Team Legacy: Shadows Of The Past

by Rhonda Petrie

The gang heads out to D.C. on a secret mission, but along the way, they must deal with an old foe of Zira's and stop an old employer of Rhonda's from pursuing her. Zira must also deal with some dark memories of her childhood that continue to haunt her.

11. Dates And Parties In Springtime

Author's Notes:

Okay, this is the chapter before the last chapter that I have left off in, so don't be surprised if I have not completed it yet. Basically Payton and Zalira go on their very first date but Payton becomes very nervous and uneasy by Zalira's attempts to produce a conversation and eventually bails out of the date due to his overwhelming grief over his mother's death. Suzanne and Tess then find out what was bothering Payton and then devise a way to pay a tribute to a woman who had lived such a rough and pitiful life and was despised by all.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Primestone arrives in the half-way house and announces that she has come in to remove Payton from the building and relocate him to a foster family in the Biloxi, Missouri area after being informed of the infamous article written by April Beaucroft by her boss. However, Primestone's dark side emerges and Suzanne fights valiantly to protect her beloved charge; however, Judge Busby arrives at the scene and then decides that both Suzanne and Tess should be Payton's guardians until he gets adopted by a new family. Payton is then taken to Biloxi, Missouri, where he meets the Scardsdale family and gets acquainted with the children, who are just as in frail health as he is. However, Zalira suddenly shows up again with the astonishing news that she is pregnant with Payton's children, which sends shock waves throughout the household and infuriates Maura McEnglish. It is then that the gang gets into one of the biggest adventures of their lives and chaos ensues.

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Chapter 10 – Dates And Parties In Springtime

Payton opened the door and bade Zalira come in. Zalira was impressed. "Well! What a gentleman!" she purred. Payton got inside the office and was taken aback by what he saw. There was a table with two lit candles, two placemats, two plates with a fork, spoon, and a sharp and butter knife on either side of them, and also a napkin under the utensils. The table was covered with a white cotton pattern sewn table mat.

"Amazing!" breathed Payton and then he got to Zalira's seat on the right side of the table and then pulled it back. Zalira then climbed onto the chair and then pushed her chair back towards the table. Payton then hopped onto his seat and pushed his seat towards the table and now they were facing each other.

Zalira then lit up her cigarette and began to smoke. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this night. I've been anticipating this date all day. So, who taught you how to be polite to women?" Zalira mused while she was clouded in cigarette smoke and the smoke blasted out of her nose. "My grandma did. I don't know why it didn't work on my mother, but it certainly worked on me," responded Payton. "Well! Better to be raised by a woman than a man. Your father doesn't know how to treat a woman. I'm surprised you're not the same way. Perhaps you're not like your father after all," Zalira retorted.

"I'm nothing like my father. I'm too weak, too frail, too sick," insisted Payton. "Of course. You poor boy. You're still a child in this cruel world. And what a sad world this is indeed. Why can't they just let us be?" scoffed Zalira. "What do you want me to do?" Payton asked her. "Get emancipated. Break free from your father so that way we can live our lives together without the interference of the outside world, them and their damn laws," Zalira suggested while taking a sip of vodka.

Suzanne was standing outside of the office and was also eavesdropping on the conversation. She was very suspicious. How could this be? Get emancipated from his father? Mr. Piano will NEVER allow this to happen! I'll bet he is seething in rage after learning of how his former lover had espoused his only son! God this is getting sicker and sicker by the minute, were her thoughts.

Suzanne then continued to survey the date. Zalira then snapped her fingers and some sirloin steaks appeared on their plates, startling Payton. It was seasoned with rabbit blood. And speaking of rabbit blood, Zalira snapped her fingers once more and then two dead rabbits with dried blood on their bodies appeared on top of the steaks. The adult lioness then snapped the rabbit's head clean and then crunched it into pieces. She then spit out all of the bones and then they piled up in fragments. Payton then began munching on his rabbit.

Suzanne's face turned green and then she ran away from the office, prompting Tess McNeal to come in and take watch. Payton and Zalira continued to feast on their rabbits and then when they finished them, they moved on to their steaks. "Despicable!" spat Tess McNeal, who was disgusted and repulsed.

Zalira then sipped her glass of wine and then set it down. "I really should pay tribute to my mother," Payton informed Zalira. "Ha! And she's my mother-in-law. Poor dear. She's probably rotting in Sam Hill for all I know," Zalira laughed tauntingly and she continued to drink her sherry. Just as she was sipping on her wine, she suddenly stopped and then took a glance at her young husband. "Are you religious?" Zalira made an inquiry of him. "Well, I'm supposed to be a Lutheran. But my father doesn't even practice his religion. So I really don't have a religion," answered Payton nervously.

Zalira poured a glass of wine for Payton and then offered him some. "Would you like some wine?" she questioned him. "Umm… I rather not," Payton grimaced while wincing at the sight of the wine. "Oh well. More for me. I absolutely love to be drunk," remarked Zalira in a wishy-washy matter and then drank Payton's glass of wine. Then she finished her glass of wine and now the alcohol has gotten to her bloodstream and she soon became giddy. Payton couldn't take it anymore. The grief for his mother was too powerful. "I'm sorry. I have to go," he told her and then he ran out of the office while Tess McNeal followed him. Payton then flopped on the bed once he arrived in the room and began to cry once more.

Suzanne then came out of the bathroom and then was surprised to see that Payton was back so soon. She then sat down next to him on the bed. "What's the matter, Payton? Was Zalira being mean to you?" Suzanne interrogated him gently. "No. It's not Zalira. It's about my mother. I really miss her," sobbed Payton in a muffled voice. "Payton, you best come outside. I have an idea," the elderly woman declared and then she entered the balcony with Payton tailing her.

Soon the two were outside the room and doves started to rest on the fence. One of them rested on Suzanne's hair. Tess McNeal then joined them shortly after. "Suzanne, what are you going to do?" Tess McNeal asked her friend and teammate. "The three of us are going to release a dove into the moonlit sky in memory of our departed loved ones. This should be a nice tribute for Luella," Suzanne explained.

Tess McNeal then whistled and then a dove hopped on her cupped hands. Two more doves did the same to Suzanne and Payton. "All right. I'll go first," Suzanne announced and then she turned to face the night sky. "Please tell Lew that I miss him," she whispered and then released the dove into the sky. She then turned to Tess McNeal and gave her a wink. "You can go now, Tess," she told her. Tess McNeal then gazed up at the sky and then closed her eyes while holding up her dove. "If you can hear me, Nessie, hear my prayer. This is a prayer of love and eternal devotion. I miss you, my dear little sister," she murmured and then Tess McNeal released the dove into the sky and let it fly free and afloat. Now it was Payton's turn. He then lifted up the dove into the sky and it was cooing audibly in the dark, serene night. He trembled and attempted to fight back tears.

"You hurt me, Mamma. You broke my heart and left me all alone. I have gone from an innocent child to an underage husband. I don't blame you. I understand if I didn't please you. I never pleased anyone. I failed my father, I failed Zalira, and now I failed you. I know you're angry, but not all of the wrath of the world can take away the gift that I'm about to give to you. I love you, Mamma," he recited. Then he let go of the dove and the dove took off into the skies as tears flowed down on his face. Payton then rushed to Suzanne Carmichael and then buried his head in her chest. Tess McNeal then embraced him and Suzanne in order to comfort him. The trio then walked back into the bedroom and climbed into bed.

Suzanne then switched off the lights and looked down at Payton, who was still stricken with bitter and agonized tears. "I'm angry," he stammered. "I know you're mad, Payton. I was mad too when my sister died. Whenever I went to bed I would always wake myself up crying," Tess McNeal sympathized. Payton was still seething with wrath in his eyes and Suzanne could feel his steamy, hot breath on her arm. "I'll show my dad. I'll show him. I can be a man. I WILL BE A MAN!" he growled rancorously. Payton then bounded off the bed and dashed to the balcony. He scaled the walls before standing on the top of them. Payton felt his boiling anger about to explode. "You want to roar, Payton? Then let all of your anger out! Roar like the man you are!" Tess McNeal challenged him.

"I will!" Payton shouted back and then he started to hiss and snarl and yowl with all his might. "RAAOR! RAAAAAOOAAAR!" he snarled. Payton then continued to attempt to make a good roar but all it came out of his mouth was just an immature, weak howling of a kitten. Now he was frustrated. With all of his strength and all his might, Payton took a deep breath and to the surprise and shock of the ladies, made the loudest and deepest roar that was ever produced on Earth. Suzanne Carmichael and Tess McNeal quickly sat up in bed.

"What the fucking hell was that?" Suzanne cursed. "Goddamn. He finally did it," gasped Tess McNeal. The two ladies then looked over their shoulders and were astonished to see Payton roaring just like an adult lion. "Well! Look at that kid go!" Suzanne cheered on her young friend. "Yeah! I would marry a guy who could roar like that!" responded Tess McNeal.

Zalira then was shaken from her drunken sleep by the deep, loud roaring and then raced to another balcony. Once she got there, she turned her head to the nearby balcony where Payton was sitting and rendered breathless by his magnificent, powerful roaring. Her heart rate quickened and her breathing became labored and constricted. Zalira's temperature increased. Suzanne instinctively knew that Zalira might possibly be aroused by Payton's roar and might be sexually interested. So she took out a miniature cube-sized security recording camera and then tossed it to Tess McNeal. "Okay, Tess. Install this security recording camera and it will record what will occur here. We will sleep in the bathroom and in the morning we will check the recorded tape," the elderly veteran actress instructed her.

Tess McNeal then climbed up the wall and then hooked up the security camera to the wall and then jumped down and landed on her feet. Suzanne then smirked. "This thing is so small; Zalira won't even notice its presence," she boasted proudly. "You naughty girl," snickered Tess McNeal. The ladies gave each other a high five and then got inside the bathroom and locked the door shut for the night.

Zalira then prowled into the room and focused her sights on Payton. A soft smile spread on her face as she kept on ambling to the balcony. As soon as she slipped inside the balcony, Zalira then sat down next to Payton, who had already stepped down from the fenced wall. Payton then cocked his head to face her. "Um, hi," he squeaked. "You really amazed me with your roaring. Not bad for a first timer, though. Listen. Have you ever thought of having children?" Zalira praised him.

"No, I can't have children. I got AIDS. Besides, I don't want to make you sick," replied Payton while shaking his head. "Don't you know that you can't get AIDS from animals? If you get intimate with an animal, that animal can't get sick because only humans can get infected with the virus," Zalira growled exasperatedly and impatiently. "But aren't you afraid?" Payton enquired her with a worried and anxious expression on his face. "Listen, kid. I'm not afraid of anything, and I'm sure as hell not scared of AIDS," Zalira snapped while baring her teeth. "Believe or not, Zalira, I care about you. I don't want to be the one responsible for endangering the rest of your life," argued Payton, upset.

"Listen, pal. I screwed your father before and nothing has happened to me. You're just ashamed to be my husband!" snarled Zalira. "Well I got news for you, Zalira. I was scared out of my wits when I first got married to you, but I'm not running away anymore. I'm not running from anything anymore. If I going to FUCK you, then the damn hell I will!" Payton shouted at her. Zalira went livid. She didn't expect Payton to cuss at her.

Tess McNeal and Suzanne were listening to the conversation with their ears glued to the wall and their jaws dropped when they heard Payton say a couple of bad words. "Sheesh, Suzanne. Does Payton really think he's adult enough to swear at her like that?" Tess McNeal commented while frowning. "I'm starting to think he is," Suzanne returned loyally. "Do you think he's really considering doing it with her?" Tess McNeal hissed. "Yep," Suzanne retorted while giving out an affirmative nod. "Another Mary Kay Letourneau story," Tess McNeal commented with a sigh.

"You sure you want to do this?" Zalira inquired Payton. "Why not? If this is what you want, then let's have a go at it," was Payton's rejoinder. Payton then grabbed Zalira's arm and placed his other hand on her shoulder. Zalira then slid her left paw on his back and started leaning in for the kiss. But just then Mr. Piano bashed into the room and was charging into the balcony with an Enfield revolver in hand and with his eyes glowing fiery red and heating up. An aura of wrath reflected from his body and shrouded him with passionate energy. He was speeding at 100 mph and before you can even blink your eyes even once he leapt into the balcony and was shaking Zalira's shoulders rapidly and harshly and with so much vigor and then lunged for her neck and began to choke her.

"You wretched double crossing, seductive, perverted, nymphomaniac whore! How dare you conjoin my son and plot to violate him behind my back? I'm warning you, you she-devil. If I ever catch you in bed with my son, I will rape you and murder you with my own bare hands!" he threatened as his eyes flared up with rage and his face glowed beet red and his blood boiled. Payton was horrified by what he was seeing. Now Mr. Piano was venting his fury on his wife, and he knew that as her husband he must do something.

"STOP! Papa, I order you to release her from your grasp!" Payton screeched passionately. Mr. Piano dropped Zalira to the ground and turned around to look at his son. "You are the unluckiest wretch I ever did see. I'll bet the grief of the loss of your dear mother drove you to be seduced by this pervasive witch. Do my eyes deceive me? This woman has bewitched you, didn't she?" he moaned pitifully.

"Please, Papa. Don't hurt me anymore. Don't hurt her anymore. Don't hurt us anymore. Or if you proceed to continue to do so, I will run away and live with Suzanne and Tess," Payton implored his father. "Lesbians in this house! That is an abomination! They shall go to hell!" roared Mr. Piano furiously. Suzanne then stepped outside with her hands up, and so did Tess McNeal.

Mr. Piano then spun around to meet them. "So, you have sinned in the eyes of God. You indulged yourselves the pleasure of sleeping around with each other," he condemned them. "That's not true! That's a lie! Tess and I are just simply close friends! We've been keeping an eye on Payton, that's all!" Suzanne counterattacked the allegation aggressively and indignantly.

Mr. Piano scowled and screwed up his face in anger as his fists clenched up tightly into a ball and his body trembled in preparation for an attack. "You're lying, woman. I'll bet you have an eye for my son too! And especially your companion! I'll bet she's looking for someone to bang too!" he kept on accusing her. "You're a bitter, spiteful man. You just want to tarnish our reputations and delight in dragging our names through the mud," Tess McNeal shot back boldly.

Mr. Piano then approached Tess McNeal and then held on her shoulders tightly. "Hey, sweetheart. Why don't we make out sometime? I'll bet you will derive pleasure in that," he smooth talked to her and essayed to kiss her. Suzanne then slammed him into a wall telekinetically and then banged him on the concrete wall again and again. "Don't you dare put your dirty hands on my friend, because I'll rip your head off!" she offered. Mr. Piano then slid on the floor, defeated. Tess McNeal then grinned at her elderly friend. "Thanks, Suzanne. But I would've preferred you castrating his balls into mush though," she thanked him graciously. "No problem, Tess," Suzanne returned loyally with a smile.

"That reminds me," Tess McNeal spoke up and then she walked up to Mr. Piano and then gave him five swift, hard kicks to the face, causing him to have a nosebleed. "That's for trying to screw me to death, you bastard!" she hissed aggressively while pointing her finger at him. Just then, a young girl clad completely from head to toe – except for her eyes – in black cloth unexpected arrived and then took out a BB gun and started brandishing it at everyone while babbling rapidly in Arabic.

It was the Iraqi girl that Zalira had abducted from Iraq earlier, and she was about 9-years-old, the daughter of a radical Islamic rebel fighter opposing the American soldiers in the name of Allah. Her name was Sa'dah, and her parents are of Lebanese and Saudi Arabian descent. "Death to all Americans! Death to all Americans!" the young girl chanted in Arabic. She then clicked her eyes to Payton and then aimed her BB gun at him. "Infidel! You will pay with your life!" she threatened menacingly in Arabic.

Payton scrambled to the balcony and then attempted to jump out of the halfway house but slipped and was now hanging for dear life. He whimpered and he shook with fear. Sa'dah laughed at the sight of Payton's cowardice and was greatly amused that a young boy could run at the sight of her. She wasn't terrified of anyone, especially the U.S. military that now occupied her home in Baghdad. In fact, if given the chance, she could do combat with the soldiers face-to-face on a one-on-one fight.

Sa'dah also had dazzling, glassy, vivacious, radiant emerald eyes and wavy, curly honey auburn hair which she hid in her traditional Muslim clothes in shame. Mr. Piano then woke up and saw his son dangling on the balcony and rushed in to save him. He scooped him up in his arms and then prepared to leave the halfway house with him.

Zalira then blocked his exit and growled low in her throat defensively. "You're not removing my husband from this house!" she objected. "I'm going to court tomorrow to ask them to annul this illicit marriage immediately!" declared Mr. Piano. "Can't we come up with a compromise?" Suzanne suggested calmly. "What compromise?" spat Mr. Piano as he whizzed his head to make eye contact with her.

"Zalira can surrender herself to the authorities and go to prison for statutory rape until Payton turns 18. Once Payton is 18-years-old, Zalira can be paroled from jail and report to a parole officer for two more years and register herself as a sexual predator. She then can make a petition to the courts to make her marriage to Payton recognized as legal and valid," Suzanne explained her proposals to Mr. Piano.

"Or you can go to court and surrender your rights, responsibilities and authority as a parent and the court can grant permission for Payton to be emancipated," added Tess McNeal. "I think the latter is more probable, since you never really took care of your own son anyway!" Suzanne retorted with a fierce tone. "Humph! Why would I give up control of Payton? He is too immature and too frightful to handle adult responsibilities on his own," said Mr. Piano disdainfully.

"But if Zalira becomes pregnant with his child, will you make him an emancipated minor then?" questioned Suzanne. "Unless he shows me any evidence that he is independent enough to be liberated from my control, then he'll still by under my authority," Mr. Piano informed her. Payton then held Zalira's hand and squeezed it. Zalira turned to him and simpered sweetly. Mr. Piano then stormed out of the room and was gone.

Suzanne then turned to face the biracial couple. "None of you participates in any form of sexual intercourse until we get this straightened out or unless the court declares Payton emancipated," she admonished them firmly. Then she directed Zalira to the door and the adult lioness trudged reluctantly out of the room while mumbling displeasingly about what the veteran actress had just declared. Payton sighed and then body slammed on the bed flat on his back.

Suzanne Carmichael and Tess McNeal then joined him as Suzanne gave his hand a big reassuring squeeze. "Look, Payton. We're just doing what's best for you. We want to protect you from anything that you might be unprepared to undertake. I don't think you're ready to become a father if Zalira gets pregnant. You're way too young. You have to prove to the courts that you're independent and mature enough to live alone with Zalira. And that's not going to be easy," Tess McNeal explained.

"Tess's right. Not only has Zalira married you against your will, but she has also kidnapped and raped you as well. She almost kissed you too, and would have engaged in sexual intercourse with you if your father hadn't showed up. I'm surprised that your father had arrived for you at all, because he does nothing but treat you harshly, cruelly, and brutally and holler, scream and boss you around," Suzanne agreed with her young French teammate. "Is there anyway I can turn back into a human boy?" Payton interrogated the women.

"Well, that's up to Zalira. She may not want you to turn into a human boy again. But we're going to stand by you all the way throughout this ordeal. You might as well get some rest. You had a long day," answered Suzanne placidly and then she kissed him on the forehead. "Night, Suzanne. Night, Tess," yawned Payton while snuggling on her chest and purring contentedly. "Good night, Payton," Suzanne crooned sweetly and then she closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber. Tess McNeal also fell asleep.

Payton then sat up and then examined the ladies and then glanced at Sa'dah, who was now asleep on the floor. "YES! Now I get to sneak out," he whispered. Payton then slid off the bed and then silently crawled out of the room without anyone noticing. Just as he was journeying to Zalira's office, Newman, Reline, Taska, Saska and Maluku leaped out of the blue and were now cornering the young lion to his tracks. "Look, fellas. It's the AIDS kid," commented Taska while laughing.

"How did you know about my illness?" Payton cried in shock. "Who wouldn't? Looks like the entire town of Washington knows about your story now. You must be the grandson of that bitch Maura McEnglish. We're so sorry about your dead mama," Saska mocked Payton in a singsong tone and then she and the other lions started laughing. Newman then menaced towards Payton and soon swiped at him with his powerful claw, frightening him.

Payton almost screamed when Reline seized his neck and performed a half nelson on him. "Oh yeah! Now goes the part when we have a late night snack – with an extra hint of AIDS. Payton Viral Sandwich is on the house!" bellowed Taska while howling with laughter. Newman then took out a laser-guided .44 magnum and cocked it and then pointed it at Payton's head while the laser beamed at his forehead. "Say your prayers, kid," he hissed as his finger was about to touch the trigger.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" bellowed a voice, and then the lions swiveled their head around to see that Zalira had bounded out of the office and then skidded to a stop to confront Newman. "Let that boy go, Newman!" Zalira ordered sternly. "Well, why should I? That boy should've been dead meat a long time ago," Newman scoffed defiantly. "Give me the damn child right now!" bellowed Zalira, enraged. "If I were to kill you right now, Zalira, I would be the leader of The Children of Aquarius," offered Newman maliciously.

Zalira's body tensed for a tumultuous disputation. Compared to her, Newman was 10x times bigger and had wolf-like ears that flattened on his head. He had a huge snout and a muscular, bulky build. His legs were lean, strong, graceful yet powerful and deadly. Newman's face was of a wolf with skeleton-like eyes and sharp and pointy cougar built teeth and his midnight blue and silver fur was whippy, fluffy and curly. His cheeks were puffy and dimpled, but it was barely noticeable. His neck was strained, fleshy and folded and he had a red mane around his neck. His electric icy sapphire eyes were cracked; dried with blood, vicious, sadistic, alert, world weary, nefarious, vile and evil.

"You were always out there to get me, were you?" Zalira hissed while bending her knees and pacing around in distress. "Of course. You're the most beautiful lioness in all of America. I could fancy you myself; however, being second-in-command is not enough for me. In fact, nothing is ever enough for me," replied Newman while he was advancing towards her. Then he lunged at her and tackled her and the two lions were rolling on the ground. Zalira wrestled with him and twisted her legs around his. Newman then wrapped his arms around her and began to trap her in his embrace. Zalira could now feel her ribs being crushed like a Diet Coke can and Newman's arms squeezing the life out of her. "You can't escape me, Zalira," Newman rasped into her ear. Zalira was pinned on her back on Newman's chest and was squirming and writhing to break free.

"Hey, Dad. What's up? Whatcha doing?" interrupted a teenage lion named Andrew. His brother, Tristan, followed him from a distance. His sister Adrian galloped over the fighting lions and then chortled at the sight of them. "Kill her Dad! Crush her skull and let her blood ooze out of her ears!" hooted Tristan bloodthirstily. Another one of Newman's sons, Hawks, came romping between his siblings and then pranced around his sister Reline. "Hey! Watch where you're going, Hawks! This is my dinner, and I'm not sharing!" snarled Reline and she snapped at his heels in an attempt to drive him away from Payton.

"Zira was a better fighter than you, Zalira. I'm surprised you're still trying, even if it'll take hours or even years to break out from my grasp," Newman taunted Zalira while she still struggled to pull away from him. Payton then bit Reline's paw and the young lioness yowled in pain and danced around on her feet while he rapidly scampered away from her as fast as he could.

Just then, another lioness intercepted him and then Payton was soon held down on the floor by the scruff of the neck and he felt the shifting of the feet beneath him and slowly lifted his head up to see who it was. He was dumbfounded to find that the lioness was none other than Suzanne Carmichael, who was somehow enchanted into a lioness! "Hey there, kiddo. Looks like now I got you," she greeted him with a smile. "Did you touch my potion collection?" screeched Zalira infuriatingly. "Yeah. Turns out some of them were in your bathroom. I found one that was designed to turn humans into lions and I had a drink of it on one of your goblets. I figured that if I was disguised as a lioness, I would be able to infiltrate this group and therefore rescue Payton," Suzanne explained proudly.

"Very clever, Suzanne. I had no idea you were such a crafty woman. I admire your courage and perseverance. But too bad we have to overpower you," Zalira lipped her with a sneer. "I'm not afraid of your goons, Zalira. You will go to prison yet and repent for your crimes," Suzanne declared determinedly. "Dear me, are you religious? For me there is no God. I'm God. I get to control who lives…" Zalira mused with pleasure and delight and then a cloud of darkness surrounded Newman and began to blind and choke him to death. Zalira then snapped her fingers and then Newman was rendered lifeless and Zalira shook herself and approached the veteran actress and eyed her in an intimidating matter while baring her fangs and hissing. "And who gets to die," she continued while smirking and chuckling evilly.

Suzanne's eyes glowed white and she too snapped her fingers and Newman started with a gasp. Zalira switched her gaze from Newman and then back to Suzanne with a startled and bewildered expression. "How… H-ow…" she stammered. "Going somewhere?" interrupted Suzanne while her eyes gleamed in the bright light and she stared at her bravely and firmly. Zalira then began to cower at what she had just seen and then retreated back to her office screaming. Andrew began to circle around the elderly Jewish woman and he was watching her every move.

"Look at this, guys! This is the one gal who may someday manage her own pride!" he crowed smugly to the others. "Well I'll be damned. No one has scared Zalira like that ever. In fact, Zalira has never run away from a fight. Keep this up and soon you'll overthrow her all together and become the Queen of the Kingdom of Aquarius," Saska complimented her while giving her a ghoulish grin.

Suzanne bowed her head a little as a gesture of accepting the comment but added, "I don't think taking over The Kingdom of Aquarius is in my best interests right now. But I'll consider temporarily making and leading my own pride until I find Team Legacy again. God knows where they are by now. I just hope Mr. Piano hasn't executed them at this point." Saska scoffed and broke into laughter. "That Mr. Piano doesn't even do shit as far as I know. He's as much as a lusty businessperson as Zalira is," she barked sarcastically.

"Ah, but you're wrong, Saska. He is a highly ambitious and brilliant mastermind and a deadly and ruthless force to be reckoned with. He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if it means the death and destruction of millions of youths," Tristan corrected her. "Then that means I have to stop him," Suzanne declared while stamping her paw down firmly.

"Yeah, soon millions of kids will be in serious trouble, including your leader," Reline admonished the veteran actress ominously. "What do you mean?" gasped Suzanne, appalled, aghast and petrified. "Well… I heard Mr. Piano discuss with Zalira over the telephone around Christmastide about arresting children whose parents aren't paying their mortgages and bills as a result of the financial crisis we have right now. The only reason Mr. Piano wants Rhonda arrested and incarcerated in Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center in Baltimore City is because of revenge and the fact he considers her a liability."

"Since she had frustrated and infuriated him so much, he thinks by getting her out of the way, he can proceed with his plan. And your friends and her family will also be banished from the United States for the rest of their pathetic lives. If you join us, you will be spared and be given many privileges, including recruiting and supervising new members," Reline explained. In the bright light, her garnet eyes glistened with malice and they also radiated a cold, brilliant gleam. "I rather be banished with my husband and my team outside the U.S. than to be corrupted by your questionable organization," Suzanne decided firmly with an authoritative and commanding voice.

"Very well, as you wish," acquiesced Reline with a slight nod and then she and her siblings and their father started to march away. Hawks then turned his head to Suzanne as he was leaving and mouthed the words, Doomsday will hover upon you. He bit his thumb at her and turned away. Suzanne then switched her gaze from the departing lions to Payton and smiled while nuzzling on his cheek.

"C'mon, kid. Let's head back to the room," she commanded and then they trudged back to the bedroom in the opaque, tranquil night. Once the both of them entered inside the room, Tess McNeal was sprawled on the bed, soundlessly asleep and everything was quiet. "Suzanne, will I be taken to jail too?" Payton questioned his elderly friend. "I don't think it's likely. Since you're now married to Zalira, she may be intending to rule over the imprisoned children with you as her king. But if your father interferes, then that may not happen," Suzanne answered as she took out a goblet and had a sip of a drink from it and soon she transformed back into a human being.

Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder and Suzanne spun around to see who it was. It was Lieutenant Primestone! "Who are you?" Suzanne importuned her inquisitively. "My name is Lieutenant Doris Primestone, a social worker for The Valiant and Forsaken Newborns Agency that is stationed in Boston and a correctional officer for the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center in Baltimore City. Speaking of Boston, I was born there. You must be a teammate and friend of Cliff and Buddy. Believe or not, I actually am well acquainted with them. I was their prime caretaker and guardian from the time that they were infants or fingerlings as they refer to them back in Planet Birdland. I also took them to an orphanage in Annapolis. That was where they were raised. It's a couple of blocks from The Key School."

"The orphanage's name is Saint Christine's Home for Orphaned Children. Cliff and Buddy had been just dropped off there for a reunion party. But I'm not here to converse with you about Cliff and Buddy. I'm here about Payton. My boss summoned me to his office this morning and showed an article in The Foster Report about him and he seemed very worried about it, so he suggested I come down to the halfway house to check up on him and claim him as a ward in my custody. I'm intending to be his court-appointed guardian. However, in case I cannot be there for him, I'll also anoint someone else to be his full-time guardian. That person will have temporary custody of Payton until we find someone who is willing to adopt him," the woman greeted her. "You mean… You're going to put him in the foster care system?" blurted out Suzanne.

"Correct. My agency has amassed an endless stream of evidence of child abuse and neglect and therefore on these grounds Mr. German-Zion's parental rights will be terminated. I even got hold of a black switch lying in a ditch off the interstate in D.C. and on it was inscribed, "Mr. Piano." I'm suspecting that Payton's father is on the run from the law. I also found out that his assistant Mrs. Vright is now detained in a local jail pending trial. For now Payton will be staying with me and I'll be relocating him to a new foster home to his new family. You can visit him on Saturdays and Sundays on alternate weekends. On vacations he can even stay with you."

"I'm going to arrest Zalira on charges of child abuse, statutory rape, battery and assault, kidnapping and holding a minor against his/her will and also wedding a minor against his/her will and sexual harassment. Tonight he'll be heading to court to determine his placement and who will be representing his best interests. You look like a respectable lady. You might as well come with me," revealed Lieutenant Primestone.

"What? I'm leaving?" Payton panicked and then he ran to Suzanne and clung to her. "Pitiful. Common behavior in abused and neglected children. Payton must depart for The Biloxi K. Lansford Jurisdiction Court immediately in Montgomery County. The Honorable Judge Donald Jonathan Busby will preside over the case. Run along, you two," commented Lieutenant Primestone in a business-like, tactless, brisk, and cool matter. She then yanked Payton from Suzanne abruptly and dragged him on the floor while he was screaming and wailing in protest. Lieutenant Primestone hauled Payton over her shoulder and then marched down the stairs while Suzanne pursued her, attempting to keep up with her.

"Shut up, you little brat! You're getting out of this penthouse immediately and that's final!" Lieutenant Primestone barked at Payton and struck him across the head. Suzanne then suddenly grabbed her arm and stopped her in her tracks. Lieutenant Primestone then turned her head to meet her. "Quit stalling me, you coot! Or should I push you down the stairs to your death?" Lieutenant Primestone offered her. She then shoved the elderly woman down to the ground hard and made off with the boy. This didn't stop the veteran actress however, and no sooner had she rose up quickly to her feet than she lunged at the social worker and essayed to pry Payton from her clutches.

In just minutes the two women tipped over the base of the stairs and then cascaded down the steps while kicking, screaming and clouting each other in a violent catfight. Suzanne eventually overcame Lieutenant Primestone by throwing her down to the bottom of the stairs and she crash landed there on her right side and lay there motionless. The actress rolled over her with Payton in her arms and then flopped on her back on the squeaky, shiny, wooden floor. She then held him in a warm embrace and was rocking him to sleep.

Just then a portly, gigantic, bald black man with a lumpy-shaped head and pillow-fat arms and legs and standing over 7 feet tall barged into the scene and approached the two women. He also had a black mustache and a short, bumpy, saggy, wrinkled nose. His eyes were squinted and on his face was a pair of miniature-sized spectacles. His lips were cracked and dry and his cheeks were fleshy yet flat, but his cheekbones were so thick and high that they seemed to be puffy.

The judge also slouched slightly in his stature. His squinted eyes were a consequence of blindness, and he wears the glasses to hide his defect. He was also a mix of Chinese and African American descent. It was Judge Donald Jonathan Busby! He galumphed to Suzanne and peered down at her. "Hello. I'm Judge Busby. I'd come here to decide who will be looking after Master Payton," he uttered in a deep and gruff voice. Lieutenant Primestone then got up on her feet and brushed herself of dust and dirt and turned to face the judge.

"Your Honor, The Valiant and Forsaken Newborns Agency has received mountains of evidence that speak of allegations of child abuse and neglect. Thanks to the valor of Miss April Beaucroft of The Foster Report on publishing an article about Payton, I was able to track him down and arrive here at the halfway house to pick up Payton for a court appearance. But since Your Honor is here, why not advance the proceedings right here?" Lieutenant Primestone acknowledged him.

"Very well. Court is now in session. All rise," announced Judge Busby. Suzanne then got up with Payton in her arms. "Your Honor, I request that I be appointed by the court as guardian of 7-year-old Payton," Lieutenant Primestone informed him. "And what are the grounds for this?" Judge Busby interrogated her. "Payton has no mother. Miss Luella Hahn has been listed as recently deceased in our records. His father is on the lam and is a fugitive from the law. They tried to apprehend him but he escaped."

"However, authorities were successful in nabbing his henchwoman Mrs. Sue Ellen Vright. Payton has been residing in the halfway house for some time now with Zalira. It has been unveiled to the media and the newspapers that he is also her husband. He also has a half-sister named Winda, who is Zalira's daughter. She is currently in Georgetown University Hospital, having been transferred two days ago."

"Mr. German-Zion has been known to assault Payton with a rod birch in front of people and starve him for days at a time. He hardly bathes him for weeks and months and when he leaves for business, the boy is often left alone in the wrecked and abandoned penthouse that he and his father abide in. Payton is supposed to be in the 2nd or 3rd grade by now but he has never even been enrolled in school."

"Since he was handed over to his father by the order of the court, his treatment for AIDS has been discontinued voluntarily by Mr. German-Zion. Payton often gets sick with a variety of ailments in the penthouse and is admitted to the hospital 40-50 times a year because of life threatening illnesses and injuries. During his time with his grandmother, a single incident involving abuse, neglect, or endangerment was never reported neither has it occurred to our knowledge."

"So the decision to transfer custody to his father was based on assumption of Maura McEnglish's inability to care for the child when clearly she was noting special care of his fragile and precarious situation. And to make matters worse, Payton was forced to eat rotten or spoiled food that was left uneaten for weeks. Witnesses also recall seeing him wandering in the streets and stealing all kinds of treats from candy shops and pastry stores. He often was spotted napping in alleys, parking lots, on the benches in bus stops, buses, the back of trucks, junkyards, and even in front of apartment complexes and on top of parked cars."

"His mother has never cared for him and has not even bothered to raise him. Her suicide note clearly states that sentiment. Payton also has hardly played with children his age and consequently he is shy, withdrawn and reclusive. So in the weight of all this evidence, I implore you dear honorable judge, to revoke Mr. German-Zion's parental rights and hand over custody to a more responsible adult," explained Lieutenant Primestone.

Judge Busby then stewed his thoughts for a moment before making his decision. "I invite this woman over here to my chambers at The Biloxi K. Lansford Jurisdiction Court for a brief interview. After that, I will interview you and I will summon you in my courtroom and I'll announce my decision," he declared while pointing at Suzanne. "Sounds fair," Suzanne complied obediently, even though Lieutenant Primestone apparently was not pleased.

"Your Honor, I have a foster family for this child in mind. They dwell in the city of Biloxi, Missouri and they go by the surname Scardsdale. This is a family of four. The STEPMOTHER, and I do mean the stepmother, is 34-years-old while her husband is about 46-years-old. Two of the children are from the husband's first marriage while the other two are from the wife's first marriage. The husband's first marriage ended in death while the stepmother has been divorced."

"The couple is looking into adoption in order to gain another child for their growing family. The children's ages range from 4-8 years. There are two boys and two girls. One boy is 8-years-old and another boy is 4-years-old. One girl is 6-years-old while another girl is Payton's age. The children on the stepmother's side are of Polish, Canadian, Belgian and Flemish descent while the children on the father's side are of Prussian and Armenian descent. The two boys belong to the father while the two girls belong to the stepmother. I suggest that Payton spends the night there and live there temporarily while we undergo the proceedings further," she spoke up.

"Considering Payton's pitiful, despicable and tragic situation, I decree that he be placed with the Scardsdale family in their Missouri home and that Mrs. Suzanne Anne Carmichael be authorized to supervise him as his acting guardian. The boy needs a familiar presence in a strange, unfamiliar and new environment. Any other suggestions or questions?" announced Judge Busby.

"I also request that Ms. Tess Anne Jean McNeal also be appointed as acting guardian. Payton may need her too," added Suzanne. "It is ordered. Do you have a suggestion, too, Lieutenant Primestone?" declared Judge Busby. "No I do not, sir," answered Lieutenant Primestone. "And don't worry. The grandmother is still permitted to visit the young boy," Judge Busby reassured the two women.

Tess McNeal was stumbling on the stairs half asleep and half awake and when she happened to notice the judge, she quickly woke up. "Oh my God!" she cried. "Is there any transportation we can take to go to Biloxi?" Suzanne enquired the judge curiously. "Yeah, I need a freaking nap," mumbled Tess McNeal while drifting off to sleep again. "Of course. Just close your eyes, and count to 20," instructed Judge Busby and everyone did so. As Tess McNeal closed her eyes, she fell fast asleep standing. The women counted to 20 under their breaths and then Judge Busby snapped his fingers and the room faded into darkness.

20 seconds later, Suzanne, Lieutenant Primestone, and Tess McNeal awoke on the doorstep of the Scardsdale home and were startled to see that the area was surrounded by a marble white fence with an automatic gate. The house was a splash of red, saffron and light orange marmalade, and glass stained windows were on all sides of the house. There were some steps leading up to the porch. The porch was made of black and white tiled marble.

The roof and its hinges were bright cardinal red, the doors were saffron, and the walls were light orange marmalade with touches and splashes of yellow, honey and mustard. The grass was 3 feet tall and was nicely trimmed, even though the front yard looked like a prairie safari. Stepping pearl stones led to the front porch. The house was a show of gaudiness, flamboyance and pomp with its sheer ugliness and shoddiness.

Tess McNeal nearly flinched when she observed the home. "This house needs some dire help. It could use television programs like Divine Design from Home and Garden T.V.," Suzanne commented wryly. "I agree. This house is sickening," nodded Tess McNeal while feeling squeamish. Lieutenant Primestone rapped on the door and then footsteps followed. Moments later the door creaked open and a fluffy perm-like curly, wavy red haired woman materialized on the doorstep. She wore glasses and she also appeared tired and exhausted. Lines were drawn on her face and her cheekbones were medium-sized and thin.

The woman only stood 5"6 and had a thin, curvy, lanky figure. She had an egg-shaped face and her eyelashes were curled up and radiant. The woman had graceful, swan-like arms and chicken-like legs. She wore a maroon sweater, midnight blue jeans, white sneakers with straps, and a pearl lavaliere sticking out. Her magenta/cardinal eyes crackled and glowed in the dark. "You must be the social worker we've been contacting for weeks. Where's the Payton boy?" she muttered. Payton peeked at the woman from behind Tess McNeal but merely hid his face. The woman saw that and attempted to follow his movements. Payton was so scared that he tried to make a dash for it, but Tess McNeal seized him just in time.

"Payton, what's the matter?" Tess McNeal asked him while Payton stood there shaking and whimpering. "He's a very shy boy, isn't he?" remarked the woman and Lieutenant Primestone nodded in agreement. "Just so you know you have to get him to see a doctor as soon as possible and have him on treatment. He is sick with AIDS. Payton's mother has just passed away and his father is nowhere to be found at this point, but I'm handing him over to you. But to make his stay more bearable, a couple of his lady friends will also be with him," she informed the woman.

"Oh, don't worry. The children aren't exactly completely healthy either. One of my girls is asthmatic. The other one has heart disease. One of the boys is sick with leukemia and the other one has a malign brain tumor. Doctors don't expect him to live beyond five years; we'll be lucky if he survives for 10," the woman assured him.

"What's your name?" inquired Tess McNeal. "McKenzie. My husband's name is Kendrick. Why not bring Payton into the living room? The kids are watching some cartoons right now," replied the woman and then while Tess McNeal, Suzanne and Payton strode into the house, Lieutenant Primestone waved goodbye and walked away from the house.

Soon Payton was in the house, and he stuck close to Tess and Suzanne. He noticed four kids sitting on the sofa watching television and then looked up at Suzanne for support. "Go on, kid. Why don't you get acquainted with the children? Don't be afraid. I'm sure they're as scared to meet you as you are of them," she prodded him on. Payton scrambled for the living room and skidded in front of the television.

"HEY! Move away from the television set! We're trying to watch some shit here!" snapped one of the girls. Payton instantly skittered away from the television set and dove into the sofa and hid under the pillows. "Hey. How come you're a fraidy cat?" one of the boys made an inquiry of him. Payton just whined and sobbed. "Don't bother him, guys. He's the new kid in town. Let him adjust here," scolded one of the boys. "What's your name?" questioned the 6-year-old girl.

"P-P-P-P-P-Pay-Pay-Pay-Payton," stammered the frightened child. "Payton huh? Well my name is Kristy, and I have asthma. My sister's name is Frankie, and she has congestive heart failure. We call her Fran for short. My stepbrothers are Huey and Drake, who are sick with leukemia and a brain tumor. My parents are also applying for the adoption of 9-month-old Finnish-Persian-Russian twins. They are a boy and a girl and their names are Inka and Dewy. Welcome to the Scardsdale home," the little girl greeted him in a friendly way.

Frankie then peered at Payton and blushed at him shyly, having forgotten the comment she flung at him earlier. Payton just inched deeper into his pillow-laden shell in fear. Eventually the warmth of the sofa overcame Payton and he soon went into a deep slumber. The rest of the children dozed off too. McKenzie and Kendrick carried the children one by one into bed. Suzanne and Tess McNeal helped along too and soon all of the Scardsdale kids were tucked into bed in their lofty, airy, small closet-sized room. Payton was fretful and whiny as Tess McNeal placed a warm mug of milk on the night table. The rest of the children were sleeping deeply and peacefully. The adults were hovering over him and were careful to keep their distance.

Just then, the door was knocked down to the ground and Zalira slipped into the house. Suzanne's hair stood up when her ears detected her low, audible, clear growl. Tess McNeal was petrified too and took out a switchblade from her breast pocket and flicked it out from its handle. Zalira then advanced towards the others and was just inches away from Tess McNeal's leg. "What are you doing here?" hissed McKenzie, horrified.

Zalira swiped Payton's mug from the night table with her tail and downed it instantly and smashed it to the ground. Then again with her tail she dug into her hair and took out an Uzi gun and cocked it. "Everyone does not move or I'll shoot and take out one of you. How dare you remove Payton from the premises of my lair without MY permission! He's my husband now, DO YOU HEAR ME? HE'S MY MATE NOW! He is also soon to be father of my children," screamed Zalira threateningly.

Suzanne almost fainted at what she had just heard and her face fell with grim realization. It was too late. Zalira was already carrying Payton's cubs or children if you prefer. "When did you find out?" harked Tess McNeal. "I was very ill tonight and I called the doctor for an emergency appointment. He checked me up and ran some tests and informed me that I was pregnant. He also did an ultrasound on me and I discovered that I'm going to have triplets. I've been traveling for two hours just to see Payton. And because you took Payton away from me, all of you will suffer," explained Zalira in a strangely casual matter but her tone then turned deadly serious.

She then focused her view on Huey, who was the smallest of all the Scardsdale children, and her jaws were dripping with saliva. "I'll start with the little pipsqueak," she mused to herself. But Zalira was stopped in her tracks when a noose fell on her neck and a sudden jerk made her gag. She then turned around in anger and was incensed to see that it was Maura McEnglish who had done the deed. Along with her was Fatal Passions star Joshua Edwards and Austrian rock star Falcon Perry. "Leave my grandson in peace!" yelled Maura McEnglish infuriatingly. "He's mine, and he is not yours for the taking! Besides, I already am pregnant with his cubs!" snarled Zalira defiantly.

Maura McEnglish froze in horror and her blood boiled with fury and rage. "YOU HAVE VIOLATED THAT POOR LITTLE BOY! IF THE AIDS VIRUS APPLIES TO ANIMALS TOO, THEN THAT IS GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR FORNICATING WITH MY GRANDCHILD! YOU HAVE NO FEELINGS, NO HEART AND EVEN NO SOUL! I HOPE YOU WILL GO TO PRISON FOR LIFE FOR YOUR HEINOUS, DISGRACEFUL CRIMES, ESPECIALLY FOR A WOMAN OF YOUR STATUS!" hollered Maura McEnglish at the top of her lungs and then she charged at Zalira. Zalira then swiped Tess McNeal's switchblade and grabbed Huey from his bed. She then stood in a dark corner while holding the blade to the little boy's neck. Suzanne then turned to Maura McEnglish, who was standing next to her, and essayed a disarming smile. "Good timing. She could have massacred us all," Suzanne praised her lavishly.

"Come any closer, and I'll slit this boy's throat!" portended Zalira while her ears twitched and her eyes glazed over and widened. Her breathing became labored and hard and her body tensed. Suzanne then approached the crazed lioness slowly and calmly while Zalira attempted to back away deeper into the corner. "Hey, hey. Let's not get irrational here. We don't want to go into a situation where someone's going to get hurt and where cops are going to be after you. We don't want that, right? So here's the deal. You can stay here with us…" Suzanne coaxed her. "ARE YOU NUTS? She might rape Payton again!" screeched Tess McNeal, protesting.

"…As long as you do not kill anyone. You can sleep in another room, away from the children, and away from Payton. We'll provide for you with food, water, and other necessities. Also, you may be with Payton during the day, but at night, you must not be within 500 meters of him. Tess and I will monitor your behavior with a chart and we'll discipline you with the safest and the most appropriate methods for a woman in your condition. At night you'll be locked up from sunset to dawn. If any of us catch you making any serious trouble, you're out of here. Is that clear?" Suzanne continued while disregarding Tess McNeal's comment. Zalira then nodded and slowly but surely she set the switchblade down to the floor and released Huey to his relieved and grateful mother. Zalira then sulked out of the room and was gone.

The Scardsdales breathed a sigh of relief. "Praised be the Lord," Kendrick muttered under his breath. "That was excellent negotiation. If it weren't for you, Huey would've been lying on the floor dead by now," McKenzie thanked Suzanne. "It was absolutely no trouble at all," returned Suzanne loyally. "I got an idea," announced Tess McNeal and then she opened up a drawer and then whipped out a long sheet of construction paper. She took out a fountain pen and then started writing.

It said, "Zalira's Behavior Chart:

Monday:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Checks for good behavior.

Xs for bad behavior."

Tess McNeal then took out some pegs and picked out one of them. She then stuck the newly penned chart on the wall for everyone to see. Suzanne then had another idea. She took out another sheet of construction paper and then started writing with the pen.

The following words read, "May 4, th 2008 at Biloxi, Missouri. I, Suzanne Anne Carmichael, do hereby decree that the subject of this contract, Miss Zalira Demur, will abide by and obey all of the rules of the Scardsdale home without question and without complain. Miss Demur MAY not kill anyone in or around this house, threaten to do harm to any of the residents of the house, be within 500 meters of Payton German-Zion in the evening hours from 11:00 P.M. to 6:40 A.M. in the morning, vandalize anything that pertains to the Scardsdale property, disturb the peace of the neighborhood, have carnal relations with Payton German-Zion, carry on illicit affairs with the other children in the neighborhood, or commit any crime.

At 9:00 P.M. Miss Demur is to report to a room she is assigned and stay there and someone will be appointed to guard her closely. If she needs anything, a bell will be accommodated for her and she will be able to ring it. Miss Demur also has the right to be with Payton during the daylight hours, (with supervision), and participate with the Scardsdale family in all of their activities. She has the right to basic necessities to keep herself alive and she also has the right to use the operations of the house, including the television. Miss Demur, however, must wear an ankle bracelet at all times that will detect her movements.

I, _, agree to all of the rules and regulations that are required of me. I understand that if any of the rules are to be broken or violated, the contract will be declared null and void and I will be evicted from the Scardsdale home.

Suzanne Carmichael_X _X

Supervisor Renter

_X

Assisting Supervisor

And that's about it for this contract." Suzanne then handed over the contract to Tess McNeal and then she signed it on the section, "Assisting Supervisor." Now the bottom part of the contract looked like this:

I, _, agree to all of the rules and regulations that are required of me. I understand that if any of the rules are to be broken or violated, the contract will be declared null and void and I will be evicted from the Scardsdale home.

Suzanne Carmichael

_X _X

Supervisor Renter

Tess McNeal

_X

Assisting Supervisor

And that's about it for this contract. Suzanne thought for a moment and then added something else on the contract. Now this is how the contract looks like:

I, _, agree to all of the rules and regulations that are required of me. I understand that if any of the rules are to be broken or violated, the contract will be declared null and void and I will be evicted from the Scardsdale home.

Suzanne Carmichael

_X

Supervisor _X

Renter

Tess McNeal

_X

Assisting Supervisor _X

Landlady

_X

Landlord

McKenzie and Kendrick then signed the contract and examined the details carefully. Kendrick then shook Suzanne's hand in approval. "That's an ingénue concoction, Ms. Carmichael. That will surely keep Payton safe during Zalira's pregnancy. She is out of here once the cubs are born," he remarked. "Don't kick out the cubs too!" pleaded Payton while pouting in his cot. "Payton's right, Kendrick. We have to figure out what to do with the cubs. I personally don't think that they should be with Zalira. She might corrupt them just as she did Winda," agreed Tess McNeal.

"Tess does have a point. We'll discuss this in the morning, though. It's very late, and everyone should be heading to bed," added Suzanne, and Tess McNeal, Falcon Perry and Joshua Edwards escorted the Scardsdales out of the bedroom while the elderly actress sat on Payton's bed and viewed over the children, who were very weary and frazzled from the terrifying and horrendous experience.

"BITCH!" screeched Dana Hilton angrily as she and Tony Jason stormed into the room and were startled to see four vulnerable, sobbing, fearful tykes prepped up in their small beds and hiding under their covers. Tony Jason cleared his throat and nudged Dana on the shoulder with his elbow and directed her to Suzanne. The actress then turned to her. "Hey, what gives?" was all Dana could retort.

"Dana, control your language around those kids for Pete's sake. What's pushing your buttons?" Suzanne criticized and inquired her at the same time. "I just saw Zalira's shadow flash on the window and Tony and I came here to investigate. Rhonda has gotten really worried about you and Tess and she finally had to send us down here. I've also been hearing rumors about Zalira and Payton being married and Payton being raped in a halfway house," Dana Hilton explained.

"I know where you're going with this. Zalira had just held one of the Scardsdale kids hostage with a switchblade at his throat and threatened to murder him. I had to do some negotiation work," Suzanne responded. Dana gasped in horror and was greatly appalled. "NO! She did not!" she cried in disbelief. "Zalira has gone mad! She should be checked into a mental hospital or something!" replied Tony in a panic-stricken voice. "Go to McKenzie and ask her where you two will be sleeping. She's the mom and the landlady of this house. She'll tell you," Suzanne promptly instructed her teammates. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Dana Hilton asked her anxiously and apprehensively.

"Relax! I'll have them asleep in no time. I'll make sure nothing happens to them," Suzanne reassured her. "Page me if anything happens at all," Dana Hilton retorted before she and Tony Jason walked out of the room. Suzanne then looked over her shoulder and turned to face Payton, who was by now falling asleep. "Would you like a toy to sleep with?" she offered. "I already have one. Mine is a female purple sea pup named Velvet. My grandma gave her to me when I was a baby. That's her nickname too, by the way. She always loved to wear a purple velvet dress jacket with a polo boa laced collar over her clothes."

"I love my grandma. She is the one person that I know from my family that took care of me always. She would never leave me alone in the house, like my papa. I don't think I would like to have a teenage stepmother, although I would like to have one as a friend," Payton answered frankly, quietly and shyly. Then he took out his stuffed seal pup and brandished it at the actress. Velvet made a soft whispery hush-hush sound while Payton shook her playfully and gaily and giggled giddily. Velvet had olive-sized black, beady eyes and an orange-sized nose. Her back sloped downward and her mermaid-like tail fin was flat, floppy and was shaped like a bowtie. She had a plump, round body and was as mushy and soft as a bean bag. Her head was also shaped like a bowling ball and her flippers were long, curved, and wide like a dolphin's.

Velvet also had a white underbelly that stretched from her neck to her tail. The inside of her mouth is hard and hollow and black and her mouth is easily opened and her soft, smooth fabric-like tongue is red. When you hit her belly, she squeaks like a chew toy and her mouth contracts and expands, as if she is actually breathing. Her skin was furry, cottony soft, and bushy. Velvet also had thin, delicate, light eyelashes.

Suzanne had to give out a bittersweet smile. Payton was married way before his time, was about to become an underage father, and yet this child manages to giggle and laugh in the face of tragedy and the grim realities of being an AIDS victim, pedophilia, child molestation, rape, and of being motherless and being forsaken and abandoned by an emotionally distant, cruel, abusive, heartless, insensitive, ruthless, faithless and womanizing father.

Then the young boy commenced to shed watery, sweet tears from his eyes and they trickled down his chest and dripped on his bed sheets. He then blinked his tears away and closed his eyes and laid his head on Velvet and his mind drifted away to a faraway dream.

...

Payton was once again skydiving above Martha's Vineyard. He saw the ocean looming below him at 200,000 feet. Payton felt the gravity pull towards him and the wind caressing, slicing through his body and whipping his hair playfully. He then began to chuckle to himself and once he descended into the water he plunged underwater and began to swim in the dark, cold, dense blue liquidly world. A school of fish swished past him and Payton was enveloped in a shower of bubbles. He then floated to a small area that was filled with treasure chests filled with a variety of jewels and gemstones, pearls, oysters clicking and clacking away while exposing their newly generated pearls, seaweed, clownfish, sea anemones, pink, weathered, rough corals swaying to the beat of some mysterious music, and also some plankton magnetizing themselves to his skin. They wiped and rubbed themselves against him and it tickled the young lad and it made him laugh.

Payton then dug into the wet, soft, dusty sand with his hands and took out a shiny, radiant big pearl and puts it in his pocket. Suddenly he turned his head to see some dolphins leaping in and out of the water and he climbed up in the water to reach the surface. Once he broke out of the surface and took a deep breath, one dolphin sped past him and splashed him. Payton tasted the salt water that soaked his skin, hair, clothes and body and decided to join the dolphins in their quest to reach their destination. He took big, large skips on the surface and bounced his way to the pod of dolphins.

Once the dolphins noticed his presence, they crowded and jumped over him in glee and excitement. They took turns butting Payton in midair back and forth with their heads and seagulls swarmed around him. One of them went too close to him and he started to tip over and was about to fall into the ocean when he was slapped into the air by another dolphin. Payton then spun in midair five times in quick precision and did a couple of front flips and two more body twists before doing a 3 mile somersault and tumbling into the water. Just then the pod darted into the water and scrammed for their lives when the sound of a big bang from a cannon erupted in the air. Payton attempted to flee too but he was pierced in his liver, gall bladder, spleen and stomach by a long, sharp harpoon and blood started to gush from his wound. Once the harpoon knifed through him, he was changed into a dolphin himself.

Suddenly an overweight and gigantic pirate materialized on the deck wielding a musket and had a dark, rugged, wiry, bushy beard and also had pumped and swollen arms and legs and a hump on his back. He was leaning on a cane because his feet were amputated at the knees and as a result he had to hop around instead of walking. His face looked swollen too – and it looked like someone smashed a ball into his face – for it was mashed and crunched to the point where it was unrecognizable, and his face also had ripples and wrinkles, and some of the skin was peeling. The pirate also wore sunglasses and for hands he had falcon talons. For a nose he also had an eagle's beak.

His name was Captain Talonscore, an old nemesis of Payton's who had been terrorizing and pursuing him in his dreams ever since he was 4-years-old. "I got you now, you little runt! Now I'll have you as my dinner!" he scowled maliciously. Payton was paralyzed from the waist down. He could barely move. Now the old rogue has finally captured him for sure and after a succession of unsuccessful attempts to defeat him, it seems like Captain Talonscore might have finally reached his goal. But Payton's turquoise birthstone amulet hung from his neck and began to glow brightly. The harpoon snapped in two and Payton's grave wound began to heal. The boy began to regain his mobility and his strength was rapidly returning. Suddenly he was surrounded and immersed in the birthstone's energy and he ascended into the air. Payton then began to charge up his power.

Captain Talonscore then ordered his mates to fire up the cannon and launch the rockets, and soon both cannonball and rocket were flying in the air at 60 mph. Payton then dismantled the rockets with his energy potent punches and hard, strong, swift kicks. He dodged the cannonballs by going under, over, spinning around, swerving, careening, swiveling, twisting, gliding, and turning his way in midair and also deflected them by kicking them into the ship. The ship began to crumble before his eyes and was also in the process of sinking to the bottom of the ocean.

Furious, Captain Talonscore whistled for some hawks and then they made a dash for Payton. Payton then concentrated and formed a telekinetic force field from his turquoise birthstone amulet that served as a defense wall and as the hawks lunged at the boy, they were immediately electrocuted as they collided headfirst into the force field and then dropped down below into the water and the ship in a blast of radiant energy.

The excess amount of birds falling into the water caused the ocean to surge with kinetic energy and then a rogue wave emerged. Captain Talonscore knew he was done for and then dove out of the ship for safety as the hawks rained on his vessel. The ship combusted and imploded in a flash and was instantly immolated. The explosion also knocked out Payton and he remembered crashing into the sea and the water sizzling around him. He also remembered bubbles seeping out of his nose and the sunlight shining on his face. He also recalled the water squirming and dancing around him as it closed in on him in the shallow darkness…

...

"PAYTON WAKE UP!" rasped a husky female voice and Payton started up in his bed. He then turned to Suzanne, who had been standing 3 feet away from him with a petrified, stupefied and horrified expression on her face. "Oh my God, Payton! Look at your bed! Look at what you did to your bed!" she screeched. Payton then leaped out of bed and then flicked on his flashlight and began to examine his bed sheets and what he saw rattled him out of his wits. There was a black stain on his bed; this was the 11th time he wet his bed this year, but this time it was really bad. Payton's face turned livid as he quickly realized that he was going into kidney failure.

Suzanne then scooped up the child and whisked him away from the room. To her relief, she saw Dana Hilton and Tony Jason watching late night cartoons when she reached the living room. Tony lowered down the volume and he and Dana focused their attention on the elderly actress. "Suzanne, what is it?" Dana asked her anxiously. "Payton's kidneys are shutting down. I need to wake up Mr. and Mrs. Scardsdale so we can take him to the nearest hospital," was Suzanne's explanation. Maura McEnglish then rushed downstairs and was in hysterics. "Suzanne! I can't wake up Mr. Scardsdale or Mrs. Scardsdale! I examined a glass of water that Mr. Scardsdale had drunk earlier with one of my pure crystals and I found traces of liquefied sleeping pills in his drink. They've been drugged!" she panicked.

"Looking for something?" interrupted another voice and then to their surprise and horror everyone turned around to see that it was Zalira standing in front of the backyard glass door while pointing a 3.5 caliber automatic revolver in her right hand. A butcher knife gleamed in the moonlit night in her other hand. "Are you threatening us again? We have no time for this!" Dana growled, annoyed and impatient. "Cut the crap, Zalira. The sooner Payton gets to the hospital, the sooner he'll be on dialysis," Suzanne snapped at her indignantly. "Did you drug Mr. and Mrs. Scardsdale?" Tony questioned Zalira suspiciously. "The heck I did. In fact, I was going to gun you and your diabetic friend down. Then I was going to go upstairs and murder the parents, and then I was going to go into the children's room and slaughter them all. No one takes Payton away from me," Zalira snarled in a detesting matter.

Maura McEnglish rushed to Payton's side and placed her ruby birthstone amulet on his chest. She mumbled a little prayer and then lifted Payton off Suzanne's arms and carried him into the bathroom and closed the door. 5 minutes passed before Maura McEnglish burst out of the bathroom screaming and yelling for joy. "It worked! It worked! Payton's kidneys are working properly again!" she exclaimed, overjoyed. "How did you do it?" Tony interrogated her in surprise and disbelief as he and the others congregated around the aged opera star. "Put a little faith in these jewels and they'll do the rest," answered Maura McEnglish briskly. She then levied the young boy to the bedroom, while Dana, Suzanne, and Tony followed her. Payton then was soon tucked into bed by his beloved grandmother and Maura kissed him goodnight.

Suzanne then knelt down in front of his bed. "Would you like a lullaby before you go to bed, Piglet?" Maura McEnglish offered tenderly. "Piglet?" repeated Dana Hilton as she spun around to stare at her. "My nickname for Payton. He's such a small creature that I call him Piglet," Maura McEnglish explained. Zalira tossed the gun under the sofa and bounded on the sofa. She then circled around a couple of times before crouching down on her chest and laying her head on the surface of the sofa. The young lioness lay still and listened to the heartbeats of her triplet cubs vibrate in her body. Suddenly she heard something and her ears cocked in response to the noise and she whizzed around to witness Falcon Perry and Tess McNeal sitting in the backyard patio on beach lounge chairs talking. Zalira grew curious and was intent on eavesdropping on the conversation.

"So how's afterlife treating you?" Tess McNeal enquired Falcon. "Not bad. The good news is that I'm invulnerable to most attacks by mortals, especially when it comes to fatal blows and that I'm in no absolute danger of being killed. I can practically do whatever I want. How about yourself?" Falcon answered and he drank from a glass of wine. "I've moved on with my life. I now have a new boyfriend named Abraham Hershel, and I also joined my cousin's team. I haven't spoken to Mick in years. In fact, I don't even mention him anymore. I'm just glad I have met up with you again, my Amadeus," replied Tess McNeal with a mischievous smile. "Ha! You're a spirited, bold, audacious and mischievous young lady as usual. You hardly changed at all, Tessie," laughed Falcon.

"Some people never do, Falcon. Which reminds me. Remember that duet we did together? I had a lot of fun with you that day. It was sort of a little demo I was going to show off to my friends. I really wasn't going to release it as an actual song. We worked hard on that thing all day and when the both of us went out to dinner at Olive Garden, we ended up drunk on the table," recalled Tess McNeal thoughtfully.

"And we embarrassed ourselves by singing some dirty French song and the manager had to throw us out because we were making a huge scene in there. And when we were stumbling in the park dazed I pushed you into a lake but at the same time you pulled me in and we both fell into the water. We also splashed each other awake to keep us from going under and drown. You swam to me and fell asleep in my arms and I had to carry you back to your house. By the time I laid you on the bed in your home your husband was already coming in and I had to leave so he wouldn't catch me in his territory and accuse me of sleeping with you," added Falcon, also remembering the incident.

Tess McNeal shook her head and sighed. "My husband was very jealous of anyone I happened to be with. He especially held a particular hatred for you because he thought you were the type of guy that could sweep me off my feet easily. Mick was right; you are one of the most charming men I have ever met. Would you care for a dance?" she remarked lamentably yet pleasantly.

Falcon took Tess's hand and lifted her off her seat and began to slow dance with her. As he held her in his arms and Tess laid her head on his chest, he interrogated her, "By the way, why did you agree to be an escort for all of those male celebrities they assigned you to?" "To get away from Mick. I wanted somebody who would care for me and love me," was Tess McNeal's reply as she leaned her head against Falco's head. Joshua Edwards was already slumbering in his lounge chair silently and motionlessly. "Remember 'Rocking With Mozart'?" Falcon reminded Tess McNeal.

"Oh yeah! And you gave me one of those funny costumes the ladies wore on the music video. One time, I disguised myself as one of these women and actually tricked Mick into believing that I was someone else. Once Mick was convinced that I was Lunette, (that was the name of the character I disguised myself as), he figured that it was okay to have an affair with me and that afternoon we slept together. That was when I suspected that he may be carrying on liaisons with other women behind my back as well. Besides, why else would he be extremely willing to do it with me?"

"When I returned home that night to Mick, the first thing he said to me when he saw me was, 'What is THAT on your FACE?' I was shocked and stunned at his retort and then I dabbled my finger around my eyes and when I looked at it, it was black. I had forgotten to wipe off my eye shadow. To make matters worse, some of the hairs from the wig had stuck to my clothes and I instantly knew my ruse was undone."

"Mick had discovered my treachery. 'You treacherous, deceitful, salacious hussy. I cannot believe you beguiled me into thinking you were just another woman. I'm very disgusted with you, you traitorous, heartless witch!' he hissed at me and then threw his meal at my face. I managed to dodge it though. We didn't speak to each other for the rest of the night," returned Tess McNeal loyally, although she frowned at the memory of her husband being bitterly disappointed with her behavior that night. All she wanted was to have a little fun, and he spoiled it.

She and Falcon had stopped dancing and then they walked back to their chairs. "I'm tired. It's really late. We should go to sleep now," Falcon informed her and then he puts the upper part of the chair down and lied down and fell asleep. Tess McNeal followed his move and then turned over to her side. Her body bent over and tensed with the effects of the freezing temperature. She shivered tremendously and chills ran down her spine. Her eyes closed shut and she remained still and didn't move a muscle. Her body then relaxed and her chest rose and fell as Tess McNeal gradually drifted to a peaceful slumber and a serene, beautiful quaint smile formed on her lips.

Zalira was also sprawled on the sofa sleeping soundlessly too as crickets chirped and the nightingales sang. Just then, a peach-colored bloodhound weighing over 20 pounds was prancing to the backyard glass door. He was as wrinkled and shriveled as a prune and his fur was smooth, fuzzy, blurry and ticklish. He had small, pea-sized sickly yellow golden eyes with orange/saffron irises and his ears were long, flat and shaped like propellers. These ears flapped and swished back and forth as he walked his every step. The bloodhound also had whiskers on his big, rounded snout and he also had a pod-shaped face. His bear-like paws brushed against the soft, formless soil and his short sword-like tail wagged like a twister. His name was Oreos.

Just then, as Celine Demount, Kitty Champagne, and Coral Lester stepped into the house maintaining a conversation, Oreos crashed into the glass door with a loud thud and sailed into the house with the bits of shattered glass flying all over him. He then skidded to a stop and drooled excessively on the floor. "What's up with that dog?" whispered Celine Demount while observing the bloodhound's movements. "Don't know. He's pretty large for his age. He is an awfully skinny dog though," commented Kitty Champagne. "Not much good for hunting. He shouldn't be more than two years old," theorized Coral Lester. "Not for sale," interrupted a voice and then Frankie came out to the living room.

"We're not here to buy your dog, miss. We just need a place to stay," Coral explained. "What are you doing up so late at night?" Kitty Champagne questioned Frankie. "Some nights I can't get enough sleep and I often wander around the house in the dark and wait until morning comes. There is a lot of stuff happening at night. I don't suppose you're interested in any of that," Frankie answered while giving out a big yawn. The women shook their heads. "For us we're supposed to heading to bed. Maybe another time," Celine politely declined.

"All right then. I'll be heading outside. The ladies are hovering over that baby Payton. He's 7-years-old and he still wets the bed!" Frankie retorted and with a huff brushed her hair aside and then stormed off into the backyard. She kicked Oreos aside and then ran out of the house and then flew over the marble concrete white gates and rushed into the swampy water to take a late night swim.

"On second thought, I really think we should follow her," Kitty informed her friends. "I agree. She could be in danger," agreed Coral. "Let's head out to the backyard and watch her. If something happens to her, the fastest person in this group would be the first one to go out and get her. Rock, paper and scissors would do the trick. Whoever wins is the first person to attempt to rescue her," suggested Celine. "Good idea. Let's do it," responded Kitty Champagne and then the three women formed fists and made them into a huddle.

"Ready? Paper, scissors, rock!" instructed Celine Demount and then when the ladies slammed their fists into their hands three times, each of them had a scissor, paper and rock. Coral's hand was formed into a rock so she bashed Kitty's scissor but then Celine's paper overcame her rock. "CRAP! I've been beaten by a French Canadian!" Coral swore angrily.

"This is absolutely pointless. Let's just turn into our Chinese zodiac calendar animals and get it over with," concluded Kitty Champagne, dissatisfied. Celine then morphed into a monkey while Kitty transformed into a rabbit and bolted out of the house in a flash. Coral turned into a tigress and sulked into the backyard patio with skillful stealth. However, Frankie was already in trouble, for 20 alligators, crocodiles and cockatrices were promptly pursuing her with a vengeance. She was screaming for her life as she struggled to get away.

"Hold on kid!" Kitty hollered as she soared over the flying cockatrices and they brushed past each other and began to wrestle one another into the lake. But as Kitty hovered very still in midair, a killer whale emerged and snapped at her feet with its jaws. It almost chopped off her tail – and feet – before Kitty tumbled into the water with a terrified scream.

Coral leaped at the killer whale and tried to take it down. The cockatrices surfaced out of the lake and then lunged for her back, without success. Instead, their fangs pierced through the killer whale's skin and poison oozed out. The killer whale stiffened and convulsed erratically as it glanced down at one of the serpents. Another cockatrice hissed and growled as it bared its blood-stained fangs and its tail rattled. Coral then sunk her fangs and teeth into the killer whale's skull, crushing it into pieces, and then slit its back and neck clean. Then she plunged backwards into the water as the killer whale moaned in agony and collapsed on the surface slowly as its eyes glazed and rolled over and clouded into mistiness. The blood spilled into the water and its color converted into green.

"That's disgusting! You didn't have to do that! That was totally unnecessary!" Kitty snapped at Coral, who shrugged. Just then, a crocodile was chasing Celine Demount at high speed while she was holding Frankie by the crook of the arm. One after one after one crocodile flung themselves at her and merely succeeded in giving her deep and burning bloody scratches on her right arm and body.

Another crocodile almost snapped her head off and then a huge alligator clamped his jaws shut on her tail and crushed it severely into pieces. Celine was gravely wounded and crippled as a result of this and she struggled to keep her head above water and avoid drowning. Just then, another alligator snuck up on Frankie and bit her left leg hard and fractured it completely. Frankie yelled in pain and started to cry. Blood permeated out of her leg and flowed underwater like a thick cloud of dust.

Another crocodile tackled Celine and pushed her down underwater while chomping her right shoulder. Celine then quickly panicked and feared that this was the end for her. Coral then rapidly rushed over to her aid and then lifted her on her back. She then carried the injured singer back to shore. Kitty Champagne sped over to the wounded stricken girl and transformed back into a human being and lifted her out of the water. She then swam back to shore as well with Frankie hung over her shoulder exhausted.

Coral then jumped over the gates and raced back into the house and then placed the young Frenchwoman on the couch and regressed back into human form. Celine was pale, sweaty and dazed from the sheer loss of blood. She was incessantly switching from one form to another and flicks of her monkey form and her human form.

Kitty Champagne then laid Frankie on the floor and examined her leg. Her face was lit with pure horror and mortification. Frankie was sobbing painfully. "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die," she wailed inconsolably. "What happened?" screeched Dana Hilton as she, Tony Jason, Maura McEnglish, and Suzanne Carmichael dashed to the living room immediately and surveyed the gruesome scene.

"Oh my God… Celine, what happened to you?" Suzanne gasped, horrified. "Damn alligator got me. I was ambushed all over. Then one of them went for my tail. And then I was attacked on the shoulder," spat out Celine bitterly and fumingly. "Frankie's leg is shattered pretty badly. It's a mushy, bloody mess. We better call an ambulance," Kitty informed the gang. "Why? Why?" cried Frankie in an agonized matter.

Just then Lloyd Dodgers kicked down the door and rushed over to his teammates' side. "Damn it man! That was a hell of a battle. I came down here to check up on you people and I walked in on this," he scowled. "This is the one thing I'm sure April Beaucroft would love to know about," theorized Suzanne grimly. "Yeah, I'll bet at this very moment she's spying on us right now," agreed Dana.

While this drama went on, up on the rooftop of the house was none other than April Beaucroft. She was witnessing the whole thing from a window on the roof and snapped photographs of Celine Demount's wounds as well as Frankie's. She also took pictures of the entire gang. "Well, well, Miss Celine Demount. Welcome to the Foster Report," April mused to herself and chuckled devilishly as she took another snapshot of the developing scene, the very scene that was soon to be printed in newspapers all over America and the world.

Author's Notes:

So here we are. Mr. Piano has decided to come back for his son and yet failed and Payton is now residing with his new foster family with the help of Lieutenant Primestone. So I see you thought that Primestone has a very complicated personality? Well, I'm sure she means well but I think sometimes she can get extremely ruthless and harsh, especially with children. I honestly don't know what got over her; perhaps she was fed up with Payton. That was a very interesting cat fight indeed though. And yes more of Tess McNeal's past is revealed in this story, including her feelings towards the loss of her sister Nessie and of her past relationship with her husband of 7 years, Mick Anderson.

As for Hawks biting his thumb at Suzanne before he departed with his pride, that was a reference to "Romeo & Juliet", which I was reading at the time in my sophomore year. I also studied the cockatrices and I read that they can kill people with a single look, so it is interesting to see how it was possible for any of the Team Legacy members to not get killed by their evil glare in the first place. And as for April Beaucroft, it appears that she is not as innocent and sweet as she originally appeared to be. And if you thought she was bad here, wait till you read "Summer Brawl At Year's End", where her less than pleasant behavior and unprofessional conduct is revealed. That's where she gets really bad; as soon as I upload it, you'll know.

After this chapter will be the very last chapter I might upload for a while, just until I get some new ideas so I can continue on this story. I'm sure the Scardsdales are going to wake up and find poor Frankie lying in the couch severely injured and bruised; they might be forced to rush her to the hospital. I hope her heart condition is not the end of her. I'll scan this story for any subplots that have yet to be resolved, (which I'm sure there are plenty of those), and then in the later chapters I'll focus on those story lines. I have a very good idea of how this story might end but I'm not too positive of where to go from here. I'll try to get some more ideas and if I get some really good ones I will be able to continue this story and eventually wrap it up. I will also resolve any plots that might crop up and give some good explanations on what actually happened to Payton, Zalira and Winda from the conclusion of this story to the beginning of "Summer Brawl At Year's End".

Read and review!