leave her family behind, she had tried to turn this trip into a vacation.

"What parent doesn't worry about their kids?" Mrs. Jennifer Cotton was one of the staff at city hall who had conveniently taken her break with Sally. She and Sally had gotten to know one another pretty well over the past four months due to the case and while Sally wouldn't consider the very talkative Jennifer to be a close friend, she did feel safe enough to confide in her.

"Well, this morning my daughter seemed to be upset about leaving the city this summer."

"So," Jennifer joined Sally at the table, scooting her chair closer.

Luckily, the lounge was empty so the two women could talk freely.

"I'm worried that Becky might not want to go with us to Florida."

"Of course she might not and that's okay."

Sally gave her friend her full attention.

"Sometimes there are things kids don't want to do, it won't hurt her if you force her to take a little trip. If anything she'll end up enjoying it more than anyone else in your family." Jennifer got comfortable in her chair and placed her purse on the table. She then reached into the bag and pulled out her make-up. Sally watched as the woman applied several new layers of powder.

"If you really want my opinion, which I'm sure you do, take that girl with you and don't compromise a thing with her."

"I'm not so sure," Sally hadn't touched her lunch. "At first that's what I thought, but Becky really looked upset when we told her about the trip. She even made up some story about the school wanting her to stay over the summer."

"Isn't your daughter in the fifth grade?"

"Yes."

"That was a pathetic lie. She'll be in middle school next year, why would she think the school would ask its alumni to return over the summer. I mean really, lie about a sleepover or something."

"I really think Becky's afraid to leave the city."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Becky's adopted and sometimes I wonder if she is sub-conscientiously frightened to leave home because. . ."

Sally was cut off as her co-worker loudly interjected.

"Becky could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder!"

"What?"

"Due to being abandoned by her real parents, Becky cannot stand the thought of leaving the only place where she may be able to reunite with her lost relatives." Jennifer rose from her chair breathing heavy. "I've seen this on a television special."

"I'm sure Becky doesn't. . ."

Jennifer dramatically clung to the table bringing her face within inches of Sally's. She had so forcibly smacked the table with the compact in her hand that powder fluffed into the air around their faces.

"If you make her leave, she will forever hate you," Jennifer whispered. "She will always resent the day you took her away; blaming you for lowering her chance of returning home!" The powder seemed to highlight Jennifer's seriousness.

"Will you calm down?"

Jennifer slowly straightened up, but the crazed look in her eye did not vanish.

"You think I'm making this stuff up, but Becky might be thinking that any day now her real family is going to show up and if she leaves. . ."

"Knock it off!" Sally had heard enough. "You're making it sound like my daughter is some kind of alien getting beamed home. We're her 'real' family now and she loves us."

The two women stared at each other for a moment; Jennifer then collected her purse.

"I'm sorry, Sally. I must have gotten carried away." With that, she powered her nose, again, and left with a smile. Sally just shook her head, not certain what to make of that conversation or the powder that now clung to her collar.

As the door swung from Jennifer's departure, Ms. Claire MacCallister entered.

"Tell me you're not taking her advice." Claire didn't look at Sally but passed by her to the counter space behind her. It was obvious she didn't hear the conversation but was speculating on Jennifer's reputation of craziness.

Sally sighed.

"I don't know,"

What if Jennifer was right? It wasn't like Becky to lie about things. The school would have sent a newsletter home if such events existed. But every kid did lie every now and again, that was normal, but Becky was usually an honest child, the only reason she would lie is if there was something seriously wrong. And why tell such a dozy when the family was planning to go on vacation. Something just wasn't adding up.

Sally spun in her chair to face her co-worker. She wanted another opinion on the matter, and who better to ask right?

"Do you ever worry that your son might be suffering from, post-trauma or something?"

Claire paused for a moment before facing Sally.

" . . . What?"

Suddenly Sally wished she would have rephrased that questioned.

"Well, what I mean to say is, do you ever wonder if your kid might misbehave due to something that happened in their past?"

Claire stared condemningly.

"Were you two talking about my son?"

Somehow that question sounded more like a threat than an inquisitive statement.

"No, we were talking about my daughter, Becky."

The last thing Sally would want is for someone to think she was talking about their kid, especially if their kid had somewhat destructive tendencies.

"Then you should say what you mean." Claire returned to her food preparation.

Not that Sally was frightened by her co-worker, but it was clear to her why this woman worked in law; no one was going to cross her. It was now best to just continue the conversation in hopes of blotting out that social blunder.

"Well, my daughter lied to me this morning about the school hosting summer activities. She's hoping I won't make her go to Florida if she can stay with a friend and help out at school. She's never really lied to me before and I'm worried that she might have a fear of leaving home."

Claire continued working without commenting, so Sally continued.

"She's adopted and I think she believes her 'real' parents are still in the city. I'm scared that if I make her go she will hate me for it. What do you think?"

Claire's meal was done. She joined Sally at the table.

"She's probably afraid."

Sally sighed again.

"I think either way Becky would be fine." Claire started eating; between bites she would throw out more ideas to the deliberating Sally. "If she goes she might throw a fit, but she'll get over it by the end of the trip, but you could let her have her way and stay it won't kill her either way."

"You're probably right." Sally smiled and finally reached for her fork. "Becky'll be fine. I'll call Mrs. Heaslip this afternoon and whatever happens, happens."

"Don't take that attitude."

"What attitude?"

"Sera, sera. Kids will take advantage of that in a heartbeat."

Sally couldn't help but feel a little offended by that statement.

"My daughter wouldn't take advantage of me."

Claire had on an ailing smile.

"No one wants to think their child would take advantage of them, but if Becky's willing to lie…"

"My daughter wouldn't do that."

"She's already manipulated you into considering letting her stay; she's lied to your face and still expects you to do what she wants. She's a kid not a superhero, she's going to make mistakes and do selfish things, believe or not."

For whatever reason, these words did not settle well with Mrs. Botsford; no one had the right to say that about her child. Becky was a good kid. Adopted or not, she loved her family 'The Botsfords.' If Becky felt scared to leave home then there should be no need for her family to scrutinize her.

"I trust my daughter and I know she trusts us. She's not trying to manipulate us. The reason she lied is because she's frightened, not because she's like . . . really bad."

'Really bad?' The words Sally wanted to use were 'your son.' Sally wasn't certain how much of this little argument surrounded that kid but it was doubtlessly best to end this conversation before it escalated into something both women would regret.

"Well, I need to get back to work." Sally took up her untouched lunch and placed it in the mini refrigerator.

Walking down the hall back to her office, Sally wasn't certain what to think. Was Becky a manipulative liar bent on ditching her family or a frightened child clinging to the lost hope of her real family . . . or was it neither. Those descriptions didn't seem to match Becky at all.

o

The end of the day; school was out! And despite the rather harsh wind outside, the children of 131 Wood View Elementary School were more than happy to get out of class.

Violet and Becky had taken their time, however. There was no rush to get home and, to be honest, Violet loved to take long, slow walks; especially when it was with her best friend. She and Becky had spent less time together as of late.

Stretching, Becky let out a large yawn as she got up from her chair.

"Can we stop by my locker really quick before we go?"

"Sure."

The two girls stopped at Becky's locker and were on their way home, of course taking another detour to grab a school paper. Both the fraudulent and real papers were tucked away in Becky's book-bag to be used later.

"I'm really excited about this project," Violet smiled as the two left the building. "I want to be really creative with my book."

"Yeah," Becky sounded less enthused.

Violet dropped her smile and studied her friend for a moment. Becky had looked terrible all day and was not acting like her usual cheery self. She had been late to class, which Violet had never remembered Becky being before, and she had been nodding off all throughout the day. And though Violet didn't think anything too serious had happened to her friend, it was clear to see something was wrong.

"Becky,"

Sigh.

"Yes, Violet?"

"Is something wrong?"

Becky seemed to be mulling over the question, but Violet remained quiet and waited for the response.

"Of course not." Becky turned her face away from her friend. "Wrong, why would something be wrong? In no way is something amiss. Nope, nothing at all."

Violet couldn't help but feel troubled by Becky's action. Having her friend turn away from her made her feel like Becky was hiding something, maybe even lying to her.

"You know," Violet spoke softly as if afraid her voice would hurt Becky. "If you ever need to talk about something, I'm willing to listen."

Becky continued to stare off in the other direction.

Pause.

"Really I'm fine Violet," Becky looked back at her friend with the most credible smile she could wear. "I'm just really tired today and I have a lot on my mind."

"Are you worried about the project?"

"Well . . ." Becky wasn't really worried about doing the homework as much as she was worried about having the time to commit to the assignment. Becky was even more concerned with how she could convince her parents to let her stay now that she knew Violet was going to be out of town. There was only an hour left before Becky's mother would get home and call Mrs. Heaslip.

"I guess I am a little . . ."

A strong gust of wind hit the girls causing them to stop their walk. Violet stopped for a moment to regain her bearings, but Becky stopped to listen to a faint sound being carried by the wind.

"Someone's crying for help in the country."

The wind stopped.

Violet looked to Becky to comment on what was said, but she wasn't given time as Becky spoke up again.

"Violet, I'm really sorry," Becky started backing away from her friend. "I think I, uh, forgot something in class."

"Oh, I'll go back with you."

"No!" That came out a bit desperately. "I mean, I don't want to hold you up. I can get it myself."

Becky ran off leaving Violet standing dumbfounded, and hurt. Becky always seemed so busy . . . and forgetful.

Violet sighed. She was really excited to walk home with Becky today, and now, seeing Becky acting so weird at school, Violet was beginning to wonder if something was wrong. Becky never acted like this. Maybe Becky didn't want to be best friends anymore. . .

Wait . . .

Why was Becky running in that direction? The school was down the other street.

Violet watched her friend turn around the corner and, as if it were timed, WordGirl suddenly went zooming through the air.

Could it be . . ?

No, there was no way Becky could be WordGirl.

Violet laughed to herself. Surely she knew her friend better than that. If Becky were WordGirl she defiantly would have told Violet, her best friend . . . but what if Becky didn't think of Violet as a best friend? What if Becky is WordGirl and that is the secret she's been hiding?

"That would explain why she seems so busy."

There had to be a way to find out.

But what if Becky didn't want her to know? If she tried to find out it would make Becky really unhappy with her and then they would never be friends again.

"What am I thinking?" Violet shook her head with a light smile. "Becky's not WordGirl, there's no way."

(A/N) Thank you for reading, and thank you to those who have reviewed.