Prologue: Times Change

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If there is one thing that is always constant in the universe, if it is not the heat of sun, or the hairs on your head,it is change. Things always seem to change, from the people in your neighborhood, to the face of Michael Jackson. While some of us can be excited about a little change, most of us are anxious about any kind of change, whether it be the change in your wardrobe, or changing your address. In this story, our hero will have to deal with big changes in his life, and though he may get hurt, he will learn how love, friendship, and faith can fight that hurt.

July 1970-

"What beautiful trees," thought Dennis as he drove through the town of Greenfield, New York. One could here the sounds of the wind in the trees, and the noise coming from his 1970 454 Chevelle. You would probably know the town next to it a lot better: Saratoga Springs, a wealthy resort town. It was founded in the 1780's by a man operating a hotel. Since it's very founding in the early years of America, its always been visited by people who want to visit it. After finishing college, Dennis felt like he deserved this vacation, as did his parents paying for it, and he certainly wasn't gonna complain. He was surrounded by nature, and the beautiful National Anthem was being played on his radio: Hendricks style. He did have one complaint.

"Stupid map!" he grumbled, and he tried to read it, while holding the wheel of his car. He pulled over to the side of the road, frustrated and unable to find his way. He saw somebody riding a horse, wearing jeans, a hat, and a white shirt. He pulled over, and ran toward the picket fence.

"Excuse me," he shouted ,"Excuse me! I am lost, can you help me, sir?"
"Sir," shouted the rider of the horse, which he now recognized as female, "excuse me? Whoa easy there Hannah" The horseback rider disembarked, and removed her hat, revealing long blond hair, soft lips, and face wide but beautiful. She looked to be in her early twenties. Dennis blushed, fealing either humiliation, or astonishment, he wasn't sure.

"I-I-I-I, I am sorry," stammered Dennis ,as he backed away from the white fence ,"It's just from behind-,"
"Save it, buddy," shouted the girl , "What do you want?"
Dennis, after recovering from shock, muttered ,"I'm trying to find the Knickerbocker Inn on Carson Street, can you tell me where it is?"

"Knickerbocker Inn?" asked the girl ,"Oh I know where that is! I know the owners, The Uhlenbecks,nice people." She gave him the map, and used her red-polished fingernail as a pointer. "Just keep going down this road right here, Stuyvesant Way, then turn left at the intersection, and keep going straight, and it will be on the right. "

"Thanks," said Dennis. "I guess I'll be on my way!" .

"There is one more thing you need to know, " said the girl as Dennis began walking toward the car.

"What's that," asked Dennis,turning his head around.

"They are all booked up," said the girl, smiling a bit.

"What!" shouted Dennis. "But my travel agent told me-",

"nope they are all booked up," said the girl, with a smirk.

" Can I borrow your phone and call them to be sure?", said Dennis

"Sure go ahead um..." said the girl, embarrassed at not knowing the guy's name.

"My name is Dennis," he said ,"What's yours?"

"Lindsay," she said. "Lindsay Taylor."

"I love that name," muttered Dennis.

"What?"

"Nothing, get me the phone."

He climbed over the fence staggering a bit, before falling into the grass, head first. As he got up and wiped the grass off of his white shirt . He swore he heard some chuckling, and glared at the woman whose mouth was being covered by her mouth.

"What?" said Lindsay, snickering.

"Nothing," said Dennis. Normally he would not feel terrible after tripping, even when laughed at. Yet something about this girl made him feel less secure. He soon walked into the house. "Bright red," he said as approached the house ,How come I didn't notice that ." Dennis wondered, thinking what object distracted him from such a detail. His widened, and then continued.

"Do you know anywhere else I could stay," asked Dennis into the black phone, frustrated. "You're my family's travel agent, you are supposed to help me travel." (pause) "You don't put the last name in, and I end up homeless for the summer, that does not constitute a small error." (pause) "PITCH A TENT!? This isn't Woodstock.(pause)Well fine, Sobel, you can pitch a tent too, cause you'll be on the streets in a week.YOU'RE FIRED!" Sadnik screamed, slamming the phone down on the receiver.

"No luck," asked Lindsay

"nah, if worse comes to worse, I can always sleep in my car," Sadnik said dejectedly. "Thanks for letting me use your phone, I guess," he said as he turned around, walking away like a kid who missed a chance to see Disneyland.

Lindsay couldn't help but look troubled at such a sight, a young man without a hotel. "He looks cute when he's said," Lindsay thought. Just as he grabbed the screen door, Lindsay seemed to panic.

"Hey," blurted Lindsay.

Dennis turned around and asked, "What?"

"If you're looking for a place to stay," said Lindsay,scratching the back of her head, "I have a spare bedroom."

"Really, are you sure,I don't want to-,"

"Do you want the room or not," asked Lindsay.

"Sure," said Dennis, abruptly.

"Just let me ask my aunt, she owns the farm," she said and walked to a white door and the end of the hall and knocked on it, saying "Aunt Sarah?". She knocked , "Aunt Sarah? Aunt Sar-" The door opened, revealing a stout lady, with a fat pale face a wearing a blue robe, with curlers in her grey-ish hair.

"What," she asked in voice that sounded like an old man with laryngitis.

"Aunt Sarah, this is Dennis, he is a friend from-" she hesitated "-Stony Brook," Dennis turned to Sarah, confused ,"and his travel agent screwed up, so now he has no place to stay in Saratoga Springs. Can he sleep in the guest room."

Aunt Sarah walked up to Dennis, her bunny slippers scraping the floor, staring at him, with a frown on her face. Though Dennis was maybe six inches taller, her eyes looked harder than a lump of coal, and her girth made her seem more powerful. She turned to Sarah and said, "Get his luggage," and walked back to her room.

"Thanks Aunt Sarah," she said.

"I couldn't turn away such a handsome boy," Sarah said, with a tone that was subtle but seemed to display some whimsy.

Lindsay and Dennis soon caught the hint and looked away from each other, their faces blushing.

"He's not my boy-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm kidding Lindy," and snickered, "just get his stuff and I'll make the room," she said in that harsh voice as she walked back to the room.

"Don't call me Lindy," said Lindsay, in an annoyed tone as she walked out the screen door.

Dennis told her "Thanks Mrs..."

"Johnson!", she said.

"Mrs. Johnson, good, I'll just help her get my stuff," Dennis said, as he walked out the door.

-
"Damn these shoes", said Dennis as he ran toward his car, where Lindsay was already grabbing his bag. It wasn't a run of excitement, but more of that stomp detectives use when trying to get to the truth.

"How did you know I go to Stony Brook," said Dennis, in a demanding tone.

" I didn't," said Lindsay ,"I go-well I graduated from Stony Brook. I was in environmental studies."

Dennis thought for a minute, then his eyed widened with realization. "Oh now I remember you. You wrote a article about industrial pollution in Upstate, you caused quite a bit of trouble there. I was on the Sea wolves baseball team."

"Well I don't watch much baseball, but I did hear a story about some guy called the Menace a couple of years ago who broke the umpires jaw with his throw." Her eyes also widened in realization. " That was you?"

"Yep, they called me Dennis the Menace. I played while studying accounting. I didn't like it at first, but then I hurt that umpire, and from then on, some of the opposing players who knew about me would strike out because they didn't want there jaws broken. Then a truly became a menace. I guess we are both celebrities then," he said.

"Yep," she said, but then forgot about that conversation and began staring at his lanky baseball body, becoming lost in her fantasy, until a light but sudden finger tapped her on the shoulder- and back into reality.

"Uh, Lindsay, you kinda spilled my stuff everywhere," said Dennis rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh, I'm sorry, " said Lindsay.

"Here let me help you with that," said Dennis.

"No its fine," said Lindsay.

"I'm staying here thanks to you and your great-aunt, I should help with the chores, starting carrying my own things," he said.

"Alright," she said with a strong but fake accent ," you cain heelp ciy boi."

"Where are you from anyway, I'm from Queens" said Dennis

"I'm from Queens too," said Lindsay ,"I just come up here every summer since my parents don't wanna pay for a vacation ,and I'm too lazy to get a job."

"Alright," said Dennis, looking at his watch ,"let's get inside before winter comes. And my clothes are still on the ground,"
he said. Lindsay, embarrassed struggled to pick them up.
-
Looking from inside the house in a bleach white room was an old lady sitting at her desk, watching budding taking place. Though she was old, she wasn't blind to what was going on with her niece and the stranger he met. She smiled as she sat on her desk, which looked older than Hendricks himself. On the left side of the desk, was a black and white picture (dated 1935) of a young man in his late twenties, with a pale(white) face, and wore an old grey suit. A tear fell from her eye as she poked the face in the picture.

" 'He needs a place to stay,'" said Sarah, her voice softer as she ran her index finger down the center of the picture.

"I said the same thing about you Sam," she said quietly, her voice cracking.

She broke away from the picture, and looked outside seeing the two young adults pick up a wardrobe. She focused mostly on the girl walking toward the house, who seemed more focused on the boy, whose clothes she kept dropping on the ground.

She looked toward another picture, this time on her left (dated 1955) and she saw a young girl in a white dress, with pigtails formed from her blond hair, and she had a smile that shined brighter than the sun itself. In the photo,to the right was the same man from the other photo, only with grey hair and a black suit was placing his hand on the little girl's head. His other arm was placed on the shoulders of the woman on the left side of the photo, with a black hair tied into an updo, and with a blacker dress.

"Now you found someone who had no place to stay," she said in that same quiet voice. "You're growing up Lindsay."
She continued as she watched the new couple, who were still having trouble with the luggage.

"Oh what the hell", said Sarah in her usual harsh voice ,"I help them out. Winter will return soon at this rate," she said, as she got out of the room and marched out the door.

July 1971
"I could stare and this all day", thought Dennis Sadnik as he stood atop the Empire State Building, and saw the city of New York from the below. One could forget all the problems that befell the city in this time. Crime, disorder, pollution, the impending election of George McGovern; none of that mattered from up here. Especially to the woman whose hand he was holding. Her blond hair flew with the wind and covered half of her tanned face. Her casual red dress and shoes we're so natural on her, no one noticed them.

"Lindsay," he said quietly, never letting her go of her hand, and never looking away from her. "Ever since that first day we met, I've always wanted to come here with you.Do you know why?"

"Yes I know why," she said with some exasperation, but also with understanding ,"Because you could at this view and always be looking at for an eternity."

"Yeah", he said, "But the truth is, I would always come here but I would never have reason for looking at the view forever. Until I met you of course. If you would always be here beside me, I would always look at it forever, since you are the thing I live for." Lindsay was shocked as he saw him release her hand and bend down on one knee.

Out of his coat pocket, he reached for a black box.

"That is why I always want you standing beside me." He opened the box revealing a diamond ring, the third brightest thing in the area, the second being the sun, and the first, well , the priceless object before the thin guy.

"Will you marry me?"

Lindsay said nothing, and looked distraught as she took the ring into her fist and raised her arm. Dennis feared the worst, and looked down and began to cry, "I'm sorry Lindsay, but I just wanted us to be more, but it's fine, we can still be friends," he said, as tears hit the floor of the observation deck.

"I don't want be friends," she said quietly.

He looked up depressed until he saw a big grin on her face...and more important a ring on her left hand.

"I want you, city boi!"

They hugged, and kissed and we're greeted with the great applause...from the tourists surrounding them.

"Get lost," the couple said, and everyone turned around and whistled like nothing happened.

But once again things don't stay the same forever, for this is small part of his life.
-
March 1988

In an office room in Lower Manhattan, many of accountants struggled with their debits and credits. Above them hung a sign that said Bernstein, Ernst, and Smith: An Ambrose Kensworth Company. Among these drones was someone who stuck out, from his sheer anxiety.The grey seemed to envelop his otherwise dark hair and mustache. His blue dress shirt, which could not hide his girth was covered in sweat stains, in spite of the someone cool March weather. And his desk looked like the rubble from a plane crash. It would take little to set this man off.

"Sadnik!, someone screamed from the heavens., causing the man to jump out of his seat. "Ha got ya," said the voice, "but seriously, my office now!" He walked down an aisle of these corporate robots, whose behavior was no different. None of them dared look at anything other than their work, and kept writing into their balance sheets, never showing, or if they actually felt it, never dared to look away from there work.

"Mr. Brady sir," said the timid man ,"How you-",

", Where are the figures for the first quarter," the man screamed in a high pitched tone, while nothing or nobody seemed shaken, except for Dennis.

"Sir there almost done, but they are not due for another two weeks."

"Sadnik, sit down," said Mr. Brady in a compassionate, but somewhat demeaning tone. Dennis sat, calm but still cautious ,"Remember, when we started here 15 years ago, and we all found it the best place ever," he continued, as he walked up from behind his desk, and circled around Dennis like a shark around a pike.

"Yeah", Dennis replied, quietly.

"Well that was horrible time. The company may have done well but our country was in the toilet. All these radicals and liberals complaining about the economy, while the dollar was being destroyed by Carter and Volcker. Then Reagan came in, and our country thrived again. Once again business could do as it pleased. The conglomerates got rid of the waste in the workforce and brought in those who truly believed in the American Dream. Those who worked twice hard for no extra pay because the American Dream is all about; The conglomerate. The Kensworth Company got rid of all those workers that wanted handouts, and the company's too weak too draw the line. Buffalo Steelmakers.Maine Shoe and Sock. Those places forgot the American Dream. Now you seem to be forgetting it, Sadnik." Mr. Brady took of his glasses and leaned into Sadnik ," I know your busy and whatnot with the wife and kids and crud, but remember what Kensworth wants from everybody. Hard work and dedication. We've all had to take cuts in pay ,mywifeandkids, and work harder-," a beep came from his intercom ," Excuse me, he said," as he walked toward his office and turned on the intercom.

"Mr. Brady your masseuse/personal trainer is here," said the electronic but feminine voice.

"Thank you Pam," he said.

"Now where was I," he asked.

" 'Work harder,' "claimed Dennis in a burned out voice.

"Yes, thank you," said Brady as was once again circling Dennis ," Since BES became a Kensworth Company two years ago, we have pursued that American dream of hard work, and potential awards," he said as he walked to a golden rabbit cage, tied a stick to his rabbit and place a tiny carrot on the string.
" Sure you have been working later than usual just to earn the same pay you had two years ago, but you've manage to accomplish so much. You've made me so proud," he said in a praising, but void tone. "So if it means completing your work way before it's due, so be it." Brady then grabbed Dennis' chair from behind and stuck his head behind his ear , "Do you believe in the American Dream!."

"Well," said Dennis, when a lady with red hair and a green dress came in.

"Mr. Sadnik," she said ,"It's your son's school."

"Dennis jumped from his chair and said in an exasperated tone ,"What now?" He then ran to the phone, heard the report and ran to the exit.

"Think about it," said Brady ,"The American Dream!"

-
An old rusty Chevelle pulled over to the side of the road over to Austin Street in front of a nice white house, except for a still broken window. Two people emerged from the road. One was a man in his forties with his a sweaty suit, in front of him a boy about 13 years old, with dirty blond hair, with a blue t-shirt, green shorts, and a pale face. One would think the pair were very close. But the regretful look on the child's face, the jaded look on the man's face, and way it appeared the man was yanking on the boy's shirt to lead him into the house would reveal otherwise. They soon walked into the house and the door slammed, with a noise the astronauts could hear.

"This is second time, Jason, the second time in three weeks I've been called into the principal's office" he said in a dangerously calm voice.

"But dad, those jerks-",

" I know what they did okay", Dennis said in a frustrated voice , "I heard it 10 times. But is a few eggs worth picking a fight," Dennis asked.

"They ruined my lock-,"

"I said I don't wanna hear it!", Dennis shouted, but softened when he saw his son on verge of tears. "Go to your room," he said in a quieter, but still annoyed voice ,"We will talk about this later when mom gets home." "But-" Jason started until he saw the back of his dad's head. "I hate you," he screeched, and ran up to his room and slammed the door. Dennis couldn't help but cry, "First time he said that to me, he muttered," and when to the couch and watched TV.

6:15 p.m.

" Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter, have been convicted in federal court on charges of conspiracy to defraud the US," said a reporter on the television. Dennis just sat there, but was paying little mind to the news, as he struggled to complete those first quarter figures. Even his relaxation time was work. Besides, with a son a thin ice, how could won relax.

The door opened, revealing a middle-aged but still pristine young woman in sweat clothes, with two young girls, behind her, one about 11 years old, and the other 6. The 11 year old was wearing a tank top and mini-skirt, while the 6 year old was wearing a white shirt and pink overalls.

"I got a call from Jason's teacher saying he was suspended today," said Lindsay.

"Yeah, the teacher told me some kids threw eggs into his locker, so he punched one of those kids and knocked out all his three of his teeth," he said.

"That's great", she said, "The kid really is tough."

"Oh great, your encouraging him to be violent," said Dennis.

"No, shouldn't we teach them self defense," said Lindsay.

"Daddy," said the little girl,

"Not now Sarah," he said, "me and Mommy have got to talk."

"Daddy, can I ask you question?" she said, staring up at her father.

"You just did," he said.

"Can I have a pony?" she said hopefully. "No." "But-" "Listen Sarah, we've talked about this before. We don't have the space to keep it, we don't have enough grass too feed it, and we can't afford right now," Dennis said in a quick manner, having said these things before, "Besides you have all those ponies in your room."

"But they're fake," she said annoyed.

"Well make believe," he said. "Now go upstairs." Sarah went upstairs, pouting and with her arms crossed. She was followed by her sister, but was stopped by what she called the "Dad barrier."

"Bella, what are you wearing , you didn't leave the house dressed like that," he said.

"Oh the girls thought the pants you give me we're SO out of style, and bland, so they took me to the really cute store down the street, and bought me this. They said I needed clothes that made a fashion statement."

"What was the statement," he asked "I wanna freeze death? What happened to the sweater and jeans I bought you?"

"After we left the store, we threw them away."

"You threw them away, 20 dollars worth of clothes." He paused ,"Dishes, 2 weeks,"

"But Dad-", "no buts, and your gonna these skimpy outfits and returns them to your friends. Your friends wouldn't tell you to throw away the clothes your dad worked so hard to be able to afford. No girl your age should where these clothes"

"Dennis, please," said Lindsay ,"Fine, she shouldn't have let her friends throw away those clothes, but let her keep the outfit,"

"She is not going to walk around dressed like some tramp," he turned to Bella , "now get upstairs!"

"Why do you always treat me like some baby," she said in an annoying tone.

"Do grown ups let others tell them what to wear? Do grown ups throw away a perfectly good outfit? Upstairs!."

"I hate you," she screeched, and ran up the stairs.

"You know," she turned to Lindsay ," That's the second time someone in this house has told me that." Lindsay turned to her husband, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry. I'll talk to Jason later. But you know he did the right thing."

"Getting nearly suspended is the right thing" he asked annoyed.

"No, standing up for himself," she said ," someone in this family has to stand up to jerks."

"What's that supposed to mean," he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh come on, that son of bi-gun Brady is making you work from dawn to dusk. Even on weekends your trying to complete your work. Been that way for the past two years. I saw you in the chair in front of the TV. Imagine my shock when I thought you were relaxing, only to see some paperwork in your hands.."

"I work, he pays me, that's it," he said brusquely.

"Your his slave, and your letting him pick on you," she said ," and in the process, your letting our children grow past you."

"And what are you doing, huh," he belched ," Your telling Jason it's okay to hit every jerk he says. Your telling Bella it's okay to dress like that, and what did you tell Sarah that we should buy a pony?"

"Hey, are placing what's happening with the kids on me," she asked.

"You seem to be the one blaming me," he said.

"No, I'm not blaming- I'm not trying to blame you. I think it's this city that's making it hard for us all. I think we need to get out."

"We are not going back to Greenfield," he said.

"But-,"

"But nothing," he said walking back to his chair , "this discussion is over, I got to watch the news," he said, and turned on the TV.

Lindsay yanked the remote out of his hand, shut the TV off, and threw it away, shouting ," First I saw you doing work in that chair, now you suddenly feel like watching TV!"

"It's better than watching you," Dennis replied, rising from his chair.

"Just hear me out," she said, calming down ,"Greenfield is a nice town. My great aunt's house has so much space, the kids can have fun. All the gangs running around this town, it'll be like we are rescuing them. It'll be like those summers we spent there in the seventies-,"

"You're always living in the past," he said ,"instead of raising our kids, your thinking about what happened back then. Well this is the present and I got to work."

"You were happy then, and you still worked," she replied ," and DON'T ever tell me I'm neglecting Them! I spend more time with them then you! You keep going like this, and you'll be dead in a year."

"Well let me tell you something, Lindsay, I WORK," he shouted ,"I spend 60 hours a week trying to work so that you can put food on this table. Maybe you should spend less time thinking about what I was and thinking about what I'm doing now!"

Lindsay was quiet for a second, wiping a tear from her eye. "I have," she said ,"and I don't like it, maybe moving here we can go back to the way it used to-,"

"ENOUGH," he shouted , "This me now, whether you like you like it or not."

"Well I don't," she said, whimpering. Dennis calmed down for a minute ," your just either a nervous wreck or an atom bomb.Sometimes, I can't look at you without...without-,"

"What," he barked. Lindsay said nothing. "Well I help you out in that department," he said grabbing a hat and his coat walking toward the door.

"Where are you going," she demanded.

"McKenzie's", he said ," You don't want to see me, I don't want to see you."

"Don't you walk out that door," she said, before he walked out that door, slamming it.

"Idiot", she said.
-
At sundown, you'll find three types of people at a bar: the lonely guy, the guy who fights with his life, and blows of steam, and the bartender who listens to it all.

"I don't know what to do Jack," Dennis said, sitting in a stool, slouching with his chin on his hand, and a shot of rum under him, "I work hard, she's letting the kids run wild, and I'm the bad guy," he muttered.

Jack Mackenzie had been working in the bar for 20 years. You could seem in the bar, with his black hair, beard, and mustache. He was always accessible, with his trademark green apron, and white shirt with periwinkle stripes. There were two things are bartender needed to learn; How to mix a drink, and how to listen. And that was what he was doing. Listening, and only replying with a simple nod while cleaning his glasses.

"She wants us too move to Saratoga County, thinking that will change. Yeah, times we're easier, but-she's just living in the past. Well have a good night, Jack, I better get home before she kills me."

Jack just nodded as Dennis walked away.
-
The sun was going down fast, Jack thought, and looked at his watch, 5:45 p.m. He looked across the street. As the sky shined it's bright orange before the sun went down, it would soon be dark, and the street lights would soon be on. He walked over to a bench to sit down and think. He had not blown off steam, but his problem would still be at home.

What happened, Jack thought to himself. She's right, I'm not who I used to be, but that doesn't make me a bad person I don't want to move, but I just wish I had a sign, a sign of what I should do Please god just give me a sign. He sat around for a few minutes partially because he expected a sign, partially because he wasn't too keen on going home.

Nothing, he thought. He slowly got up, and walk away at the pace of a man trying to win the Slowest Runner race. "Well time to go ho-," a weird sound stopped him. He paused for a minute, than continued on his way. "rrrrrrr".

"There it is again, he thought to himself. He turned around a saw a large wooden crate in front of the bench he was just sitting in. It was rectangular, and the wood was grey and well worn. Where did that even come from, he thought, but then pushed those thoughts way, when the crate jumped and made the same sound.

He saw the top was partially unopened, but couldn't make out the shape of what was inside. He looked around and found an old crowbar, rusted red but still useful.

"Convenient", he thought. He smiled, remembering to wear mittens and such a warm night so he wounded injure his hands with a rusted objected. He stuck the crowbar into the opening of the crate, and yanked on it until the nails in the crate broke. He looked into the crate, unable to imagine what he saw

It was a little pony filly, as he later examined, no more than a couple of months old. It had a brownish coat, that was unkempt, a blackish mane, short little stubby legs, and a muzzle that was white. It's eyes, those eyes, dark, wet, just seemed to stare into his very soul. It took all of his self control not to hug it (her, as he saw), not for his heart to fail from that sheer sweetness overdose. He looked into the crate trying to find some shipping order, something to find who the ho-pony belonged to. He slowly walked away, but the pony whinnied again, and he saw it. He couldn't take anymore.

"Alright, buddy, " John told the pony, "you can come home with me, spend the night in the garage, but then I'm taking you to the shelter first thing in the morning." Dennis went home, carrying the very light horse, hoping some little girl he knew didn't come charging at him.

-
The next morning

"Mom why do I have to spend my weekends helping you do errands," said Jason, in a loud voice.

"You need to be a taught a lesson son, you should not have gotten in trouble," she said unusually loudly.

"Okay mom," he said snickering, "I'll be good."

"You're only 40 dollars in quarters at the arcade, son," she said, quietly, but snickering.

"I guess I'll have to make do, " he said unable to control his hidden laughter.

"Honey, " she screamed up the stairs ", I'm gonna take Jason on errands, and no fun. we'll be back at noon."

Upstairs, a fat guy in shorts and a white t-shirt stirred, for a minute, muttering "keep it down in there," but then the realization hit. He bolted up an ran down the stairs, screaming, Lindsay don't open the garage, but saw his wife had already left he house. "Wait Lindsay don't-,"

"Will you stop being paranoid," she said, turning around, "I'n not gonna the Chevelle to the junkyard...", Dennis ignored her as he saw his son walking into the garage.

"Holy jeeze," he said. He ran out of the garage, and yelled at Sarah, who was riding her pink tricycle on the curb. "Sarah look there's a pony in the garage."

"Ha ha," she said in an soft adorable voice ,"your not getting me this time."

"But really-"

"Jason, I've told you to stop tricking your sister already, it's getting old," Lindsay said.

"But mom-,"

"She's right son, your still being punished, so don't lie to you sister, " Dennis said, forcefully. and with a smrik ,"I'll just get the car out for you," and began walking toward the garage.

"But-,"

"No buts Jason, now get upstairs!," he said. He looked around and saw his wife slipping in.

"Lindsay what are you doing," he asked.

"Pulling the Chevelle out," she said ,"Jason come over here your still doing "errands." "

"Stay out of the garage," he said, yanking on her arm, "there are a... termites."

They stood there grappling for three minutes, a woman in her dress coat, and a man wearing a coat over his underwear all the while, a little girl in a red sweater with a heart on the front and pink sweatpants , with a bit of annoyance.

"I can't believe I left my Walkman in the Cavalier, again," said Bella, as she walked into the garage.

"Oh my god," she said ," there's a pony in the garage." The two other children stormed into the garage, as did a wife leaving behind. Dennis counted down "three, two,one,"

Then came the shrill, the shrill of a little girl who got a free trip to the candy store.

"He is so cute," said Sarah, as she started hugging the cute pony, who whinnied and ran away.

"Sarah, careful, you'll scare it," said Lindsay as she tried to pull her daughter away from her prize.

"Where did it come from," asked Bella, as she turned her head toward the man in pajamas who was trying to get back into his house, as did the other members of the family.

"Dennis, come and talk to me," said Lindsay, her arms crossed.

"Well, I-"

"You got me a pony," said Sarah, as she ran to her daddy and gave him a big hug on the waste. "Thank you. Thank you."

"She gets a pony, and I can't have a new stereo," said Bella incredulously.

"Dad," said Jason ,"I need to talk to you about "telling lies"," he said, with a smug expression.

"And I need to talk to you about how you will spend the next two years tied to the ceiling," he said ,"kids I need to talk to your mother."

"Hear that," said Jason to Sarah, "there going to decide whether to sell it to the glue factory, or the dog food factory,"

Sarah screamed in fear ,"Daddy, please don't sell him." she ran and hugged his leg. "I'll quit school, get a job, just don't sell him!"

"Jason stop picking on your sister," said Lindsay. "Seriously guys, we need to talk, can you guys leave?"

Three siblings walked away, wondering what would happen.
-
(In the garage)
"So you found him it-"

"Her," said Dennis

"Her, in a crate, with nothing in else in there. No shipping order, nothing."

"Well I did find this," Dennis said, pulling a necklace out of his coat. It was made of pure blue crystal unscratched, and shining in the sun, and it appeared to be in the shape of a heart. The thread on the necklace was black, but it was too short to appear on a human's neck.

"You couldn't find anything on the diamond. No serial number, no jeweler," said Lindsay

"No. I am sorry for not telling you Lindsay, but after what we said last night," he paused, and swallowed something hard, " I didn't want there to be any surprises. I was gonna take to the shelter on Queens boulevard when I woke up, but I overslept. I didn't wanna break Sarah's heart, but I also couldn't leave it out there all alone."

"She is not the only heart you'll break," said Lindsay

"What?"

"Dennis it is not everyday a man finds a pony on the streets of Queens, I mean people are lucky to find silver dollars on the street, let alone an equine. We could bring it with us to my aunt's farm in Greenfield."

"And whose gonna take care of it when it's not summer," asked Dennis. Then he understood. "No, we are not moving, we already talked about thi-"

"No," interrupted Lindsay ,"you stormed out of the house before I could say anything! Going to Greenfield, New York could be good for all of us. We could use a change of scenery. Imagine what living in the country could do for your health. Jason could grow up not surrounded by all these gangs, the cold weather will make sure that Bella never wears another skimpy outfit again, and you could as far away from Brady as possible, from a job you know is taking you nowhere but away from all of us. But this time we have real reason to move away", she said turning her head toward the filly that was suddenly staring at her, as if it had been an audience in this debacle, " an animal, lost and alone, that needs someone's care. We could open up a bed and breakfast when the kids go off to college to cover her expenses if your really concerned. How many caretakers in the shelter on Queens Boulevard know even a fraction of what I know about taking care of a horse. And what are the chances that someone in Queens will need a pony?"

"I am not taking care of this horse, I am taking it to the shelter, because I need to move on a realize my place in the city," said Dennis, after pausing for a few minutes.

Lindsay sighed that famous sigh of disappointment housewives are known for, but it had no effect on Dennis.

"Fine, take the Cavalier, go to the shelter, but you have to do one thing, and I wont say another word," she said, and began to go toward the door, before pointing to the girl in the window on the second floor ,"Take Sarah with you, and let her watch you destroy her dreams." She walked out of the garage and went to the the house. "Sarah, come down here," she demanded,"Daddy has to tell you something."

Dennis felt uncomfortable for some reason. And then he heard a whinny from some spectator foal whose innocent eyes seemed to hide some interest in this drama.

Dennis prepared himself, but was annoyed by the whinnies.

"What are you looking at," he told the filly who seemed to listen and look away.

"Look and me, I'm talking to a horse," he said to himself quietly. "You really got to go before I go crazy."

When he saw Sarah, he crouched down to Sarah's eye level, and told her the truth.

"Sarah, when two love people each other..."
-
In the Cavalier, things we're unusually quiet, except for the sound of an engine, and traffic, as Sarah was sitting in her safety chair, with her arms crossed and constantly pouting.

Dennis looked at her through the mirror, but he could also see in the back, a box with a filly inside.

"You know," he said rather apologetically, "after this is over we can get some ice cream if you want." The little girl never changed her appearance.

"I could buy you a new toy pony if you want," he said. But the Sarah's face only scrunched up some more.

"What so great about having a pony any ways. It's hard work to feed and take care of it. Oh sure you'll be happy to ride it. But you'll complain about her noise, and all the doo-doo she'll be producing," he said.

Still nothing. He sighed as he saw the sign, and pulled in.

QUEENS PET RECEIVING CENTER

He got out of the car, wearing a red polyester jacket and jeans, which was more professional than pajamas, pulled out the box which contained the unusually light filly. She looked up from the box with her little white head, those black eyes still shining.

"Already baby," Dennis said as he walked back to the car ,"time to get out."

The girl didn't even care, she continued ignoring him.

"I know your still mad, but you can't sit in there in the car, it's just not safe."

Still nothing

"Don't you wanna at least say goodbye to the pony," he said sympathetically.

The girl broke from her anger, but finally relented getting out of the car. She walked up to the pony and told her, "let's make the most of it." Than she stared up toward Dennis and said

,"I'm still mad at you, Father."

Dennis sighed again, realizing this would take some time. He walked toward the building, which looked awful small for a New York Care Center. The building had a white exterior, with the words ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL INC. in big bold blue letters, a clear glass door, and a row of hazy windows on the bottom.

Inside the care center receptions office, it looked like a zoo, with all kinds of animals being adopted or carried in by people and animal control guys in blue shirts. They included birds, dogs, cats, and even a pig. But no one could have expected a pony to come in the door.

Carrying the box, Dennis marched in with her angry daughter before setting the box down. He reached into his wallet to grab an ID for desk, but was distracted by Sarah.

"Baby," he said ,"why don't you say your goodbyes now, and then sit down on the bench over there, this line looks pretty long."

Sarah, walked up and then hugged the pony, crying a little , "goodbye pony, I wish we could have been together, but our love could never be, I never even got to name you," and a tear fell from her.

Dennis stopped looking at her daughter but was greeted with the glares of contempt from everybody in line, and couldn't help but hear words like "pony-hater," "creep", and "animal molester." Even the animals couldn't help but glare, especially some dumb pigeon, that look eager as if it wanted to poop on him. But the last comment drove him berserk.

"What a terrible father," someone muttered.

"Hey shut up," he barked to the crowd ,"why don't you all get a room he said." Everybody proceeded to turn around. He realized he was going to be in line for a while, and realized he had nothing to do. He listened in as a lady in a pink coat was returning what looked like a pampered but aged poodle. The woman was speaking to some lady in white coat, with tanned skin and brownish hair.

"It's just that Truffina won't play anymore, I just couldn't keep her ,she just didn't blend in all with the paint job," the woman said, in a voice similar to Katherine Hepburn

"Well..," said the receptionist with some disbelief at the rich lady's callousness , "you'll know she'll be well taken care off-,"

"RAWR", screamed a dog that jumped from behind the counter, scaring all the animals in the room. Some large animal control guy jumped over the counter shouting,

"Come back here you little bastard," and chased the dog around the room, startling the animals some more. The case continued until finally the guy kicked the unconscious, and dragged it back behind the door with one of those leaches with a stick attached to it.

"Well taken care of," said the receptionist with what looked like a forced smile. The rich lady, didn't seem care, handing the dog off in a cage, and walking away. But Dennis did. After that episode, he looked at the shelter, and looked at the filly with it's dark, beady eyes and looked at sign saying "2 weeks is the longest we carry these animals. Then they are put down." He shuttered and began to feel nervous.

"Maybe the owner will find him, maybe he'll be adopted and brought, like I could- no no that's all in the past, all in the-],"

"NEXT," shouted the receptionist, breaking Dennis out of a trance, and the next guy came in to "drop off" another animal. Whatever happened to adopt. Dennis thought, but remembered what he was doing. He realized he was going to be next, so he pulled out his wallet to get his ID, but a picture accidentally fell from his wallet. He looked up and saw it, but couldn't stop staring.

In the picture was a young woman with a hat with beautiful blond, wearing jeans and a red vest. Beside her was young, handsome man about a foot taller also wearing jeans but with a white, sweaty, tee-shirt that revealed a thin, but still attractive physique. Behind them was a young mare, about half their height, with a shiny brown coat, that didn't seem too interested in the photo, and was more interested in chewing the grass "Goodgrow" he thought to himself. In the background was a beautiful red farmhouse, with a great blue sky over it, with blades of grass on the bottom. But what stood out was how happy the young guy seemed to be, that nothing could that smile of his away."

He looked up from the photo to the filly he was carrying. He looked toward his daughter, still frowning, and just paused.

"Next," he heard from the receptionist. He couldn't move. "Next," the receptionist repeated. At the moment, he let a man cut in front of him. He looked back up, and finally made the decision that would change his life forever.

-
Dennis pulled up to his house, that day, a stepped out of the car. Lindsay saw him and noticed (before removing some purple hat from Jason's head for whatever reason) he noticed the solemn look on his face. He saw her daughter step of the car, walking toward her with a grim look on her face, she walked up to him with disappointing, until she saw her daughter's frown turn to a smile, and saw a curious muzzle peak out from under the car set.

She ran up to him, and smacked his shoulder forcing a "HEY," from Dennis.

"You jerk," she said smiling ,"you nearly scared me to death."

"Yep, I kept Crystal."

"Crystal," she asked.

"You know for the crystal I found her with."

"So are we-," she started and looked at Dennis' eyes. Their confidence was all she needed."

"Kids," she shouted at the house ,"we need to-,"

"Shut up lady," some bum said, "we all don't need to hear you talk."

She stopped, shocked and embarrassed and walked into the house.

"Crystal," Sarah said curiously."Lame!"
-
May 1988

Greenfield, New York

Two cars filled with luggage and people pulled into an old farmhouse, a rusty Chevelle, and a Chevrolet Cavalier. The wood needed repainting as one could see, and the windmill collapsed, but there had been a utility for 50 years so it wasn't that big a deal, getting power. Behind the Chevelle was a horse trailer, carrying small cargo.

Out of the cars, stepped Dennis and Lindsay, a happy young Sarah, and two annoyed adolescents. One was more vocal.

"I can't believe we are stuck here," Jason said dragging his feet on the dirt driveway. "Because Sarah got a pony, I'm stuck here."

"Hey," said Dennis ,"you know what you get," he asked, bending down on one his knees, which hurt since he was wearing grey shorts. Jason didn't reply, but looked at his dad. "You get a new house, a roof over your head, food, parents, and" Dennis, stretched over and grabbed a briefcase, and handed it to Jason,"you get to help us bring in the luggage." Jason grabbed the luggage, muttering constantly, so everyone could hear and ran into the house.

He snickered, and heard his son laugh a little too, but he knew that the move would take time to get used too.

"You too," he said to Bella. Bella looked annoyed but still quiet with her arms crossed.

Lindsay, as a mother, knew what was troubling her daughter.

"You know," she said, looking down at Bella ,"Greenfield isn't no where. Saratoga Springs, one of the busiest tourist towns in the state is nearby. I mean with all these tourist towns, there have got to be some really cool boutiques, she said.

Bella looked at her mother, with the gleaming eye of prospect, found on prospectors, property developers and venture capitalists.

"You mean..",

"Yes," Lindsay said ," a shopping trip, I mean you want to look good your first day, don't you."

Bella ran to her mother, and hugged her, and rubbed her face against hers.

"Your the best mom ever," she squealed.

"Hey," said Dennis incredulously ," What about the guy whose paying for your new clothes, with his own money."

"Yeah, sure dad, thanks," he said off handedly, before grabbing her suitcase and running into the house.

"Buying your child's love," asked Dennis mockingly.

"Says the man who gives his daughter a pony so she stops pouting," she replied, smugly.

"I told you," said Dennis ,"I remembered our time together on your aunt's house and realized the joy we could have from coming here."

"Sure, yah did," said Lindsay ," and I guess that ice cream cone in her hand was to cele-,"

"Well," Dennis interrupted , "At least we got two down. What can we give Jason so he will like this place,"

"I don't know," said Lindsay, frowning ," I can't understand what he really wants. He doesn't play sports, and his only hobby is video games."

"We already bought him the Nintendo. I guess he doesn't really want things." He sighed, thinking about his son.

"I guess he'll eventually get used to this place," she said. She sat for a moment.

"I'll get your suitcase." she said, walking back toward Chevelle.

"Daddy," asked Sarah ," can I take Crystal into the barn." In the window of the steel trailer, a filly was peering into the outside.

"Later honey,first we gotta unpack, and then we will help you open the trailer, and bring Crystal inside the barn." He pointed to the old barn, which, amazingly was pretty new, with it's red walls and black shingled roof.

"Dennis," said Lindsay, "I got your..," she paused as the suitcase reopened, spilling all the clothes onto the ground. She paused, embarrassed, as Dennis gave her an annoyed look. But then he startled chuckling.

"Just like old times, hay, Lindy," he said amused. Lindsay gave him her and look and shrugged.

" Yeah just like old times."
-
Lindsay sat with the kids in the middle of the living room. It was white, with an old Persian carpet covering most of the middle of the floor. There was also a stone fire place on one wall. On the opposite side, was an red, old, but still usable couch, which the Sadnik siblings used. In the middle one was a wooden coffee table with three drawers

"Alright ladies," said Lindsay, "since this horse is part of this family, you kids are gonna have to take care of it."

She opened a calender, grabbed a pink marker. "Sarah, since you wanted the pony the most, you gotta work the most days; Monday, Wednesday and Friday," she said, marking those days pink.

"Aw," she said, disappointed. "The rest of us will work each one day to take care of Crystal. Dad has Thursday, Bella, you have Tuesday, I work Sunday, and Jason.."

"No," he shouted ," I didn't want the horse, so why should I be the one to take care of it?"

"You are part of this family, Jason," she said strongly ,"thus you have to help take care of it. Well that and if don't, you'll lose your allowance."

"But...But...," Jason just stormed upstairs and slammed the door. Sarah look dumbfounded.

"Mommy, why does Jason hate Crystal," she asked.

"Your brother," said Lindsay, wasn't happy with coming here, and he just blames Crystal for it."

"I blame her too," said Bella.

"Bella," said Lindsay.

"Mom you didn't make moving here official until Dad found the pony in a crate, like how you found Jason," she continued.

"First of all, we hadn't been thinking about moving here for a very long time before he found Crystal," she said ," and secondly, don't make fun of your brother like that."

"Fine, mom," she said.

"Okay dismissed," Lindsay said. Sarah and Bella walked up the stairs, but grabbed Sarah by her white shirt.

"Sarah?"

"Yes mommy?"

"Do you wanna learn how to take care of Crystal now?"

" Yes mommy!"

They walked outside the barn, outside in the dark, where the only sound they heard was the chirping of crickets and into the barn. In the center of the barn was the filly named Crystal, who came toward the two.

"Sarah, we are first going to learn about how to correctly wash her. Now.." she looked toward Sarah who was walking toward the pony. "Sarah, this is a pony, they get scared, so please don't do anything rash," Lindsay said, reaching out her arm. The pony and the little girl met in the middle of the hay-covered ground. To Lindsay's surprise, rather than jump on top of her, Sarah pulled out a carrot. The filly took the carrot into her mouth, and chewed on it. Than Sarah, went up and stroke the filly on the muzzle.

"That's it," she said gently but cutely ,"good girl."

Lindsay couldn't help but smile. At this point there we're things that Sarah could teach to Jason.

"Okay she said, let's begin."
-
Three weeks had passed since the Sadniks moved to Greenfield. Dennis got a job at an accounting firm in Saratoga Springs, and this time, his figures didn't need to come in two weeks early, not to mention, his hair seemed to come back in. Sarah learned about ponies from her mom, and couldn't wait for Crystal to get big enough to ride. Bella was getting noticed, having all the nest clothes.

"Come on stupid ,get in the tub," Jason said as he tried to forced Crystal into the poll, who was whinnying and yelling as if some monster was attacking her.

Jason was still Jason.

"Jason," shouted Lindsay, as she stormed into the barn ,"what are doing?"

"Trying to wash the horse," he said, but it won't go in.

"First of all," said Lindsay as he came to Jason, and yanked the sponge from his hand ,"it's a pony, not a horse. Secondly, as I have said before, you can't force a pony into a bath, just as you can't bring a horse to water and make her drink, you'll only scare her. You have to get her to come to her."

"I shouldn't have to do anything, she should come to me, " he replied.

"Why don't you listen to anything I tell you," she said in a frustrated tone.

"You didn't listen when I said I didn't want to move, so why should I listen to you," Jason replied

"Jason, I know your still upset about moving, alright, but we did this for you.."

"No," he shouted, "you did it for Dad! Everything you did was for you or Dad. You didn't care about those jerks in school, you cared about getting back to your love realm! About your dumb farm, and this dumb pony!"

"Jason, your right, I didn't consider everything, but one of the reasons we came up here was because we were afraid of where you might be headed in the city, with all the gangs. I know your upset, but you can't take it out on Crystal."

"You care more about that pony than about me," he said.

"Jason..,"

"Just leave me alone," he said, whimpering and running out of the room. Lindsay didn't chase after him. She just stood their, sponge still in hand dripping, with no creature on two legs with her.
-
"Lindsay, just come to bed," said Dennis, sitting in his bed, staring at his book The Tale of Two Cities, with a green blanket over him, and an incandescent light warming him, "Jason, will be fine."

Lindsay, just kept pacing around the front of the room.

"Jason is not fine," she said at last. "It's been three weeks, and he still acts angry, especially to Crystal. And he seems to be getting worse. He said I care more about her than about him."

"Look," said Dennis, putting his book down, and getting up from his cozy bed. "I know it's tough, but summer's around the corner, maybe the warm weather will calm Jason down, and he'll come to love this place, with the swimming, and the springs and such. Who knows, sometimes it takes a single spark to illuminate a dull mind.Things change."

"Hopefully for the better," she said, and laughed as Dennis came up to hug his wife from behind. "Come on, let's go to bed already, " he said, hugging his wife even tighter.

-
The next day saw Jason walking down the street in Downtown Saratoga, since it was Sunday, and summer didn't really start, the streets were awfully empty for what was supposed to be a tourist town. Living in New York, he learned how to travel on his own rather quickly. Thus he was able to get a bus to go downtown. Besides, he didn't feel like being at home. He just wished he didn't have to see the horse anymore- CRACK, he heard startling him. He turned left on the intersection he was approaching and saw who has set of the blast. Two kids who looked his age. One was wearing a black T-Shirt and jeans, and had blond hair, and some kind of burn on his left ear, while the other kid was also a blond, but had a blue sweatshirt and red shorts. And they both had a bag of fireworks.

"Hey," Jason asked ,"what are you guys doing," he asked. "I'm Jason,"

"Mind your business, kid, we're having some fun," said the kid in blue.

"Yeah," said the kid in black, in a voice similar to the kid in blue.

"Oh you guys are twins," Jason said, getting the picture.

"And you're dumb, but we're Tom and Tim Rickson."

"Nice to meet you, so are you from around here," Jason asked

"Yeah, we're from Greenfield,"

"So am I!"

"Really?"
"Yes!" "No one cares!" "Yeah!"

"So what are you doing,"

"Having fun," said Tom, the kid in blue ,"throwing firecrackers at the geese."

"Why" asked Jason

"Because it's fun," said Tom

"Yeah", said Tim.

"Here you try," said Tom, handing Jason a firecracker.

" I don't wanna blow the geese up," said Jason.

"You won't if your careful," said Tom."Just throw it."

Jason saw we he must throw, it was a park space, full of grass, a couple of trees, and devoid of life, except for a dozen or so Canadian geese, these just squawked, and waddled around.

"Just throw near them, and they'll run like chickens," Tom said, smiling, and handing him a lighter. Jason pictured his target, opened his mind...than lit the fuse and tossed the firecracker, having the desired effect,
scattering the poor geese.

Tom and Tim, started laughing uncontrollably, as did Jason, who was unsure what he thought was funny, them, or the geese scattering.

"Come on," Tom said, "There are more targets to be had."

"Yeah," Tim said.

"Like who," said Jason

"This new couple that moved in while ago. They live in this dumb farmhouse, and have some dumb animals on the property. and we are gonna spoke them," said Tom

"Yeah," said Tim.

"Who?"

"We will show ya."

-
After taking the bus and returning home, Jason and the TimTom twins reached their house, a familiar farmhouse, with red coat, and dark shingles.

Jason's eyes widened with realization of where he was. "Oh god," he said.

"This is going to be so funny, look here it comes," Tom said.

"Yeah", said Tim.

A pony went about, frolicking in the grass, and enjoying herself.

The group jumped into the bushes, hiding out.

"Guys,I don't think-,"

"Okay Jason, here is what is going to happen. Tim is going to light the fire cracker, and you will toss it. Make things more efficient." said Tom.

"Yeah," said Tim.

"Guys, this is my house, you can't make me attack my family's horse," he said ,"Let's do this someplace else."

"You know what Tim, he's right," said Tom in a calm voice. "We can't make him attack his own house."

Tim understood, and went behind Jason, and pushed him out of the bushes.

"We can do it ourselves," Tom said, laughing

"Yeah," said Tim, "beat it,"

Jason, rubbed his arm and walked away, thinking What do I care, it's just a stupid horse.

Tim and Tom just giggled as they tossed a firecracker near the horse. BANG the result was expected, the filly jumped in fright, causing Tim and Tom to laugh even harder.

It's just a horse, Jason thought to himself, it doesn't no anything. He continued but then flinched after hearing another bang, followed by more fearful whinnying, and more laughter.

" This is just to much fun," from Tom

-
A young 8 year old boy with dirty blond hair, Bermuda shorts was playing in the schoolyard by himself, and was enjoying his toy truck in the sand.

"Vroom," he said, imitating the sound.

"Hey boys, " said somebody threatening. "It's Jay Jay and his baby truck,"

"Reggie, please stop," said the boy. But then he ran as the big boy as his friends stole his truck, and stomped on it.

"This is too much fun," said Reggie, as the dirty blond haired boy broke down and cried.
-
Jason returned to present day, and saw the twins about to launch another fire cracker.

"This is so cool," said Tom, as he tried too light it. He was so excited, he didn't notice anything else until a strong force block his lighter arm. He looked up a saw Jason, with a big glare and his face. If looks could, kill, Jason looked like he could cut a hole through a concrete wall.

"No," Jason said, and turned Tom's arm into a direction it was not mean to go. Tom grunted in pain, as his hand was forced to release the light, his other hand focused on carrying the firecrackers.

"Get him," Tom told Tim with clenched teeth, as Tim snicked up behind Jason with a big stick, as smacked him on the head, supposedly knocking him out."

"C'mon, let's get the lighter, I've wasted too much-" Tim said, before being tripped by some kids arms.

-
Dennis ran out after hearing a bang, and found Crystal running around like she had seen a girl.

"Crystal, take it easy, it's me Dennis," he said in a reassuring voice, but the filly kept running around. He looked toward the bushes on the right hand corner of the farm, and saw his son's head sticking out, looking down with fury.

"Jason," Dennis said, walking toward the bushes, causing his son to turn around, "What's going on," he asked as Jason got out of the bushes.

"Well,uh-," Jason stammered, before Dennis noticed the two dazed and bleeding twins in the bushes, and his son's own bloodied hands.

"And what's bag over there," Dennis said, walking over to the bag in the bushes, and finding some firecrackers inside.

Jason never felt so small, in his life, but the next words that came of his dad's mouth made head shrink to the floor.

"Office, now," he said chillingly.
-

" I don't get it. I try to take you out of the city, give you a decent life, to get you out of trouble, and what do you? You get back into it," Dennis told his son in his office.

"But dad-,"

,"and then you start a fight with those kid, and the I find out, that you've been terrorizing Crystal, who's done nothing to you, YOU LITTLE JERK!"

"But dad," Jason said, about to cry.

"You wanna be a man, stop hiding behind tears, and take responsibility, and learn to deal with the situation-,"

" I DID," Jason shouted, unable to take the verbal abuse. Dennis, stopped, unable to respond.

"I did," Jason said more quietly ,"I saw those kids playing those kids playing in the park. They we're throwing firecrackers at geese because they thought it was fun. And I threw one to because I wanted these kids to be my friend." He paused and took a deep breath. " They told me that there was farm with dumb animals they wanted to scare, I didn't no it was here. When I saw what they were gonna do to Crystal I told them "No," so they knocked me down, and then threw two firecrackers at her. I beat them up so they would leave her alone."

Dennis paused, feeling guilty about what he said.

" I'm sorry, Jason, I should have heard you out-,"

"YOU NEVER DO," screamed Sam. "When that jerk egged my locker, and I hit him in self-defense, you assumed the worst, when you gave me that glare in the principal's office." Dennis thought for a minute, and drooped his eyes in shame.

"You knew when I was defending myself, you still accused me of causing trouble, all because I'll pulled you away from one office day with your stupid boss. I mean yeah I was causing trouble in school, and I can't blame you for being upset about that, but when I did something right, you didn't hear me out. And now you accuse me of causing trouble, for protecting something you love, more than me," ]Jason said, the dam breaking in his eyes, causing him to collapse, sobbing.

He thought back to what Lindsay had said "He said I care more about her than him" but what was worse than him hearing about it, was being told it to his face. He finally sat down next to Jason, and said.

"Jason, you're right, I haven't been giving you credit on what you did right. Look I was not upset at you that day. I was more mad at my boss. I guess I felt the way you do; never getting credit for when you do something right, always just getting more blame. I couldn't control my life, and I kinda directed my anger toward someone I loved," he said, and looked toward Jason, who only looked away. "When I saw your fists and those kids, I thought you were causing trouble, and I pulled that number today, because I was afraid you would be falling back into the trouble I tried to pull you out off. I'm sorry for being so irrational and stupid. I really am. But don't ever think I love Crystal more than you. "

"That's not true," Jason muttered ,"your just saying that."

"You wanna know why that is true," Dennis said whimsically. He waited for a response from Jason, but never got it. "Because if I loved Crystal more than you, you'd be sleeping in the barn, and she'd be sleeping in your room."

Jason thought about that, but couldn't help but chuckle at the candor in that statement.

"Yeah, that's true."

"But I still like her, you know, and I'm happy you stood up for her. That was a smart move," Dennis said.

"I just didn't want to disappoint you Dad," said Dennis.

"Jason, as long as you stay out of trouble, and don't rob the Vatican, I'm always gonna be proud of you."

Then they just hugged, and it was a hug neither of them could ever remember doing in a long time.

"What about the TimTom twins," asked Jason.

"Don't worry, your mom is taking care of them," said Dennis, with a pride a man could only have with a true mother for a wife
-
In the living room sat an angry mother, and two beaten kids, but in this case, the kids didn't get the sympathy of the mother because they weren't related . For the past half, she had been getting nothing but incomplete answers and inconsiderate lies. So she pulled her favorite card.

She walked over to the boys with their feet on the coffee table and asked them, "Maybe you'd like me to call your parents, and tell them what you did."

"We told you," said Tom, smugly ," our parents don't have a phone."

"Yes I heard," said Lindsay ," but there is somebody else I could call. The police. They'd be very interested in two kids who we're carrying what is considered contraband in the state of New York, as in, not allowed.

The twins started to turn white.

"Oh you didn't now that," she said. "I'm not sure the county judge believes in ignorance of the law, especially since they we're being used to injured an animal, and damage one's personal property. You kids could get I don't know, 6-7 months in the juvie. But hey, you'll meet interesting people," she said, with a smile.

The boys turned even whiter, and flinched when she picked up the phone. Just as she pressed the key pad, Tim jumped,

"We' ll give you the number for our parents, just please don't send us to the juvie" he begged, already on his knees.

She paused for a minute, enjoying the suspense, before holding out the phone.

"Please dial the number," she asked of the twin still frozen in his chair.
-
It was next Saturday, which meant once again Jason had to do his least favorite chore, taking care of Crystal. But rather than complain, he felt more relaxed about taking care of Crystal. He didn't understand why.

He first made the bath, in the usual white plastic tub, filling it with the warm water, and pouring the blue disinfectant soap into the mix. Now he just needed the add the pony into the mix, and his concoction will be complete.

"Please get in the tub," said Jason to Crystal. She just turned her muzzle away, and trotted around the barn. " Crystal, please get in, I don't want you be smelly for the rest of the week, just get in."

Crystal continued to pay him no heed, which only got Jason more annoyed.

"Why can't you do what I say you stu-," Jason caught himself. A week ago, he wouldn't have hesitated to say "stupid horse." Jason learned the consequence of fighting for something. When you defend them, you can't truly say you hate them. That is when Jason got an idea. He ran outside the barn, leaving behind an animal that couldn't truly care where he goes. He returned with something hidden in his left and under a napkin.

"I can't force you to do anything," Jason told the pony, currently resting on it's haunches ," but I guess I enjoy this tasty morsel all by myself," said Jason, uncovering his secret prize, a sugar cube. Crystal looked up and couldn't take her eyes off of it.

"Come on," Jason said in an unusually soothing voice ,"come on." Crystal got up and began here way toward her white gold, she walked across the barn. Jason, remained still, not wanting to startle the month's old filly with sudden movements, and wanted to make a little noise as possible, wanting her only noise to be the sound of the pony's hooves touching the floor.
The pony cautiously came up to Jason, looking at her prize in his hand. Jason put his hand to her muzzle, and she took in that sugar cube, crunching it. Jason surprised himself, when he then put his hand on the the filly's muzzle and stroked it.

He then picked the filly up and placed it in the tub. This time she wasn't scared because it was as if she knew he wouldn't harm him like she thought before.

Jason, with a sense of pride, began washing the filly, and began admitting to himself, (but not his friends) that yes he liked a pony.
-
January 1992

3 p.m.
"Come on, Dad," let us into the kitchen, said Sarah wearing jeans and a pink shirt, "we're hungry." Sarah was sitting on the couch with her teenage sister, wearing a casual blue dress, and some high heeled shoes, and both we're ratty with hunger.

"I told you guys, I need the kitchen," he said. "Today is the anniversary of your mom and me getting married, and I need everything perfect. I can't be distracted."

To call the kitchen a mess would be an understatement. The entire metal gas stove was covered with pots of various boiling concoctions; matzo ball soup, beef stew, and some vegetables. On the wooden counter top was a big plastic bowl, with a salad so rich even the biggest meat lover couldn't possibly turn it away, and a pecan pie in a plastic container that showed it was store bought. The table in the middle of the room was covered in a fancy table cloth, two good china plates, silver silverware(yeah ironic), expensive linens, two fancy wine glasses, and in the middle, a plate where a large turkey was destined to be and a bottle of champagne.

"I know dad," said Bella ," you said we'd eat with the Uhlenbecks and they'd come to pick us up at 6, that's fine, but can't you let us in for a snack?"

"Sorry," said Dennis ,"My hands are tied, and I can't have anyone come in, right now." He went back to doing what he was doing, stirring the stew with one hand and tossing the salad with the other.

"Where did daddy learn to cook like that," Sarah asked.

"Why can't we eat with our friends, like Jason," Bella asked ignoring her sister's random question.

"Because Jason's going with his friends to a restaurant which he assured me was good," said Dennis.
-
"One Big Mac, extra cheese, one large fries, extra salt, and one large Milkshake, extra sugar," the cashier said, to the tall dirty blond boy. His height and muscles indicated this guy at a lot. "3.79," she said.

"Wait a minute," said Jason ," I didn't want cheese on the Big Mac, please take it off." He paused, "oh and take the vegetables off too."
-
"For you guys, having dinner with friends is eating candy and chips. The Uhlenbecks are nice people, they'll make you good healthy food."

The two sisters only continued too moan.

"Alright, fine," said Dennis ," I give you a snack." He came through the door with two giant carrots, and handed them to each of his daughters."

"Carrots," Bella said incredulously ,"who are we, Crystal?"

"A truly starving child would be grateful that she would be getting anything," said Dennis ," besides they are very healthy. Look it's just one night. Your mom has been getting all these headaches, and I just want her to feel good tonight. When this over tomorrow, we can all go to Merino's for a pizza ,okay?"

"Fine," said the two sisters.

"And make sure you feed Crystal. I don't want a starving mare in my barn,"

This day will be just perfect, thought Dennis
-
6:30 p.m.

Lindsay drove up in the Cavalier, and stepped out. She had spent the whole day with her friends, who kept her busy with shopping, and the art gallery. Her friends kept her on her feet for hours, feeling unusually faint. She looked at her house, with all the lights off.

"Where is everybody, she wondered", and march cautiously to the front door. She walked in, and was greeted with all the lights turning, on and a guy in a tux in a bad French accent

" Welcome Madame Sadnik," he said.

"Dennis," she said faintly but sweetly, "I don't know.."

"Shh. Your dinner awaits Madam."
-
They sat down, Lindsay, who was now wearing a fancy blue silk dress, was so enamored by the candlelight dinner and tablecloth she barely said a word.

'We shall start with a tasty salade," said Dennis ,"prepared by a man with excellent taste."

"Oh you," she said teasingly.

He tossed the salad like a mad man, and accidentally dropped some on his pants.

"Ohps," he said, "let me get this cleaned off, " he said, walking out of the room with a vinegar covered lettuce piece on his pants.

He went to the bathroom, and wash it off, turning on the faucet, and putting his thigh on the sink, when he heard a scream , and then crash on the floor. He ran back to the kitchen/dining room and saw the fancy dish shattered on the floor along with the salad.

"Lindsay," he said quietly, not seeing her his wife. He walked over to an saw his wife on the ground, not moving. He slowly walked over and saw her on the ground not moving with her eyes open. He bent down, suddenly felt her hand smack him in the face. He fell backwards, annoyed

" What was.." but stopped, when she saw her arms and legs flail out of control.

"LINDSAY," he screamed, and rush over to her.
-
3 weeks later
In the waiting room in Saratoga hospital, we're are large group of people. A young girl, a teenage girl, and teenage boy. They all we're dressed casually, but there faces and looks of both despair and patience. On the opposite side of the room we're several middle aged women, their faces also filled with sadness. In the middle standing up was a couple in their late 50's. The women had short, blond, greying hair and pale fat face. She wore a blue light blouse, and jeans. The man holding her hand, wore a flannel shirt, and white khaki's. His face was tanned and wrinkled, his hair totally grey. They both looked at each other.

"Mr. and Mrs. Uhlenbeck," said a nurse to the couple," I think you should sit down and relax. Dennis will be out soon."

They ignored her, and continued standing up.
-
In a bed rested a young lady. She had her head bandaged up, her arm was fed an IV, and she looked faint, no one made a sound, not even the man standing in the corner, his head lowered in sorrow.

"I'm sorry, baby," he said. "It's my fault, I was so focused on the dinner, and kept away from you, and didn't pick up on those headaches. If I did they, would have found it sooner," his voice cracking. He bent over, closing his eyes so not to rain tears on his wife, but opened them when he felt a soft hand rub his face, and saw two dim, but warm eyes staring at him.

"No one can really suspect a brain tumor," she said. "Besides, even if they found they found it sooner, I wouldn't have sur.."

"DON'T SAY THAT," Dennis screamed. "You would've had a chance, you would've, if only I hadn't been so stupid, I'm such a terrible hus.."

"Shut up," Lindsay said firmly but faintly." I love you, and always will, and you know you meant well. Only a good man plans a dinner for their wife. You wanna promise me something, Dennis,"

"Yes," he said faintly,

"Promise me you will always love our children,"

"Yes,"

"You will look after Crystal and protect her,"

"Yes, I promise,"

"Always live life to the fullest,"

"Yes"

"And remember me, because if you do, then I can never truly leave you."

"Yes I will," said Dennis, his eyes moistening

"I love you.." Lindsay said before she slept, and a flat line was heard.

-
The moods of everyone changed little in the time left, before they heard a cry of anguish.

"NO!", they heard, followed by intense sobbing.

The Sadnik siblings hugged themselves closer and cried.

The Uhlenbeck's and the three friends all did the same thing.

They knew at that moment, a person dear to them was gone, and man closer to her was in grief.
-
A week later
Dennis began hammering nails into one of the beams of the the barn. With him was mare who laid on the hay, silently watching him. His face was stoic, a large frown locked into in. A silence filled the air, the only noise was Dennis's hammering away, each hammering causing Crystal to shake her head. After finishing the hammering, he climbed down the ladder, quietly. He walked along the side of the barn, carrying the hammer, but turned when he saw something on the wall by a nail and black string, and grabbed it with his hand. It was a red and pink ceramic heart, with "Den and Lin 4Ever," engraved on the front. He clenched his fist, and yanked the heart, with the nail, out of the wall, and through it at a beam with a scream, breaking it in two, and then through the hammer through a window, shattering it, startling the little pony with a whinny. He screamed again, feeling tears flow down his face, before collapsing into the soil, curling into a ball and crying.

He covered his eyes with his hands, until he felt something nudging him. He saw Crystal, her eyes almost filled with what looked like sympathy. He look up then hugged the pony, still crying, having something to hold. The pony seemed to settle in, and wasn't at all afraid. Dennis felt the pony's warmth, and continued to sob.

The Letter/Goodbye and Welcome

View Online

April 1999
5 p.m.
"Get me a beer," said Dennis to a man with an orange apron, a blue work shirt with white stripes, and with a blond mustache and beard combo, who was standing under a sign called ,"The Frosty Spring". The man, poured him a glass, with a nonchalant expression on his face, into a clear glass. Then went back to cleaning his mug.

"Thanks Zack," Dennis said quietly, Zack replying with a simple nod, while still clearing one of the shots. Dennis sat there staring at it, his chin in his hand, his elbow on the wooden countertop,sitting in the green barstool, looking as if some horse died(Disclaimer:she didn't.) He was only distracted by the sound of someone old but genial.

"Hey future competition in the the hospitality industry," the man said, rubbing his shoulder and taking a seat next ,"How's it going." Dennis woke up from his strangely non-alcohol stupor, staring at the same, thin, tanned, wrinkled skin, and grey hair he had known for years.

"Hey John," said Dennis, his spirits lifted a little, "how's Mrs. Uhlenbeck?"

"Same as always," said John, then regarded his friend's somber appearance, and asked ,"you look a little s-,"

"DON'T SAY IT!", Dennis blurted, attracting the attention of the bar.

"Calm down Dennis," said a large, pale white man holding a billiards cue. He wore a huge, black T-Shirt that barely fit into his large torso, in an innocent-sounding voice, and a grin ," I'm sure he meant depressed." Some patrons chuckled.

"Yeah, very funny Rodger," said Dennis, looking behind him ," I only hear that 50 times a week!"

"Dennis please," said John, " you need to relax, you looked like a horse died."

"Sorry," said Dennis, looking away from him ,"I guess I've had to many beers. And she's not dead!"

"Dennis," said John in a reprimanding tone ,"that's not true."

"You mean CRYSTAL DIED," blurted Dennis.

"N-n-no Dennis," John said, waving his hand up and down to tell Dennis to be quiet, " I was talking about the BEER. You haven't even touched it. A man who comes into a bar depressed and NOT drinking needs great spiritual guidance."

Dennis sighed, slamming down a five on the counter, "listen Billy Graham, I don't need this, a bar is a place to be miserable, and since you won't let me do THAT, I guess I'll go be miserable in my barn." He got up from his stool. "Keep the change, "Zack," he said before walking outside the bar.

John started counting down as Dennis walked out to the sidewalk. "Ten, Nine,Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One.." Outside, a loud spluttering sound was heard, like an old man coughing as he lay dying on a sidewalk.

Outside sat Dennis' old Chevelle. Much of the orange pain had rusted away, and the door handle was rusted red, but much of it's splendor could still be observed...if not for the big gaseous cloud of black smoke coming out of the hood. Dennis, stepped out of his car, quietly, and walked back inside the bar, everyone staring outside watching the car burn.

"John..." Dennis said sheepishly, bending down.

"Yeah, Yeah," said John,jadedly , getting up from his stool, "I'll get the Expedition."
-

Two men sat in an Expedition. It was a dark blue SUV. Like most SUV s of the time, they we're large, powerful, and at 15 mpg, were born in an era that had forgotten about the energy crisis. In them sat two men, talking their issues in the most polite way men of their age knew how.

"Yah cheap bastard," said John ,"why don't you buy a new car already, that thing produces smoke more than it drives."

"I could say the same thing about you," said Dennis ,"Mr. SUV gas drinker."

"Hey, Sadnik" said John ," You still drive a muscle car."

"Yeah, but when I bought my car" said Dennis ,"we didn't know about the energy crisis. You, who I remember telling me pushed his car 5 miles into Saratoga that winter just for half a gallon of gas, have seemingly forgotten those days of shortages, and rather than shop smart and buy one of those beautiful new electric cars, decided to go for a big heavy *smacks the dashboard* behemoth, which will only create a new energy shortage. When it comes, I doubt you will have the string to push the thing around, old man."

John sighed. "Look, I'm driving you home, and while I'm giving you advice, you decide on acting hostile. What's going on? Is it Sarah."

Dennis grunted.

"Yep, it's her," John said with a strong tone ,"What's going on with her?"

"Nothing," said Dennis.

"Your right," said John ," It's probably nothing. You can say your sorry when you get home," John said grinning, knowing exactly what button to press to get to get Dennis to spill the beans.

"Now wait a minute," Dennis contested ," how could you be on her side? I work day in and day out to feed her, and she decides to laze around."

"What do you mean, laze around," said John ," how has that been bothering you? Don't teenagers always act up?"

"Sarah has never been this insufferable," said Dennis, "Not even during puberty."

"Ha," said John in mocking ," Yeah right, perfect 18 year old daughter now turning into Patty Hearst. Your being dumb."

"It's true," said Dennis ," when she was thirteen, she was never in much trouble. You know why? Jason was always a loner, always stuck at home when he was that young. Never joined a sports team, always sat at home watching TV or playing video games. He got a little better when he starts taking care of Crystal, but then I convinced him to try a sport when he was a freshman. He picked football. Within a month, he was friends with everyone on the team, he was doing good in school, and he got Saratoga Springs High School into the championships. I say his scholarship into NYU was well-earned."

"Now that you speak of it," said John ," where is Jason anyways?"

"In Palo Alto, working for one of those new Internet start-ups. I think it's called "goggles" or something, sounds crazy, probably won't last a year," Dennis said.

"Is he coming over this summer to help you with the new bed and breakfast," asked John.

"No, he's gotta spend the summer with his girlfriend's family in San Diego. Nice people, cute girl."

"What about Bella," asked John.

"She's stuck in France with her boyfriend Philippe. Probably won't let her see me for the summer, jerk. I only said he couldn't within a hundred yards of Bella when he was in the house-"

"No, did Bella have problems," asked John.

"Well aside from arguments over skimpy outfits, she seemed fine. Anyways with Sarah early on, I always encouraged her to go out and do things, so she wouldn't be as only as Jason was."

"So you heard no bad news," asked John.

"No, I heard no news," said Dennis. "When you hear nothing, everything is fine."

"Okay," said John, "you've been on good ground until recently.What happened?"

Dennis sighed. "Well, I guess my troubles started a few weeks ago..."

-
3 weeks ago.

On a red couch lied a common species found in the American household. The teenage girl lying down on the couch, her hand tightened over the phone . Her blond hair stretched down her backside. She wore on top a white blouse with a black jacket over it. She was wearing a white mini skirt with grey diamond pattering. She was barefoot, but on the ground next to her were white stockings and white high-heeled shoes. She chattered on and on, seemingly ignoring Christina Aguilera on MTV.

"So that guy was like, I don't know ,totally into Cher," Sarah said into the phone. "Of course I know, didn't you see the way he was staring at her. If only he shaved, they would be so cute together..." her train of thought cut off when someone shot off her MTV.

"I got to call you back. I was watching that," she said.

"I was watching your grades", Dennis said sternly ," and I am not impressed." Dennis shoved a math test into her face, showing her a big red "C".

"Dad, I'm already going to Binghamton", she said ," what's the the big deal?"

"The deal is colleges are still watching you. And I'd hate to see you lose your scholarships."

"Don't worry Dad, I'll-oh I got meet Jenny at the spa Dad, see you later," she said, running out of the room.

"Wait, I'm not done speak-uhh, forget it she won't return for years," he said, slumping down into the couch.

He reached for the remote, he flicked on the TV.

"Next on MTV, Beavis and Butthead!" He looked at the screen and flinched.

"Kids these days," said Dennis, "with their dumb shows.(pause). Man am I getting old."
-
2 weeks ago.

Three people, well dressed, began to walk into the farm house. One was a relatively fat man with graying balding hair, and a dark but graying mustache in a grey business suit, blue shirt and yellow tie. An even fatter and older man walked in. His suit was black and white and seemed to bulge at his waistline, and probably cost more than the month's rent in the Bronx, his head bald, wearing a grey goatee befitting of some less reputable characters. With him, holding his arm was a lady in a brown mink coat. Her hair was grayish and resembled a small hedge. Her face was fair, but wrinkled.

"Well Henry," said the old woman in a voice that would draw the eye of every noblewoman in Norway, " I find this place rather quaint," she shrugged, " certainly a good place for a home cooked country meal."

"Well," said the grey suited Dennis ," Thank you Mrs. Wekkes."

"Please dear," she said, as he took her mink coat, revealing a wholesome purple dress ," call me Martha."

"For your sake Mr. Sadnik," said the big fat guy in tone that was joking, yet somehow sinister, "you better not," and laughed, in that same weird tone.

"No Mr. Wekkes," Dennis said, forcing a smile ," you are my boss of course." Dennis said smiling. "For entrees, we have a delicious mushroom soup with chives, and scallion. For the main course, we will have a filet mignon, with some bread rolls. And for dessert, an apple pie, made with fresh New York State Apples, " he said marching through the door. But when he saw the kitchen, he saw piles upon piles of dirty plates, left unwashed by some wayward youth.

"I'm gonna kill that girl," Dennis muttered under his breath.

"Hold on," he told the couple outside, I have to get everything ready. He saw the dishes, and looked across to the sink, where the window was. He did possibly the second most desperate move of his life.

(Ten minutes later)

Dennis was still carefully putting the dirty plates outside, moving through the window, to slowly put each plate on the stone patio, so they wouldn't break, like with the first three dishes, his mother's gravy bowl, and his collective plate from Jones Beach.

He had just placed the last plate on the patio, when he heard a knock at the kitchen.

"Hey," demanded Mr. Wekkes with a demanding tone ," we want to eat tonight.

"Okay I'm ready," said Dennis.

In walked the Wekkes. Martha couldn't help but take in the aroma.

"This all smells heavenly," said Martha. "You must tell me where you learned to cook like that. But where are the plates?"

"Well that is a funny sto-plates?" Dennis looked and saw he had no plates on the table, nor would there be in the cupboards, since they we're all resting on the patio.

"Let me get them out of the closet," and ran past the confused and hungry couple (well, hungry man) out of the kitchen.

Dennis looked in his closet. He saw paper plates, paper cups, and plastic silverware. He took it out of the closet.

"Here we go," he said, defeated.

-
One week ago

Dennis Sadnik sat watching one of his favorite movies of all time, he couldn't help but shake his head to the beautiful violin and;

"A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!"

Tradition,TRADITION/
Tradition, TRADITION

Dennis, sat enjoying one of his favorite movies, but some noise was distracting him from watching it. He realized then, rising from his chair, that it came from the barn. He ran to the barn, to check up on his little pony. He ran back red in this face.
His scream was (mostly) covered by the repetition of the chorus.

"SARAH!"

"Tradition, TRADITION!"

A girl in a white tank top and a red miniskirt ran downstairs.

"Yeah dad," Sarah

"I just heard a pony wail out in HUNGER and she was dirty," said Dennis ,"now some girl I know, some girl who when she was little wanted this pony more than anything, who was supposed to do these things this morning. Where was this girl?"

In the background, the song continued;
And who has the right, as master of the house,
To have the final word at home?

The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.
The Papa, the Papa! Tradition.

"She was," said Sarah ," was trying to prevent a fiasco between two friends, you see Gina was..."

"I don't care," said Dennis ,"what I care about is you living up to you bargain to take care of the animal you have cared for since you we're si-",

(RING!)

"Oops," Sarah said, "That's Gina. I better go talk to her before her date heads for disaster."

She ran up the stairs, forgetting about the man with a few choice words.

"Your ability to contact the outside WORLD is headed for disaster if you don't come down here and talk," Dennis shouted, running up the stairs after her.

Meanwhile the TV was still on;

Who must know the way to make a proper home,
A quiet home, a kosher home?
Who must raise the family and run the home,
So Papa's free to read the holy books?

The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!
The Mama, the Mama! Tradition!

-
Present Day

"Okay," said John. He took a moment to contemplate all he heard.

" I can understand you getting upset over the dishes. Using those paper plates could have cost you that promotion. But in the end you said, Mr. Wekkes cared more about the food, and Mrs. Wekkes ended up being impressed with your ingenuity. You got the promotion, which will give more than enough vacation time to work on your bed and breakfast. And you punished Sarah anyways."

"By making her wash the dishes," Dennis said smiling, "outside on the patio, with a tooth brush and a bottle of water. For a week."

"And I can understand you getting made over neglecting Crystal, seeing as she was ignoring her longtime pet," said John "But you got her to take care of her, and took away her phone."

"Yeah," Dennis said grinning ," and I made her use a payphone."

"But the C", said John incredulously,"Senior slump is pretty common. I mean for us growing up, is was probably worse considering we didn't have air conditioning as kids."

"Yeah, I used to roast alive, and me and my friends in Queens would open up a fire hydrant," said Dennis ,"good times."

"But how could these three things make you feel so down. They are teenager mistakes," asked Dennis

"Well" said Dennis hesitantly, "they were...uh build-up."

"Build up," asked John ,"to what?"

"To three nights ago," said Dennis.
-
Dennis sat in his office, going through the mail, barely able to keep out the music playing in the background. He barely controlled himself when she heard his daughter dancing to this Britney Spears.

"Bill, Bill, "Free Carpeting", "Letter from Mom" , "Letter From School," he muttered as he looked through the mail. He stopped. He grabbed the last letter and when into the living room.

He entered the Hall of Noise, which was full of noise. In the middle he saw the cause of the noise, and hoped to reach out to it.

"Sarah," he said, "Sarah." The girl continued.

"Sarah!"

The girl stopped, and turned off the CD player.

"Yes, dad," she said.

"You got a letter from Saratoga High," he said.

Sarah opened the letter. At first she looked shock as she read the contents, and dropped the letter. Dennis was concerned, and waved and hand in front of her face.

"Sarah," he said."Sarah?"

He then heard a noise he hadn't heard in a long time; A sound of a little girl going to a candy store for free.

"Yes, Yes, Yes!"

"What", Dennis asked after uncovering his ears. "What?"

"I won" she cried. "I won, I won, I won,"

"Won what?" Dennis asked.

"Remember that contest I told you about months ago," Sarah asked, " The Saratoga Essay competition?"

"Yeah," said Dennis, "you we're supposed to write about experiences with animals or in nature, and if your in the top ten, you could get a free trip to the Galapagos Islands."

"Yeah, I wrote about my time with Crystal," she said ," my learning how to ride her, how I shared her with mom, and how she made Jason's life better. I got in the top ten! I am going to the Galapagos Islands for the next two months!"

Dennis felt...shocked, astonished, weird. While Sarah kept bouncing around the room. He examined the letter and read the details of the letter.

"Sarah" Dennis said, it said you're supposed to arrive at JFK airport on the 12th of June."

"Yeah, so," asked Sarah.

"That is ten days before graduation," Dennis replied.

"Don't worry," said Sarah ," a lot of kids leave before graduation. As long as you complete certain requirements, they will let you do so, and then they will mail you a diploma."

"Yeah, but you've been getting C's and B's lately," said Dennis, looking at her ," and you need all the time you can get to pull your grades up. Sorry,I don't think you should go." He walked away from her, seemingly on aware of the fire he started.

"But Dad," Sarah said ," It's only like ten days."

"Ten days you can spend working on your GPA. Besides, you can always do this again some other time," said Dennis, not even ate her as he prepared a bowl of cereal.

"No dad, no I can't do this again," Sarah said, getting slightly flustered ," I spent weeks writing that report, editing and re-editing. You even said it would be okay for me to do it."

"I said that months ago," said Dennis, "things have changed around here, and not in ways helped me trust you."

"What's that supposed to mean," Sarah asked, still irate, but barely keeping it in check.

"For the past few weeks," said Dennis rising from his chair ," you've let your grades slip, you've neglected your chores, and you have been slacking your you care for Crystal. The pony you love and cared for. When you we're ten, you would always volunteer to care of the her, when no one else would. No you ignore her, because you're busy with this society crap. How can I trust you'll do the things you're supposed to be doing on the Galapagos Islands, because you'll be too busy in your little fantasy ."

"Dad," said Sarah ," I've just fallen behind a little bit. I still love Crystal, but I've been busy with everything else. College, saying good bye to friends, the prom. But when that's over I promise to shape up."

"Sorry," said Dennis walking away from her with a nonchalant expression ," you haven't proven that before, you've promised to shape up before, but you haven't shaped up. You can't go, because I'm afraid you'll shirk your duty with the other kids. Sorry." Dennis sat in his chair ,munching on his cereal.

"Wow," said Sarah getting even madder ,"YOU said I could do this months ago if I got in. It's not just about missing school, this is about me missing a few grades, which don't even matter since I'm going to Binghamton, and how I don't take care of some pony."

"A few years ago," said Dennis," you would have never referred to Crystal as "some pony." "

"When I was younger," said Sarah getting slightly annoyed ," I couldn't even spell Galapagos. I still love Crystal, but I'm older, and I have a lot of other stuff in my life. And because I don't act 10, you won't let me go on the trip of a lifetime. I'm only going on it because of Crystal, and all my time with her,, which I mentioned in my story."

"While you were busy writing about Crystal," said Dennis, " you ignored everything else. You can't go, end of discussion."

"No dad," said Sarah firmly ," it's not end. I have been responsible. Do you think an irresponsible girl would have gotten 2300 on her SAT s, or 3.7 GPA. Would an irresponsible girl get into Binghamton for free?"

"No," said Dennis ," it's just when taking care of yourself. Your going to be an island full of wild animals. I don't want you to hurt yourself. I'm looking out for you," he said placing his hand on her shoulder.

"No," she said ,"your looking out for yourself. I see what it is you want. You don't want to pay everybody to work in your hotel, so you'll have me do it. Your just using me as your slave."

"No," said Dennis ,"but now that you mention it, maybe making you work here for the summer will teach you some responsibility."

"I don't need to be taught responsibility, and I don't want to be here all summer," Sarah screamed, finally losing her temper.

"Fine, book your own vacation, because you are not going on that trip to the Galapagos," said Dennis, his expression remaining nonchalant.

"Yes I am!"

"No your not!"

" Yes I am."

"Sorry," Dennis said ," but you can't go, case closed," he continued to munch his cereal in his chair.

"Why are you treat me like a BABY," Sarah screamed, annoyed by his behavior.

"Because you always act like one," Dennis said, remaining stoic.

"Well you now want you act like," said Sarah, her hesitation now gone. She circled the chair, and got in front of him. "You act like a fat, broken down loser, with a dead wife. Oh wait you are one. Ever since Mom died," Sarah continued, Dennis' expression starting to waver ," you always act desperate, asking me "You want to go somewhere," or something. You talk about Crystal, but you haven't ridden her since then, probably because you'll crush her with your fatness. I bet if mom saw you like this, she would gladly put herself in the grave."

Dennis clenched his lips, his temper starting to waver. "Don't bring your mother into these conversations. Now insult me all you want, but your NOT going," he said, barely under control.

"Yeah, mom would go crazy seeing you," Sarah said, getting angry ,"but now all you do when your angry is eat food. See your eating that cereal right now. Mom would just up and walk away from you if she saw how fat and pathetic you really are. Then again maybe you we're always like this, and Mom just felt sorry for yo-,"

SMASH! was heard as a cereal bowl was thrown across the room and broken in two, the milk and soggy cereal hitting the ground. Sarah flinched, having never seen her father act like this.

"Listen you little brat," Dennis said through clinched teeth ," I don't need to her this from you. I work hard and take care of you, I watch out for you, and all you do is insult me. Don't EVER talk to me like that. You are not going and that's FINAL!"

"But," said Sarah.

"Not one word, Sarah," he said sitting down.

"How about three," Sarah said tearing up, " I HATE YOU!" Dennis looked at her in shock.

She took the keys to the Cavalier, and ran out of the house. Dennis got up and chased after her.

"Sarah, GET BACK HERE," Dennis screamed. But by the time she got out, she drove off.

Dennis simply stared at the road, as she saw the car going away, the tail lights the only thing visible as she drove off into the dark.

"I'm sorry," said John ,"it's hard when kids run away."

"She didn't really run away," said Dennis, "she's staying at her friend Gina's house. Her parents called and told me she didn't want to see me. And that they'd let her stay for a few days. I'll let her stay for a week and cool off."

"And what if she doesn't," said John.

"I'll call the cops on Gina's parents for kidnapping," he said bluntly and nonchalantly. He noticed John's glare. "Hey watch the road, McQueen" said Dennis. John saw he was driving on the opposite side of the road and corrected himself.

"I understand her being upset about not going," said Dennis ," but why did she have to say that."

"Maybe your remembering when Lindsay's old boyfriend came up all told you those words," said John.

"Yeah," said Dennis, "he nearly killed our relationship. But Sarah didn't know. I shouldn't have barked at Sarah. But I didn't want her leaving school early John, with her grades and poor manners."

"Or...maybe..leave," John muttered.

"What was that," asked Dennis, feeling paranoid.

John took a breath, "I'm saying maybe you just didn't want her to leave."

"What" asked Dennis

"It's not the grades you care about. I saw how upset you we're when you told me Jason and Bella were out for the summer. Now your littlest child, who you thought you could spend one last summer with, is going away and your afraid of having all these rooms to rent to potential strangers."

"You don't know what your talking about," said Dennis.

"Oh no," said John."I'm 65 years old. All my kids are grown up now with their own lives. I felt the same way you do now. It's hard when your kids go away, I know. And when your plans to spend one last trip with them go up because they have other plans. That sucks. But the tighter you hold them, the more likely you'll break them."

"John," said Dennis," you don't know anything. That girl is less responsible than when she was ten."

"When she was ten," said John ," as I hear it, you told her "go out and see the world". Now she can see it, in a way she earned, and in a way that won't cost you a dime. Think about what Lind-"

Dennis stopped him only with a great big glare.

"Alright ,sorry," said John.

"Just pull over to my house," said Dennis, then he looked at his watch, and was stunned. "Man we've been driving for a half hour now- wait where are we."

John looked up and shock, "I don't know, I guess I was distracted by the talk, I'm sure we didn't go to far."

They both stopped when they saw a wooden sign in front of them.

LAKE GEORGE BEACH STATE PARK

OPERATED BY

STATE OF NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

"You drove us all the way to Lake George" Dennis said, dismayed.

"I must have turned onto Route 9 North by mistake," said John, forcing a smile.

"Let me drive," said Dennis.

"Yeah that's probably a good idea," said John ,"I lose focus when I talk. Just like the time with the fondue. Oh the Fire Department-,"

"Just give me the keys," said Dennis.
-
They pulled up to Dennis' house around 7 p.m. The sun was starting to set, and the sun glowed orange.

They both got out.

"Thanks for the ride," said Dennis forced.

"Will you stop being a jerk already. Look I shouldn't have brought up Lindsay, I know. But at least hear me out." Dennis remained stoic. "Just let go already, stop sitting in the past, your hurting yourself. And ask yourself "Did your parents make you give up the trip of a lifetime over a few lousy grades."

John got into his car, leaving Dennis to think.

But dad. No buts, you little putz. You got a D, and while your graduating, you don't get to go to Saratoga Springs. I expect perfection from you. I expected too much. Saul please. No Marion. He isn't responsible enough for me to let him go. He'll spend the summer working in the shop. I hate you.

Dennis regained his concentration when he heard John's motor pull out. He saw the lights on upstairs, and knew who was there waiting for him. He decided to go to the farmhouse, and hideout with his equine friend.
-
Dennis took his jacket and shirt off, wearing a T-Shirt and Jeans, as he washed Crystal. She had grown quite a lot, and was now about 12 and half hands high. She sat there, letting Dennis wash her brown coat.

"Kids," said Dennis ,"you look out for them, and then they turn on you. Feed them, change their diapers," he said. "Your lucky you don't have to reproduce," he told the pony, who seemed to shake her head.

" I mean, it's important to keep an eye on your kids when you don't think they can make it. I mean she used to take good care of you. I remember she was 9 and..."

"Stop living in the past", he remembered John saying. Than ended his flashback.

He put down the sponge and went to get a towel from the cupboard at the end of the barn. As he pulled out a white towel, a pink card fell out. Dennis dropped the towel and picked it up. On the cover was, "Happy Valentine's Day, Denny," written on a blue plane with a heart in the cockpit.

Oh yeah, thought Dennis This is the card that Lindsay gave me our first Valentine's Day here.

He opened it but found a message he hadn't seen before. Something Lindsay wrote before she passed.

He read it. He punched hit lips up, and dropped the car, his eyes beginning to water. A wet pony trotted up to him, and began nuzzling his leg, wetting his jeans. He ignored the moistness he began feeling in his pants.

"Your right Crystal," Dennis said." I know what I must do."
-
Lying on white bed was a teenager. She was wearing a black miniskirt, and a white tank top. Her room was pink, decorated with posters of pop stars and male supermodels. In the corner on a table was a grey PC, operating on Windows 98.

The girl was woken from her trance when she heard knocking.

"Sarah," more knocking ,"Sarah we need to talk."

"Are you gonna let me go on vacation," asked Sarah.

"Just let me in," said Dennis. Sarah paused, before unlocking the door.

Dennis walked in, a glum look on his face, still wearing the T-Shirt and Jeans. The father and daughter stood there, neither one of them saying a word.

"So," said Dennis, trying to relieve tension ,"you came back on your own, that's pretty big of you."

"No," said Sarah ," Gina's parents kicked me out. They said I ate too much."

"Yeah, well," Dennis said rubbing the back of his head.

"Are you going to let me go?" screamed Sarah

"Just listen," said Dennis, walking over Sarah's bed. " I was washing Crystal, and I found an old Valentine's Day card. It was the one your mother gave me-."

"This better not be one of your lame love stories," said Sarah.

"JUST LISTEN, sheesh," said Dennis ,"I found that sometime before mom you know, " Lindsay calmed down, "she wrote me a poem of some kind. I want you to read it.

Sarah picked it up and began reading.

Hey my love, don't you wait,

for this world is big, many wonders great.

See all you can, but don't wait up for me.

We maybe together, us and no contender

But do you want to now what makes me.

Skies Blue, Ocean's clean

Mountain great Pastures Green

That I wish you'd see

But don't wait for me.

Yes our love is strong,

No one else can belong,

But let me help you see

The world, in all it's beauty

If you want to see it fine,

but don't wait for me.

Our love is infinite, our time is not,

So if you care, hear my thoughts.

This world is grand, so lovely and free

But if you love it, than it something to see,

but if I get a cold, or if my time is cut,

Please don't fall into a rut,

I want you to live, this world so free

If you love me, let go, go see,

and don't wait up for me.

By now the card was stained with tears. Sarah's eyes watered, and she didn't resist when her former worst enemy sat in her bed to put his hairy arm around his shoulder.

"Honey," Dennis said, before swallowing and breathing ,"your growing up. I can't stop that. But I'm only realizing it now. It's just that," He stopped, letting some tears fall down. "When I was telling you know, I originally thought you weren't ready." He breathed. "But now I realize I wasn't ready. Your my last child. And I was hoping to spend some time with you before you went to college. But when you told me about the trip." He paused, looking at his daughter who gave him an understanding look. "We know what happened. I thought you were leaving me, and I tried to latch on to you." Tears began to flow from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I know now I can't stop you, how I can't make you wait up for me. But it's just I miss your brother and your big sister, and your mom," he stopped, and began to cry. His tears were plugged by someone hugging him and rubbing her head into his chest.

"It's okay dad," Sarah said in a gentle voice ," I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said those mean things to you. It's just I thought you were spiting me over the dishes."

"No," said Dennis, "I deserved it."

"No," said Sarah ," you were just upset about me leaving. I'm sorry for not seeing that. I was just so excited..."

Sarah stopped when she felt a strong hand lift her head out of her chest to face her father, his eyes warm.

"No you should be excited," Dennis said smiling. "It's not everyday you get to see a cool island. I want you to do these things. I want you to see the world. Especially since this time it won't cost me a dime."

Lindsay couldn't help but chuckle at hear father's statement. They both hugged, their first great hug in a while.

"Besides, I'll still have Crystal," he said. "We cool?"

"Yeah, we cool," said Lindsay.

"In all this hoopla," Dennis said, as he rose up from the bed ,"I didn't make dinner. Why don't we celebrate your winning at Merino's with a pizza."

"Sure that sounds fine," said Sarah.

"But your buying," said Dennis ," this is your trip."

"Ha-Ha," said Lindsay.

"No I'm serious," said Dennis as he walked out of the room, clearly not serious ," Pizza costs money."

Lindsay only chased after him.
-
June 12th

An old Cavalier pulled up to the entrance to Albany International Airport. It was early morning, with the sun still in the, the air still cool. The building had a wood brown exterior, a see-through canopy covering the exits. Protruding from the building in the background was a blue glass walkway that connected to another building. Out stepped a girl wearing casual clothes. She went to the trunk of the car and pulled out a massive luggage.

Sarah walked up to the driver's window, who rolled it up.

"Take your stuff inside," said Dennis ," I'll go find a place to park."

"Okay," said Lindsay, as she walked inside the building.
-

Dennis and Sarah walked up and reached the security.

"Okay honey," said Dennis ,"this is as far as I go. Remember, when you land at JFK, go to gate-,"

"I know," Lindsay whined, "I heard it a million times."

"I'm just looking out for you," said Dennis ,"like I always do."

"Yeah, well, I'll see you in a month," said Sarah.

"Yeah well, see ya," Dennis said, before Lindsay took him into a big, warm hug.

"I got to go," said Lindsay before turning around, and walking to the checkpoint. She never looked back, while the father never stopped looking as she walked away.

Finally she was gone. Dennis turned around, and went back to find his car.
-
June 24th

A few weeks passed since Dennis left Lindsay at the airport, and over a week passed since the beginning of summer. Now he was the owner and operator of the Upstate Inn. He originally was planning on calling it "Sadnik's place," but then his friends reminded him that he needed a name that didn't sound, depressing. Dennis sat in his office still awaiting that first call, for his first guest, while playing some weird game on his computer. But then he heard his doorbell ring, instead of his phone and ran up to check up on it.

"Yeah," Dennis said as he opened his front door. "Can I help-," and what he saw he almost couldn't comprehend.

There were two college age girls in front of him, but that wasn't the shocking part. The one on his right had long white hair, with streaks of light blue. The other's hair flowed all the way to the shoulders, but was half cobalt blue, and half fuchsia all the way down the middle.

"Hello," spoke the white haired girl in a slow but strong voice "My name his Lyra Hart, and this is my friend Bonnie Sweets, we are college stu-dents," the white hair girl looked toward her friend who nodded, as if to confirm something, "Yeah college students looking for a place to stay."

Dennis kept staring, all the while, new suns we're creating in the time he stared.

and United Artists, for one of my favorite movies.

Welcome to the Upstate Inn

View Online

"Hello", asked the white haired girl ,"did I say the wrong thing?" Dennis woke from his trance and saw the two girls still standing outside his door.

"I'm sorry," said Dennis, startled, "Something seemed of- anyways follow me to my office," Dennis said opening the door and allowing the girls in. The two girls walked in, all the while Dennis began to take in more of these girls appearances: The white haired girl called Lyra had been wearing a mint green t-shirt, with white pants, and white colored sandals. On her neck hung a necklace shaped like a golden harp. The girl with blue and fuchsia hair was wearing a brown t-shirt with "Buckwear," written on the upper left breast, jeans, and brown boots. This girl also wore a necklace, but with a blue charm, with three pieces of candy embedded into them. Something about these girls seemed off. They went inside, and Dennis closed the door, the bell ringing.

He saw the candy necklace girl leaning on the couch, while the white haired girl was staring in awe at TV against the wall.

"Oh mi gosh," said white-haired girl, " I heard you had one of these, but to see it in po-person, is amazing."

"Yeah," said Dennis, "Phillips is a good company, 100 channels, uh," don't lean on the set," he said. The girl was rubbing her hand on the top of the screen. "So," said Dennis, "come with me into my office," he said walking into the room on the office. The fuchsia girl called 'Bonnie,' walked into the office, but caught her friend Lyra still staring at the TV. She sighed and grabbed Lyra by the arm, and pulled her away from the marvel of technology.

The office was pretty small. The walls we're painted white, some of the paint peeling off toward the ceiling. In the back was a brown wooden desk littered with papers, with a small wooden chair behind, and an old white computer monitor. On the right was a table with a printer on top. On right wall was a black file cabinet with three cabinets. One of them was hanging open with all the papers seeming to burst out of the files. On the left wall was a window staring outside. The rest of the space was just big enough to accommodate two people, such as Lyra and Bonnie."

"I've checked the computer," said Dennis ," and I can't seem to find any record of you making a reservation."

"Oh," said Lyra, who smiled sheepishly, was turning toward her friend Bonnie, who was giving her a glare, "but we need to stay-we need a place to stay."

"How old are you, Lyra," asked Dennis, his hand cupped around his chin.

"Um," Lyra said, reaching into her brown purse and pulling out a card, "12 years old," she said. Bonnie walked over and yanked the card out of her and turned it on another side,"uh, 21," she said, chuckling and embarrassed.

"Well," said Dennis, " since your old enough, you should realize you ought to make reservations," Dennis said. Dennis wasn't being stupid. Yes he would like to have customers, but he felt that in order to be taken seriously, he needed to make policies, like good hotel owners do, even if they seemed stubborn."

"But sir," said Lyra ," we really-,"

"I'm sorry," said Dennis ," reservations first."

"We understand," said Bonnie, walking over to the desk, " we need to follow your policies to the letter, but we really need to be here."

"I don't know," said Dennis, looking sympathetic toward the girls, "I don't want to stop you from needing a place to stay, but-," he was interrupted by the sound of a wad of cash hitting the desk.

Dennis looked at the wad, staring at it, saw it was full of hundreds, and twenties.

"That's about 1000," said Dennis, that's seven weeks worth of rent in advance," said Dennis. He paused for a minute. "Well okay," he finally said, pulling out a form, "sign here, you two."

Lyra walked over in front of the form, with an unusual grin on her face. Dennis handed her a red pen.

"This is so exciting," said Lyra ," I am signing stuff with a pen in my hand," as she began filling out the form.

Dennis looked slightly amused,"Man I wish I felt that same kind of joy around tax time,"

"June 29, 1999," Lyra said as she signed the document, happily.

"Okay Bonnie," said Dennis handing the girl a pen ," Now you sign." The girl looked anxious as she saw Dennis hand her a pen. She calmly took it, but just held it there, waiting around anxiously.

"Well," said Dennis, "any time now."

"What," said Bonnie ," I've never done this before."

Dennis chuckled ,"you've never filled out a hotel application? Alright, all you need is time, date, hotel..." FLAK! The pen hit the floor."

"Let me do it," said Lyra, "I'm more trained to do this kind of thing," she grabbed the pen of the ground and filled out Bonnie's form.

"Yeah," said Dennis, "but I'm still gonna need her signature," Lyra looked at Bonnie with a bit a fear in her eyes.

Bonnie just relented and said, "Alright," and took the pen and the contract. She put the contract on the table, and grabbed the pen with both hands. Both her hands trembling, she took down the signature. Dennis looked up and saw a signature that more or less resembled a crooked tornado, and the paper looking like the devastated community full of stab marks.

"Alright," said Dennis ," let me organize these papers. You two wait outside, and when I'm done I'll help you with your bags."

"Okay," said Lyra happily as she skipped out the door, while Bonnie just walked out, looking down, like a girl whose diary was read by the school bully.
-

"I told you to practice," said Lyra annoyed standing over Bonnie, who sitting on the couch, looking down in shame ," I spent two weeks working on my hands, what were you doing?"

"Getting supplies," said Bonnie incredulously ,"you know the gems, the plate..."

"Well," said Lyra, putting hands on our hips ,"If you blow our cover, then those things won't matter would they."

"Oh," said Bonnie, " and your spectacle in the butcher shop wasn't blowing our cover,"

"That guy killed that poor cow," said Lyra, sadly ," I was defending him."

"Yeah," said Bonnie sarcastically," you we're a real hero, especially to those civilians that fled in TERROR."

"Well at least I can do regular things, like pick up pencil WITHOUT my mouth, and drive. Do you know how hard it is to drive 3 hours straight?"

"You didn't want to fly," said Bonnie, "I told you-,"

"I've been practicing driving, which we are supposed to be doing unlike y-,"

"Well you certainly have been practicing, it takes a lot of practice to miss our target by 200 miles," said Bonnie enraged.

"It was a hundred and eighty eight miles," said Lyra screaming.

"Will you shut up," said Dennis walking outside the room. "One the great things no kids is no arguing, I guess I'm taking that for granted."

The two stopped, looking away from each other in embarrassment.

"Yeah Lyra," said Bonnie, with a grin

"Let just get the stuff," said Dennis ,walking outside the house.

"Should we ask him," said Lyra, looking at Bonnie.

"Not yet," said Bonnie, narrowing her eyes as she looked out the door ," he seems nice, but considering the time past, he might be a little-,"

"Girls," said Dennis.

"Coming," said the pair, as they walked out the door.
-

The three walked down the hill, neither person speaking. Dennis was walking in front with the two girls behind them, as they approached the girl's car. They we're parked right next to the Cavalier. There car was a 1991 Chevrolet Caprice. It was pretty flat and rounded compared to the Caprice. Its' white color shined in the clear blue sky.

"So what college to you guys go to," asked Dennis, walking toward the car.

The girls stopped and looked at each other. After a minute, Bonnie turned toward Dennis, and said, "uh, College."

"Yes," said Dennis ,"but which one?"

"Uh," Lyra said ,looking down at the Cavalier, "Stony Brook?"

"Stony Brook," asked Dennis curious.

"Uh," said Lyra, nervous, while Bonnie was giving her a glare.

"I went there too for college," Dennis said, smiling. "It's good to me the right kind of people going to the right kind of school. What are you studying?"

"Uh, astronomy," said Bonnie nervously.

"I didn't know Stony Brook offered astronomy as a major", said Dennis.

"Major," asked Lyra.

"Yeah, um can you give me the key to the trunk," asked Dennis holding his hand out/

"Here," Lyra said than passed the key unto Bonnie, who fumbled around," Bonnie will gladly open the trunk," she said with a smile that was more devious than sincere."

"Okay sure," said Bonnie whose smile look forced. She walked over to the car with the key. What followed was a minute of Bonnie struggling with a key, unable to turn it around. She jammed it in, pulled it out, only for the struggle to end with a large arm yanking the key away from her.

"Just click the button on the keyless entry system," said Dennis, annoyed. Attached to those keys we're a small black case, with three buttons. There were two square buttons on top: the one on the right was inscribed with a picture of the key and the word DOOR. The button on the left had the word UNLOCK written on them. A square button on the bottom had the picture of a car. The rest of the black thing had written on it "CAPRICE CLASSIC" written on it, with a sign that looked like a wide and short cross reflected on the bottom. He pushed the UNLOCK button, causing the car to emit a strange noise that made Bonnie jump. Dennis walked over and opened the trunk.

"Voila," he said sarcastically.

"How did you do that," asked Lyra, looking slightly perplexed.

"What," Dennis asked, confused ," it's just a standard keyless entry remote."

"You can open doors automatically without magic," said Lyra excited and smiling, "this place really is amazing."

Dennis said nothing, and did not look back at the girl jumping up and down at the sight of remote key control, or at her embarrassed friend. He walked with a stoic expression on his face.

This is going to be a long summer, Dennis thought.

A Pony Bath and a Movie

View Online

June 30

Dennis having gained two customers, felt like a king that just one a great war. And what better way to celebrate the end of a great war than to sit on a throne. Or couch in this case. He lied down wearing a T-shirt that barely covered his girth, some jeans, and sandals. He had gained his first customers and finished his work at the office. Now he felt like taking it easy, with a beer can in his hand, and the remote in the other. He was currently flipping through channels.

"Nope," said Dennis, trying to avoid MTV. "Nope," not finding Britney Spears to be wholesome. "You'd think at the turn of the millennium, they'd give you five hundred channels of something people would watch."

The door popped open, revealing two girls who had looks of both eagerness and dread.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Lyra.

"Hey Bonnie and Lyra," said Dennis, waving but not moving from his chair, "how's it going. How's your star studying going?"

"It was excellent," said Lyra interrupting Bonnie, with a somewhat forced smile, though Dennis was too focused on his TV to notice. But we gotta talk to you about something, see-,"

"Look, whatever it is, you can tell me tomorrow, I'm busy, I just got home from work, and Crystal-oh god," said Dennis, jumping out of his chair, "I gotta wash Crystal!" Dennis ran to the corner, leaving behind his sandals and began stuffing his un-socked feet into his boots. "I'm coming Cry-."

"Don't worry," said Bonnie ," we'll take care off her."

"Bonnie," said Dennis anxiously, "I appreciate the offer, but Crystal's kinda sheltered. She'd be spooked by strangers, she's even spooked by me. That's why I don't let tourists ride on her for five dollars at a time. Some jerk kids could try to spook her. Besides what do you know about taking care of ponies."

"Everything," said Lyra ," we've been among ponies all our lives."

" 'Among ponies all our lives', what-," asked Dennis confused.

"What Lyra means," said Bonnie, putting her hand on Lyra's shoulder, "is that we've been taking care of ponies since we we're kids. We know a lot about ponies so we could wash Crystal."

"No, no, I know it must be every little girls fantasy, but ponies are delicate, frightened creatures needing guidance, and -,"
Dennis couldn't help but notice the girls we're giving him glares.

"Listen," said Lyra, sounding ,"Ponies are not delicate. Say that-,"

Lyra was again blocked by Bonnie's patented shoulder grab technique.

"Look just give us a chance," asked Bonnie in a slow tone of reason," If C-Crystal doesn't like us, then we'll both just walk away from her."

"Fine, " said Dennis ," but you gotta let me supervise. I don't want Crystal running around the place in panic."

Dennis walked outside wearing a dirty T-shirt, some jeans, and boots. The girls each were wearing a mint green and greenish grey T-Shirt, as well as Daisy Dukes. The girls were holding sponges and buckets, while Dennis was carrying a plastic pool in his hand. Crystal stood in her stable. It was white brown wood with a square from a little pony's head, muzzle and all, could stick out. Dennis dropped his pool and began opening the door to the stable.

"Whoa," said Lyra ,"she is ugly! Oh," a hand hitting Lyra's side.

"Lyra," said Bonnie in a scolding tone," hey you're right. Hands are fun. But seriously, me and my colleague never imagined ponies here would look like this."

"What did the poniesCommon Crystal," said Dennis followed by making a sound through puckering his lips ,"time to get into the bath." Crystal just stood their un-moving.

"Sorry, guys," said Dennis, "I knew she'd be scared, normally she trots over to me just fine, your gonna-." Dennis paused when he saw his little pony trot past him toward the two girls. Dennis and Bon-Ra, as the pair are known together. Nothing was heard except for the sound of four hooves touching the floor of the barn, as the large guy stood silent, and two girls waited in anticipation. The pony walked up to the two girls before nuzzling Lyra in the leg. Lyra couldn't help but bend down to hug her.

"LYRA," Dennis screamed, " don't hug her, you'll only scare her-," Dennis stopped as Crystal melted into the hug ,"into...your...heart."

"Aw," said Lyra ,"even if you are ugly, you are still cute." Bonnie just stood there, a stoic expression on her face.

"She's not ugly," said Dennis ," she's just- ugh," he said, slamming the mini-swimming pool down on the ground, just wash her already." Dennis walked out of the room with an agitated expression.

Bonnie ran to close the door.

"You think it's her," asked Lyra quietly, letting go of Crystal ,"she's not wearing her..."

"Are you kidding," asked Bonnie ," did you see the way she ran into your-uh-uh,"

"Arms?"

"Yeah, those things," said Bonnie, turning away from Lyra. " Look he must have it someplace, it's just somewhere in his house. It's only a matter of time till it all comes back."

"And she'll go back," said Lyra, stoically. A small pause of understanding ensued. "Well, grab a sponge, sweetheart."

"Yeah, sure," said Bonnie, as she poked her head down and grabbed the sponge with her mouth. Lyra ripped it out of her.

"Yeah," said Lyra, "I'l do the scrubbing."
-
Dennis sat his throne, but not with the desire to relax, but with some agitation.

Stupid jerks, thought Dennis, Probably messing with my little pony. He pressed the buttons harder flipping through channels. He was broken from his silence by two disheveled girls covered in foam.

"Clean yourselves up," said Dennis, in a hostile tone, "you both are dripping messes. And wash that dye out of your hair."

"Mr. Sadnik," asked Lyra ," we just -I told you he would notice the hair-washed your pony we weren't going to do anything mean-,"

"Lyra," said Bonnie ," a man just wants to protect his pony, especially since that pony has been in his house for a while- oh and I told YOU."

"11 years," muttered Dennis.

"She, Lyra, eleven-," she paused dropping her hand and looking toward her shoulder, and just stared at Dennis in shock, as did Lyra, who rose the couch, " did you say 11 years?"

"Yeah," said Dennis ,"11 years. Found her on the streets of New York in a crate, nothing to keep her company except hay and- wait why am I telling you this. Just forget- wait why are you crying?"

"it's just," said Lyra, who seemed to be on verge of tears ," so-beautiful. Taking in a lost scared animal, all by yourself. With no one to help you for so long."

"Well," said Dennis, stunned by her guest's sensitivity ,"I wasn't alone, I still had my family to take care of them. My three kids and my wife." Lyra perked up at such a statement.

"Oh that's good," said Lyra ," I could never go so long without someone, I just- hey where is your wife, anyway?"

Dennis said nothing, but clenched his teeth, unable to respond. "Just drop it okay," Dennis said abruptly ,"forget I said anything. He than turned back to his TV.

Lyra sat next to Bonnie, both of them with a concerned expression in their eyes.

"11 years," whispered Bonnie.

"Alone," said Lyra ,"what do we say to him when the time comes."

"I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Bonnie, still concerned.

"Finally," said Dennis ," something good."

"We now return to the Godfather," said a voice from the television.

"Wow," said Lyra awestruck ,"I can't believe it."

"I know right," said Dennis ,"one of the greatest movies of all time, right on our screen."

"This box," Lyra said grabbing the remote. "All you had to do was push a button, and a new image appeared. Push" said Lyra pushing another button, "Push, push,pu-," hey said Lyra as Bonnie grabbed the remote.

"Man," said Dennis in a teasing tone," it doesn't take a lot to entertain you does it. A car remote to you is like a Broadway play to a nine year old. Even remotes seem out of this world to you," he said, taking back to remote from Bonnie

"Uh," said Bonnie ," so what's the movie about?"

"You've never seen the Godfather," asked Dennis shocked ," or ever heard of it? This movie really changed the world. It was the first movie I took Lindsay to see."

"Who's Lindsay," asked Lyra.

"She's uh..anyways the godfather is about this crime boss, who deals with his young son about to inherit his criminal empire."

"He's a criminal," asked Lyra ," who makes a movie about such a meanie."

"Well," said Dennis, shocked that a 21 year old would say such a word," Francis Ford Coppola, just watch."

"I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the

American fashion. I gave her freedom..." Dennis flinched at that statement.

"Ain't that the truth", Dennis thought to himself.
-

"Man that guy," was cool ," said Lyra.

"We know he's a criminal," said Bonnie ," but we can't help but admire him."

"It's good acting," said Dennis

"Now listen to me, you smooth-talking son-of-a-bitch," said the guy on the TV," Let me lay it on the line for you and

your boss, whoever he is. Johnny Fontane will never get that movie! I don't care how many.."

"Man that guy is a meanie," said Lyra. The other two in the room just stared at her."You know, for a guy named Woltz, funny name."

"Yeah," said Dennis.

"Hey, come on over here with me; I wanna show you something really beautiful. You do

appreciate beauty, don't you," asked the character from the movie.

On screen was a large, stallion, with a beautiful shining brown coat, long stylish mane, two beautiful brown eyes.

"A tight flank," muttered Lyra, who looked at the horse like it was a tasty hot fudge sundae.

"A great muscular barrel," said Bonnie trapped in a dream.

Dennis took notice of the girls who seemed caught up in a trance, and waved his arms in front of him.

"Girls," he waved, "girls it's just a horse." The girls broke out of their trance, and looked embarrassed. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were in deep love with it," he said turning his head back toward the TV, while behind him, two girls blushed. "Oh here comes the best part."

The movie had gone to a scene outside the rich guy's house. It slowly panned into his room where he was sleeping, warm in his bed. He woke up and slowly removed the covers. He found his hand covered in blood. He removed the covers, revealing more and more blood....

"Here it comes," Dennis said.

He finally removed the covers, revealed the bloodied severed head of his horse in his bed.

"AHHHHHHH," screamed the two girls, startling Dennis.

"Whoa," said Dennis, "I know it was shocking, but it's just-," he stopped when he saw the two girls run out of the room, hands over their mouths, as if about to gag.

"Three, two, one," said Dennis. BLEEEEEEEGGGGHH. The sound of nearly digested food hit the ground, followed by another such sound and another, coinciding perfectly with the screams of the blood drenched movie director.

"Oh, that was horrible," Dennis heard from upstait.

Dennis sighed. "I'll get the mop."

A Drink and a Day for Indepedence

View Online

July 3,

Dennis pulled up to the Frosty Spring in his old Chevelle. Normally, he kept the car locked in his garage, but he felt like taking it out for a spin. He pulled up and parked along the sidewalk. He stepped out of the car, in his usual attire of polyester purple jacket, jeans, and one mustache.

He walked inside, ringing the bell along the door, and alerting people to his presence

"Dennis," screamed everybody in the bar ,"how's it been," said one of the patrons in the bar. He was wearing a blue buttoned shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his brown overalls, and black shoes, his elbows leaning on the counter.

"Hey John," said Dennis as he walked up to counter.

"So my competition," said John in a hammy voice ," I heard you got two customers for the first time/'

"Yeah," said Dennis enthusiastically ,"these two girls from Stony Brook."

"Your alma mater," asked John.

"Yeah, astronomy majors," said Dennis sadly, "why couldn't they have gone north, where you can actually see the stars?"

"Man, you don't seem happy," said John ,"two customers, what's the deal?"

"It's just," said Dennis, " these girls are weird."

"You wanna see weird," said John ," how about some guy in camouflage holding a giant sub machine gun in his arms, how about some old lady in a mink coat who dresses a chihuahua in a jacket worth more than why spend on groceries, how about a girl who calls herself Elizabeth Taylor and dresses up like Cleopatra. When all these people check in to your hotel, you can talk about weird."

"Oh yeah," said Dennis ,"that was one hell of a Thanksgiving."

"From that day forward, Mildred never could touch cranberry sauce," said John sadly. "The point is, being in hospitality, your always going to encounter people from all over, who will strike you as weird."

"Or maybe," said a deep obnoxious voice, " these girls are making his heart sink."

"Hey Rodger," said Dennis and John solemnly, looking toward the right at a guy staring in front of the dartboard, his large stomach the size of a beach ball barely contained by his black polo shirt, his chestnut hair barely covered by a Yankees hat turned backward. He also wore blue sweatpants, and pure white sneakers. In his right hand was were three blue darts, and in his left was a mug filled with beer.

"Man two college girls who make any man weak," said Roger walking over to Dennis.

"Yeah," said Dennis forcing a smile and moving his head up and down," why don't you lose a couple of thousand pounds?"

"Wow," said Rodger, in a sarcastic tone ," real original. Man so what are these girls like. How big are there-."

"You're not dating them," said Dennis ," try dating someone your own age, not some seventy-year old named Esther."

"Okay," said Rodger, "it was one time, and she was quick. What, trying to hog these hot pieces for yourself?"

"Well," said Dennis, blushing as he remembered events from yesterday...
-

"Mr. Sadnik," asked a voice just outside of his office.

"Yeah, Lyra, what is it?"

"Bon-Bon wanted me to take off my old outfit -",

"Bon-Bon," asked Dennis, "is that some kind of nickname?"

"S-Sure, anyways she wanted me to take off my old outfit and try on something different. I went out a bought all these clothes in Saratoga Springs, but when I got back and asked her to compare these clothes, she was gone. She left a note saying she had to do some...research. I've got no one to compare outfits. Can you help me?"

"Lyra, I'm a man, I don't do this kind of stuff," said Dennis, looking down while still writing on his paper.

"Back home, there are a lot of male designers," said Lyra," like I know this one guy Hoity Toity."

"Hoity Toity," asked Dennis ," never heard of such a label."

"He's not a label," said Lyra ," he's a designer."

"Who in the right mind names there child "Hoity Toity," asked Dennis ," that's just asking for pounding."

"Can you just check the dresses, please," asked Lyra in a whining tone.

"Fine," said Dennis, still looking down," just come in."

"Get ready to be amazed," exclaimed LyraThe door opened, and footsteps were heard.

"Okay," said Dennis staring at his paperwork,"that's cool, swell."

"Your not looking," whined Lyra.

"Fine," said Dennis turning his head up , "what do you got to show-," Dennis looked shocked. His hand felt limp and he released his pen from his grasp. He saw Lyra was holding the clothes but wearing nothing,"

"So what do you think of this," asked Lyra, flashing a red tanktop in front of her, "hey your still looking away!"

"Lyra," asked Dennis looking away and nervous," why are you in your birthday suit?"

"I'm not in my birthday suit," said Lyra, stretching out her arms, "I'm not wearing anything."

"I know," said Dennis, sounding strained ,"I just want to know why?"

"Bon-nie told me to take off my old outfit."

"I don't think she meant before you put on anything," said Dennis.

"What's the big deal, they are just clothes," asked Lyra perplexed at this guys act.

"Yes but in this society we normally wear clothes," said Dennis annoyed and looking away from Lyra.

"So she was right," said Lyra ,"important tip thank you."

"Your welcome."

"You wanna help me put these on," asked Lyra innocently.

"NO!" screamed Dennis, blushing

"Okay, sheesh," said Lyra, annoyed, "I'll just wait for her, who knew you could be so sensitive about nudity."

She walked out door, and when Dennis was sure he heard the door close, he turned his head forward.

"That was amazing", muttered Dennis sarcastically, continued began blushing.

"Hey look," said Rodger pointing a finger at Dennis,"he's reminiscing about his beloved." Everybody continued what they we're doing, as if accustomed to Rodger's boorish behavior. "Yeah," said Rodger who through one of the darts at the board only for them to swerve just toward the left of the red target. "D'oh! always swerving to the left."

"Yeah," said a guy in the bar,"just like woman do to you! Just when they reach you, they always just swerve to the left."

"Ha," said Rodger ," I can get any girl I want." He saw a girl with blond hair tied up in a bun, wearing black pants, and a blue buttoned down shirt with short sleeves. "Hey baby," Rodger said walking up.

"Uh, Rodger," said Dennis getting up out of his stool ," I don't think that..." until he felt a hand grab his shoulder. He looked behind him and saw Zack. Dennis looked into his eyes and saw him smile mischievously and decided not to waste anymore words. Dennis sat, and just picked up a glass of beer that Zack handed him.

"Hey baby, I've been places you've never been," said Rodger to the girl who was writing something on a notepad, "wanna go?" The girl ignored her. "Common, I'll show you my three best friends!" "You and me, we'll get it on."

"Actually," said the lady in a strong tone of voice, looking toward Rodger, holding up a notepad. "I think I just got you on three counts of sexual harassment." She then showed Rodger her badge. Rodger dropped his beer on the grown, and quickly waddled out the door.

"So that's Helmsey's new deputy," asked John, staring in awe.

"Yep, Ms. Stella Stirling," said Dennis, as the deputy approached them.

"Give me a beer," Deputy Stirling said.

"Man you really showed him," said Dennis.

"Nice try," said Deputy Stirling ," but I know your game."

"I'm not hitting on you," said Dennis ,"I'm just-,"

"Ha," said Stirling ,"I'm just kidding."

A bell was heard, and in came running Lyra screaming "Mr. Sadnik!"

Dennis turned around startled ,"What"

"There's a problem with Bonnie. The TV..."

"What," groaned Dennis annoyed ," did she break it?"

"No," said Lyra ,"It hypnotized her."

"What," said Dennis ,"what do you mean."

"Well we turned to one of those channels you pointed too," said Lyra.

"Uh-Uh," said Dennis turning his stool around.

"MTV. She saw one of those boys with no shirts on..."

"Uh huh," said Dennis putting his shoulder on the counter, and his chin on his hand.

"And, like she can't stop staring," said Lyra, distressed.

"Uh huh," said Dennis, before downing his beer. Being married for twenty years leaves a man prepared for anything a woman says.

"I don't think you should worry," said John barely suppressing a chuckle ,"I-I'm sure she'll break out of it soon. So you're Lyra. She mentioned you having bluish white hair. I guess you must have washed it out."

Dennis turned around and saw,"Oh I didn't notice that Lyra, I'm sorry I was too startled by your nonsense to notice. I wasn't forcing you to do it, I was just upset." He noticed Lyra's hair shining a bright brunette.

"Oh," said Lyra waving her arm down ,"it's okay, I just wanted to blend in."

"Well hello Lyra," said John extending his hand ,"I'm John Uhlenbeck, owner and operator of Upstate Inn. Thanks for helping this crook take away some of my business," head turning toward John.

"And thank you Lyra for helping me put this old geezer out on the street," Dennis said before toasting with John.

"I'm sorry," said Lyra crying ," I didn't mean to destroy your friendships."

Dennis and John just stared at this girl crying for a minute or so, waiting for the joke to end. John, decided to put his hand on Lyra's shoulder.

"Uh, there there," he said ," we were just joking."

"What are you drunk," said Dennis.

"No, I haven't had a drink all day," said Lyra ," I see this place has all types of drinks."

"Yeah, but I don't know if you should have any, it's not good," Dennis started before John put a hand on her shoulder.

"Your not her father," said John, "often when you run a hotel, you think of your guests as family, but you gotta remember that they have their own lives. You shouldn't always worry about them."

Dennis stopped and felt his eyes moisten at John's hotel management advice. Was he treating Bonnie and Lyra like his daughter? He awoke when he saw Lyra sit down in the stool between him and John.

"Uh," said Lyra looking at Dennis' glass," I'll have what he is having."

Zack, wordlessly poured a glass of yellowish liquid into Lyra's glass.

"This is weird looking app-," "Stop," Lyra let go of her glass, hearing that authoritarian voice stay her hand. She turned around and saw that same quiet woman in the blue shirt walk over toward her.

"Zack," said the woman ,"I hope you remembered to check this young lady's ID before giving her a beer. It could cost you your license.

Zack glancing down, held out her hand. Lyra turned around, and saw his stranger gesture. "No Zack," said Lyra ,"I don't wanna dan-,Oh you want that licence thing." She pulled it out and read ,"As you can see, I am 12." Zack turned it upside down. "No twenty one, oh this drink is a beer, I've never had one of these."

"Good," said Sterling as she sat on a stool, "it means you'll never beat me in a drinking contest."

"Oh really," said Lyra ," I could drink 20 milkshakes in one sitting, I can sure drink this beer stuff."

"Oh yeah," said Stirling ," then you wanna see if you can beat me in a drinking contest."

"YEAH?" "YEAH?"

"Uh Lyra, since you've never seen beer," said Dennis ," I think you should now-," but was stopped when Dennis dropped a giant tray in front of them. Dennis spoke up only to be hushed out by the sounds of everybody in the room cheering for the inevitable contest. Dennis continued only to be hushed by John's shoulder.

"Your go," said Sterling.

"Sure sheriff," said Lyra, as she downed her first beer. She felt it travel down her throat ,and hacked, "bleh, that doesn't take like apple juice at all."

"Give up?" said Sterling ,"and everyone hushed."

Lyra cleared her breath, and seeing all the attention she was getting, she decided to down the hole glass, ignoring the burning in her throat, glared at Sheriff Stirling, before reaching another drink, earning the cheers of everyone.

"Here we go," said Stirling.

Dennis sat in his stool, awaiting the time to take her home

1 hr later

Dennis fell asleep, snoring in his stool, not out of drunkenness, only to be awoken by the obnoxious laughter of everyone in the bar. He saw the Sheriff and his guest sitting in the center, surrounded by everyone.

"So tell us more about this Ponytown," asked one of the barflies.

Lyra, her body and head moving back and forth spewed, "well, I told you about all my pony f-friends, oh I forgot to mention pink-pink. She's p-ink," she laughed ," and she'll throw a party for everypony who walks into Pony...," she sat down laughing, followed by everybody laughing.

Stirling, who looked no better, just laughed, and flicked Lyra's hair ," I remember hanging out with a pony princess, she was very pi-," Stirling swung her head around, before crashing unto the ground.

Everyone cheered, before Dennis finally ran up to Lyra, and hung her arm on her shoulder.

"C'mon Lyra we're going home," said Dennis rushing her out."John, Zack, get Stirling off the floor, and call Helmsley."

Dennis rushed out carrying the drunken woman to his Chevelle.

John crouched down attempting to bring Stirling up by her arms. Zack and some other guys began to carry her by her legs. They began to carry her to the couch in the backroom when John noticed a moist feeling on his wrist.

"I think I feel some blood, I think Stirling broke her fingers," said John letting her down and examining his palm and her hand.

"This isn't blood," said one of the barflies.

John looked at his palm which was covered in black-brown dye, and then looked toward Stirling's hand, which was also covered in the same dye.

"Where did that come from," asked John.

"Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot," Dennis heard her sing as she carried her into the farmhouse.

"Lyra will you STOP," he said frustrated ," carrying you is hard enough."

"But I'm not done telling you how I learned to walk on two legs," she chuckled ," Bon Bon was falling over constantly, and one day she fell on top of Mr.-"

She came through the door and fell into the couch, as Dennis released her.

He saw Bonnie, sitting on the chair, who's hair was suddenly blond, who suddenly sprang up from the chair, and ran to her dizzy friend.

"Lyra, what happened," said Bonnie, who was shaking her friend's head. She looked up a Dennis, "what happened, was she poisoned."

"She had a few drinks," said Dennis.

"Was it one of those drinks called "alcohol"", asked Lyra scared.

"Yeah, she was in a contest," but then saw Bonnie crying.

"No," said Bonnie ,"that policeman told us alcohol was bad, now she'll die," she cried, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"OH MY GOD," said Dennis, putting his hands on his head and pulling on the remnants of his hair ," you are such a-drama queen! Lyra's gonna be find, she's just drunk, she'll get just wake up with a hangover."

"She'll hang over what," asked Bonnie, the tears stopping, but the eyes staying moist.

"Unbelievable," muttered Dennis, as he performed the face palm of idiocy ,"she's just gonna feel dizzy tomorrow okay."

"Good," said Bonnie, sniffling," wait they have contests for drinking? Did she win?" asked Bonnie, feeling a little hopeful.

"Well, uh, yeah," said Dennis, unable to repress the smile forming on his face. "I didn't see, I fell asleep for an hour waiting for Lyra to pass out , but I woke up," he continued to laugh ,"and a saw Lyra and Deputy Stirling laughing. Apparently, she was going on about ponytown, some place filled with talking ponies," he continued to snicker.

"What," asked Lyra, who had gone from amused to frustrated.

"Oh man," said Dennis ," she was a riot apparently."

"What?"

"Man when you're drunk, you say some of the craziest things," said Dennis ,"no one would hear about a pony world more than five seconds before cracking up."

Lyra stopped fuming and muttered ,"Oh yeah, crazy story. I think I'll talk to Lyra about them tomorrow," she said smiling with clenched teeth.

"C'mon," said Dennis ," I think she might want to go to the bathroom, since those chunks'll fly any second."

"Yeah," said Bonnie annoyed, sure.
-

"I can't believe she would go on about that," said Bonnie, sitting in the couch the TV flashing.

"Yeah," said Dennis, "I never thought she would have fond memories of such a dumb show."

"What show," asked Bonnie.

"What ," said Dennis ," you never watched "My Little Pony? My girls watched that show all the time, I guess you were never that type of girl."

"What channel is it on," asked Bonnie.

Dennis was confused ," Uh, I don't know, uh check the TV Guide?"

Bonnie had found it, and pushed the buttons to watch this show about ponies.

"My Little Pony, My Little Pony...." the TV blared.

"Yeesh," muttered Bonnie, and switched back to the old channel.

"I've never seen something so ludicrous, and horrifying in my life,"

"It's time for Animaniacs, and we're zany to the max.." the other channel blared.

"What do you expect," said Dennis ,"it's a girls cartoon."

"But the way they portrayed ponies," said Bonnie dismayed, "it's just so...BLEAAAAGH."

"Cartoons are supposed to be dumb," said Dennis ,"what do you expect."

"Cartoons shouldn't show this," said Bonnie , pointing to the screen ," they can and should be smart and entertaining, unlike that horror story you showed us."

"Oh man, will you get over it," said Dennis groaning, "the horse died big deal. And the Godfather is infinite times smarter than any cartoon. You just watch a funny cartoon to feel safe after watching such a "scary story." I mean when has a cartoon ever taught anything remotely educational."

"And now the nations of the world," announced the TV, just as strange black and white creature appeared on screen. He had long black ears, covered with a black motor board, holding a pointer, behind him a colorful map of the world, " by Yakko Warner." Soon music was being heard.

"United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru," said the strange character.

"Okay," said Dennis begrudgingly, "maybe a few things. But little girls don't-," he was stopped by the sound of someone blowing chunks in his bathroom.

Bonnie ran upstairs.

"Huh," sighed Dennis ,"I'll get the mop."
-

July 04

Morning

"What were you thinking," said Bonnie, chastising the girl sitting up in the bed with an ice pack on her head.'

"Not so load," groaned Lyra.

"You're lucky those men thought you we're joking, we don't need you talking about this right now."

"I'm sorry," said Lyra, still clutching the bag, "just turn down the volume."

"Not to mention you nearly killed yourself," said Bonnie shaken ,"look I know we both care about this mission, but truth care about you, I would hate if anything happened to you, and when I saw you all dizzy, I thought," Bonnie said, tears falling.

"Bon-Bon..."Lyra said, sincerely and understanding.

"I'm your friend, now listen when I tell you don't go out drinking again," she said. She was caught up in the apologetic hug.

"Okay, said Lyra, "I promise. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worried."

They both hugged for what felt like an eternity.

"C'mon," said Bonnie grabbing her hand, "let's go eat some breakfast. Mr. Sadnik said he was gonna make us that fruit salad recipe we showed him.

"MMmmm," said Lyra ," I hope he remembers the..."
-
"Daisies," said Dennis looking at salad,"I've never seen a fruit salad with daisies."

He thought back to the time he first made breakfast for the Bonra gang. Those two said they we're hungry so he made them turkey bacon. Real quick. He gave them their plates, and they tried it. They said they liked it, but then he told them what was in it.
"That plate fell into a thousand pieces," thought Dennis. Let's just say he relearned how to cook food vegetarian. His daughters had always been picky eaters just like his...guests. Which is why he learned to cook. But he would never make the salad, until he accidentally let Lyra get drunk he felt responsible taking care of her little...guest.

He heard footsteps, and decided to say.

"Breakfast is on."
-
On the girls side. A salad made with lettuce, spinach, hard boiled egg, carrots, tomatoes, daisies, corn, covered in olive oil. On Dennis' side, was an omelette, turkey bacon, and all beef sausage.

"You know," said Lyra ,"not only is it wrong to eat animals, it's also unhealthy."

"You know what's unhealthy," said Dennis smugly and with a grin, " your drinking."

Lyra flinched.

"So what do you girls have planned for today," asked Dennis.

"Well, we thought we would do some more experiments," said Bonnie, who was digging through her salad, looking for the tasty part.

"Oh, so I guess you've got nothing planned for Independence Day," said Dennis.

"Today is Independence Day," said Lyra ," I read about something like it in your books. Some kind of festival."

"Man you don't get out at all," said Dennis. "Today is the day America gained independence from England. We celebrate with fireworks, hotdo-", he saw Lyra gag a little ,"and fun. I suggest you avoid your experiments for tonight, since the skies will be too filled with fireworks to make it easy to see."

"He's right Bonnie," said Lyra ,"we probably won't be able to see. We might as well have fun and enjoy this neat holiday."

"Huh," said Bonnie, dropping her fork, "your right, we might as well enjoy ourselves. But where can we go."

"Well, " said Dennis, " a lot of people go up to Lake George to barbecue and see fireworks. I'm going up there with my friends, but I can bring the two of you if you want."

"Sure, that sounds fun," said Lyra.

"Yes" said Bonnie," found the best part." She pulled up a daisy with a fork, and put it in her mouth, enjoying like some delicious cake.

"Well," said Dennis a little shocked," at least she can hold a fork," and continued eating his beef sausage.
-

"What the hell is this traffic," said Dennis, sitting in John's Jeep.

"I don't know," said John, " I hear they are checking for drugs."

"I heard those things kill," said a hyperactive college girl in a mint green tank top and jungle green shorts.

"Yes," said John ," that's the newest thing you said that can kill people. Please be quiet."

"My name is-," Lyra began to sing, but was stopped by a glare from a girl in a greenish-grey t-shirt and jeans shorts.

" I think I know what's keeping up the line," said John, as he saw some bald guy in a suit, carrying a megaphone, standing next to a police officer.

"Everybody," said the guy in the megaphone, who even when amplified, still sounded mousey ," Because of that incident with the Rickson twins, the state government decided to suspend the use of fireworks for this year. The groans we're heard all around us.

"Just because a couple of idiots blew some old lady's fingers off does not make the rest of us guilty," muttered Dennis.

"Anyways, we have set up bins for you to safely deposit your fireworks," continued the megaphone guy.

"Who cares," screamed a loud guy from his car. Everybody in the traffic jam hollered in agreement.

"Failure to abide by the ban will result in a 2000 dollar fine," said Mr. Megaphone.

Suddenly the cheers were replied with reluctant sighs.
-
The once empty park had become city of tents, barbecues, concession stands, and baseball games. The joy was enormous, the thrills great, and cheers. Two college girls we're truly impressed.

"Man," said Lyra ," this festival really is spectacular. I can only dream of holidays back home like this."

"Wow," said Dennis, who was carrying a barbecue grill with John," you're town must not be patriotic."

"Uh well," Lyra looked at Bonnie , who shook her head ,"no we are not."

"Well don't worry," said John, "we've got plenty of patriotism here. Even without fireworks, we still got frisbees, games, and burgers and hot dogs, and veggie burgers for you two."

John, Dennis, and the girls continued to set up their stand, when they saw three guys approaching. One of them was a fat guy wearing Bermuda shorts, sandals, a hat, and a Hawaiian shirt. The thin guy was wearing a green T-Shirt that said Cuomo 92, jeans, and who had a bald head. And then there was Rodger.

"Hey you son's of gun," said the fat guy.

"Hey Carl," said Dennis happily to the fat guy, "Hey Larry, he said to the thin guy," "Rodger," he said simply.

"I brought the stuff, but I can't hang with you guys," said Rodger flexing his arms ," I gotta show girls this love machine."

"Good luck," said John neutrally, not even looking up as he set up the table.

"You think I can't find a date," said Rodger. The six continued to work on setting everything up, ignoring the howling fat man in the distance. "I'll turn on the charm and show you!" He stormed away.

"Shouldn't we go after him," asked Lyra.

"Don't worry," said Larry, "in about five minutes, he'll return with slap mark on his face, and a beer."

"So Larry," asked Lyra, "what business are you and Carl in"

"We sell electronics and electronics accessories," the two said, and chuckled.

The two girls continued to stare.

"You know," said Carl, "King of the-,"

"We design, build, and space equipment."

"Wow really," asked Lyra ,"I bet it must be cool being in space."

"Yeah," said Carl, "but the tickets are a little steep, say one billion dollars to go on the moon."

"Yeah," said Larry ,"but we're saving up," and the duo laughed.

"That's terrible," said Lyra ," being forced to pay so much to go someplace so awful."

"What," screamed Carlarry. "When Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon in 1969, it was a honor to America to leave the boundaries of our atmosphere."

"You mean this country considers it such a great honor to waste a ton of money to put some guy on cold, barren rock," asked Lyra.

Carl and Larry stood silent for a minute, wondering how to respond, rubbing their heads with spatulas, before going back to their grill.

Lyra stared blankly at the duo, "I think I'll go play some games," she said before walking away.

"So," said Bonnie attempting to make conversation ,"how do you guys know Mr. Sadnik."

"Are you kidding," asked Larry. "How do we not no him," said Carl.

"On campus at Stony Brook was Dennis the Menace," said Larry. "We were the first ones to call him that," he said.

Then they both looked at each other and then at Dennis, who suddenly dropped his plate of burgers, noticing an evil look in their eyes.

"No," said Dennis holding up an arm ,"we're too old for that. No, no,no."

"Your right," said Larry, "we are too old for this."

Dennis sighed.

"But she isn't," said Carl, looking at Bonnie, and than at Dennis, before sprinting at him.

Dennis attempted a valiant escape effort but could not escape the clutches of the two.

"Yeah" said Carl, as he noogied Dennis' balding head, prompting "oohs," from him," this guy could never outrun us."

"But he had one hell of an arm," said Larry who was sitting on Dennis' legs.

"My heads bare," said Dennis, still wincing.

"That's what your grandma said," said Carlarry before high-fiving

Bonnie couldn't help but laugh at the sight of three grown men acting like bullies.

But she decided to go check up on Lyra
-

Rodger was standing next to a girl with blond hair, a white T-shirt, and a red skirt at the Milk Bottles game. She continued to apply lipstick while he spoke.

"Three Balls, please," said Rodger. Some guy in a red shirt with a frown handed him the balls. "When I knock down these bottles the prize is yours baby." The woman continued to ignore him. He launched the ball, but just as he aimed for the first bottle on the left he knocked down... the prize shelf. Stuffed bears, sharks, bunnies, etc. came tumbling down, which ended with the squeak of some doll called Smartypants. Everyone stared and the turmoil.

"D'oh," said Rodger, "always aiming to the-I mean I guess I don't know my own strength, " he sputtered to the woman. "After years of lifting giant sacks of dog food, I can show you my true strength. Just let me touch your-,"

Lyra walked over to the milk bottle stand, and saw Rodger talking to the girl. Lyra leaned in. "Maybe Rodger really found true-," SLAP. Lyra saw the woman storm away, and Rodger held a cold beer up to his face, who walked away totally embarrassed. She looked at her watch.

"Five minutes," she said.

She walked over to the stand.

"6 dollars for three balls," said the guy at the stand.

"Okay," she said. She was presented with three balls. She bent down, and lifted reared her legs up.

"Hey," said the guy at the counter, "what are you doing?"

"Trying to launch the ball," she said innocently.

"Not with your feet," he said.

"But back home I'm allowed to do it," she said.

"Well go back home and play, and get out of here," he said bored.

"Okay," she said sad.

"Hey baby," she heard from far away.

"Huh," she said turning around.

She saw three guys. One tall and thin, one fat and short, the other short and thin. They both we're wearing black sweatpants, dark shoes, and dark hoodies, they seemed to approach her, with eyes of a shark approaching a school of tuna.

"Oh man," said the tall guy, "is it hot in here, or is it just me."

"Well you are wearing lots of clothes, so of course it would be hot," said Lyra.

The three guys laughed, "cute and funny," said the fat guy.

"I've got to go," said Lyra. "Excuse me." She tried to walk away but found herself surrounded by the three guys.

"Where are you-," "What's going on," asked a concerned voice. Lyra was happy to see an annoyed Bonnie walking up.

"Come on Lyra, John serving those veggie burgers, goodbye sirs," she said before being blocked by fat guy.

"Oh my god, funny cute, and attitude cute, lots of girls are out of here," said the skinny guy. "Name's Ray."

"I'm Da Large," said the fat guy. "I'm Bigger" said the short guy.

"Yes we are," said Bonnie, "come on, Lyra."

"Oh girl playing hard to get," said Da Large.
-

As burgers sizzled, the pair made up of Carl and Larry released Dennis from their monstrous torture, chuckling all the way.

"Was that really necessary," asked Dennis while rubbing his bare scalp.

"It's the least we could do," said Carl.

"After all," said Larry his voice becoming softer , "if you hadn't taken the blame for the girl's locker room thing, we would have been thrown out of Stony Brook."

"You guys already made up for that," said Dennis his ,"when that tramp Sylvia went all over me, you proved that using yoru cameras, and saved my relationship with Lindsay.

"Hey," said Larry resting his hand on Dennis' shoulder, his voice almost completely soft ,"it's the least we could do."

The men stood silent for a few seconds.

"Man it's amazing how you got those cameras in my bedroom set up so quickly," said ,Dennis.

"Yeah, well," said Larry rubbing that back of his neck.

"It was a great Labor day," said Carl.

"Wait a minute," said Dennis, his eyes narrowing ,"you two had a camera set up on the day Sylvia came on to me?"

"Well uh," said Larry, trying to formulate a response.

"What we're you doing," asked Dennis, slightly annoyed.

"We were-" Carl continued before he saw stare away from him, and toward the carnival game. Dennis noticed a scene. His two gi-guests were grappling with some punks

Dennis saw the scene and decided to intervene.

"Dennis," said John ," these girls are not your daughters, what they do is their business."

"Yeah, well I've got business of my own to deal with," said Dennis, quietly, as he walked toward the game area.

"Dennis," said John sadly, "I just wish that guy would move on already."

"Don't worry," said Carl, "He may be protective , but he's not rash."

"Yeah," said Larry sitting in a chair ,"I'm sure he'll have fun tonight."

"I hope so," said John as he continued to grill.
-

The tussle between the girls and the three punks continued, until a voice asked them

"Do you boys have a problem?" Da Large, Bigger, and Ray turned and saw some fat guy with a partially bald head and dark mustache.

"What do YOU mean by BOY, old man," said Ray.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Bonnie ,"it's okay, we can handle-," "I know I just wanted to talk."

"Well, OLD man, let me tell YOU something," said Bigger," Get out before I break my foot of in your-,"

"Hey, kid, watch your language in front of girls. You think your tough. How about I make you a bet?"

"Talk," said Ray.

"If I knock down these three milk bottles, you gotta leave these girls alone," said Dennis smiling. "But I can't knock em down, I'll walk away, and you can take these girls out."

"Okay, old man," said Ray, "you got yourself a deal.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Bonnie ," what are you-?"

"Trust me," said Dennis, as he walked over to the milk bottle stand. "Three balls please," he asked calmly. A crowd gathered over this scene, and was now witnessing a man throw balls to defend his honor. The place was silent. He lifted up his leg, and threw his write arm at first bottle, knocking it down. The crowd was stunned, but stayed silent as Dennis prepared his next target. He threw the next ball BAM knocking it down. The clerk at the stand dropped his newspaper, waiting to throw the final pitch. One could here a pin drop. He heaved his arm, and down went the final ball, and up went the cheers.

Dennis raised his fists in victory, smiling. The three punks jaws dropped, and everybody was giving Dennis a congrats.

"Man," said the clerk, smiling, "your the first guy to succeed knocking it down." He noticed the two girls in awe of their friend, and decided ," For that you get two prizes."

"Thank you," said Dennis as the clerk handed him the over sized stuffed duck, and the over-sized stuff penguin ,"One for my two girl-," he paused and saw Lyra and Bonnie staring at him ,"I mean my two guests," he finished smiling. The two girls walked away with their gifts, smiling.

As he walked away with the girls, the three punks walked up to him. He turned around and said, " I thought you would leave those girls alone, " he said annoyed.

"No," said Ray holding up his hands."We just want to know where y'all learn to throw like that?"

"I played for the Seawolves at Stony Brook," he said. " I got a powerful throw."

"Can you teach us," asked Bigger.

"Where are you guys from," asked Dennis

"We are brothers from Albany, but we're staying with our aunt for the summer in Saratoga," said Da Large, "can you teach us?," he asked in a voice as sweet as some fat guy could utter.

"Let me give you my card," said Dennis, "but first I want your real names."

"My name is Raymond, this is Deacon, and that's Bill, and we are the Johnson brothers."

"All right, call me when you can make an appointment," he said ," but you have to refer to me as Mr. Sadnik, not old man got it?"

"Yes, old m-, I mean yes Mr. Sadnik," utter Da Lar-Deacon."
-
"So he beat those guys at milk bottle throwing," asked John.

"Yeah," said Lyra, ,"and he even gave us the two prizes."

"I see," said John, smiling, as he never thought he could ever be proud of a friend for winning two giant stuffed animals.

" I guess Dennis is finally loosening up," said Larry, "for the first time since-" RING "oh, gotta take this." He pulled out a flip phone and answered, "Yello?"

"Wow," said Lyra, "so you guys do have two way communicators in your pockets. This place is cooler than I imagined," she jumped from joy.

"Yeah," said John sarcastically,"it's a real wonder to find on Lake George a cell phone."

He saw Larry on the phone, he seemed interested in the device.

"What," he said, a little anxious.

"It was stolen,"

"WHAT! Alright we will be there."

"Carl, pack up, we gotta go," he said, putting his stuff away.

"What's going on," asked Carl "we just got ,"- he paused as Larry whispered something in his ear. Carl understood. He helped Larry pack up.

"Guys," asked John," what's going on."

"Some equipment got stolen out of our warehouse in North Towanada," said Carl, "we gotta go."

"Alright," said John ,"let's get the girls, and I'll get Dennis and we will help you pack. Lyra, get over..Hey where did they go."
-

In a distance beach, far from human contact, two girls walked along. Lyra and Bonnie looked out and saw the festive campgrounds.

"I don't know about this," said Lyra ," there are tons of people here."

"But no fireworks," said Bonnie, "and no one here directly, so no witnesses."

"But," said Lyra.

"We gotta test it," said Bonnie.

"Okay," said Lyra, "three,two, one..."
-

At the party on the police force were two volunteers. One of them was tall thin man, with a tan leathery face, and a perpetual frown. He wore a cap that indicated his office in law enforcement, that hid his brown, crew cut hair. He wore a blue short sleeve shirt which revealed tanned hairy arms. His narrow eyes indicated a perpetual search for crime. Underage drinking, pot smoking, he would smoke it out. Next to him Deputy Stirling, who looked dazed, tired, and cranky.

"Oh," groaned Stirling as she stood up," can I go home now I'm so tired."

"No," said the officer in a quiet, but firm voice," we volunteered to protect Lake George from the excesses of Fourth of July."

"Helmsley," said Stirling ,"you volunteered me. We've been over this."

"Well," said Helmsley, his face remaining stoic or looking at Stirling, "it was either stay here with the hangover, and no plans, or be suspended for three months for drinking on the job."

"Uh," said Stirling clutching her head ," so much noise."

"You know you were lucky that girl was 21," said Helmsley ,"Imagine drinking with an underaged girl. Sadnik told me she was some kind of astronomy major."

"Ah," said Stirling ," so hungover."

"I guarantee you," said Helmsley," it'd be a lot worse if there were fireworks, but since there aren't.." he was betrayed by a sudden BAM. He looked around and saw in the air, not fireworks but something entirely.

Stirling collapse onto the the ground, clutching her head and whining.

"See you guys around," said Dennis as he walked away from the Johnson brothers. "Nice boys," but his thought was broken by the giant aurora in the sky around him. The colors seemed to consist of some light mint green, some fuchsia, but nothing more. The light was grand, so beautiful, yet so alarming. Everyone cheered at the sight, which was described as being grander than even fireworks. But something about the light didn't sit right with Dennis.

The whole night seemed to fade away at the light.

New Neighbors(No Pun Intended)

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July 5th,

Dennis, was currently in the fatigue of a satisfying night. It befalls college students, prom-goers, and virtually every kind of party-goer: After a great night, no one wants to move and get up the next morning. Even if it was cut short by two panicking friends, he had enjoyed himself.Tucked under his red sheets, wearing his blue pajamas, it would take a war to lift him out of bed. Or at least the sound of a war.

He felt himself shaking, as a giant roar came outside of his window. He leaped out of bed and saw a behemoth of a truck roar past him. It was big, brown, and it was almost as tall from his house, and just two miles from his bedroom. He saw the truck go up a very steep hill, toward some old house he thought would never be livable. It's trailer was blue, with SARATOGA MOVERS written on the front in big bold letters.

"Somebody, finally bought it," thought Dennis, as the truck pushed itself up the hill. Following the truck, he saw a giant stretch limo race up after him. It was shining white, with the windows darkened. It too attempted to race up the hill to the dilapidated farmhouse.

"Somebody big,"

He heard a scream though which forced him downstairs.
-

Lyra and Bonnie sat at breakfast table, deciding that hunger was a greater force than fatigue. They pushed themselves out of bed and went to make some breakfast. They were currently dining upon a variety of fruits. Lyra and Bonnie were both wearing mint green and fuchsia tank tops, as well as black sweatpants. They sat there fatigued, but still prodigiously devouring their fruit. They were also startled by the sound of a giant behemoth roaring past them.

Lyra dropped the banana she was snacking on a ran to the window behind the sink. She saw a massive, wheeled monster coming by the farmhouse and screamed.

"Lyra," said Bonnie startled by the monstrosity that roared past them ,"calm down, it's gonna be find."

"Lyra," said Dennis running into the kitchen, barefooted and only wearing PJs ," what's going on?"

"The monster," said Lyra pointing out the window, "it's evil."

"You mean the truck," said Dennis, "the thing going up the hill, the thing that just dodged us? It's not a monster. It means I have a new neighbor."

"Oh really," asked Lyra, jumping up and down, "let's go meet them. I think they are really nice. You think-,"

"I'm not gonna meet them yet," said Dennis, his pointed thumb pressing against his chest,"they're probably busy packing. Besides most people come out here for peace and quiet."

"Can I go meet them," Lyra said, her eyes becoming watery, and her lip pouting.

"I don't think-," started Dennis, before he reconsidered ," Your 21 years old, you don't need to ask me about meeting someone."

"Yer right I don't," said Lyra, "I'll ask Bon-,"

"I mean you shouldn't have to ask anyone's permission to visit someone. I know it's none of my concern but what is your relationship with Bonnie. Friends?"

"Yeah," said Lyra ,frowning, "she's kept me out of trouble since we we're fillies?"

"Fillies," asked Dennis, confused.

"I m-meant b-babies," stuttered Lyra, forcefully.

"Cause it seems you let her run your life a little. You are grown up, y'know, and you shouldn't always have your friends running your life."

"She's not running my life, is she," said Lyra, slowly sounding unsure.

"I'm not gonna say anymore since I'm not your daddy, except you seem to be unable to make decisions without her there. Look inside yourself and ask ,'am I in control of my life?' Wait, where is Bonnie anyways," asked Dennis, "I heard you guys downstairs."

"I don't know," Lyra wondered moving her head in all different directions trying to find her friend. The two heard noise under the table. Dennis lifted up the brown table cloth, and found a shivering, sweating Bonnie balled up into a fetal position saying "Monster gonna get me, gonna get me."

"Bonnie," said Lyra, "Bonnie, the monsters gone. Say good morning to Mr. Sadnik."

Bonnie broke out of her trance, and began to notice the two people staring at her in shock. She blushed, having been caught in such an awkward position, and crawled out from under the table. She laughed nervously as Dennis stood there staring at her, with a strange gaze.

"Let's eat some of that breakfast," said Dennis ,"I see you guys made fruit salad, how wonderful."

Lyra and Bonnie walked over the table.
-
North Tonawanda, New York.

Three police officers had been spending the morning searching for the evidence on a blue warehouse shelf marked "High Priority." In between two of the boxes was an empty space. Two of them had been dusting for fingerprints while one of them was conversing with a nervous security guard dressed in green, and a fat,sweaty man in a blue suit.

"Sir calm down," asked the officer taking notes, and looking toward the security guard ,"now tell me what happened."

"I was walking around this area, about to start the night shift," said the young red-headed guard, his freckled face sweating," when I tried to punch in around 11 o'clock, no one answered, so I used to emergency entrance. I found all the guys, unconscious, and Spec-..."

"Shush," said the man in a blue suit, rubbing his sweaty face, "that equipment is to remain on the the down low. Last thing we need is if the two find out-," he paused when he saw the green doors in the front of the warehouse open, and saw two men, one short and fat, the other tall and thin, walk in, there black suits making them more visible against the grey wall of the warehouse, they're faces showing none of the mirth they had shown on 4th of July.

"Carl, Larry," said the man in the blue suit, nervous, and strolling toward them ," I know what your thinking, but these officers are working on it.."he stopped when Carl grabbed the man by the throat.

"How could you lose it, Stoz," said Carl with clenched teeth as he slowly use his hand around Stoz's throat to back him into a shelf," you told us this was secure, and now NASA is coming after us, and now they are coming after YOU!"

"Sir," said the officer putting away the notepad ," let the man go, and please leave, we must continue..,"

"It's okay Tom," said a younger office coming in through the door," these are two guys who own the missing item."

"Oh," said Tom, "Your Mr. Carl Dasher, and your Larry Pinow, thanks Curtis" He walked up to shake Carl's hand, but Larry took the shake.

"Sorry officer," said Larry upset, but calm, shaking the officer's hand,"Carl's normally a fun guy, but this drives us up the WALL. What happened anyways?"

"That's what I've been trying find out," said Officer Tom, looking at his notepad "according to that guard over there, Mr. Guinness, he had try to enter the warehouse at 11:00, for his night shift, when he tried to call in, no one bothered to open the door. When he came in, he found on guard, Mr. Thompson, leaned against the doors, two other guards, Jameson and Clark were unconscious down this right aisle, the AV guys Mr. Roth and Mr. Wetts , the guys who were on the camera, which we're smashed with a blunt object, as far as I know, we're unconscious, who were supposed to be let in. What we know for sure is that every guard was on his shift was unconscious. We can't confirm what happened until some of them wake up. But who ever did this is more slippery than James Bond, since they managed to take out the five security guards here without some of them realizing."

"How do you think that," asked Larry.

"Well, according to the EMS team that came here to help them, they sustained blows on the back of the head, except for Thompson, who seemed disoriented when he woke up, and unable to respond to much. We are still figuring out."

"What did they take," said Curtis, the young officer, "everyone seems to one to avoid talking about it."

"Well," said Larry reluctantly, "You might as well since it might be gone anyways, it was a Spectral Scanner."

"I'm sorry," said Curtis "I failed science, so I don't radiation."

"Well," said ,Larry "You know something about the electromagnetic spectrum, how it measures different kinds of radiation?"
The officer nodded. "Well, the Spectral Scanner is a hand held device that measures it. It kind of like binoculars, only white, boxy, and with black glass on one side, and viewing glass on the other. It's also the size of a box of tissues. It's a handheld radiation detector, that measures on all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The device is designed to also work outside of spacecraft, so astronauts themselves can observe radiation in outer space. The advantage of the device is that due to it's powerful lens, can allow astronauts themselves to directly observe all kinds of radiation in space, including new potentially new and undetected ones, as well as CBR."

"What's CBR," asked Officer Curtis.

"Cosmic background radiation," finished Carl, who had calmed down and release his grip on the unfortunate Stoz. "Radiation left over from the big bang. If scientists and astronauts could observe this better, we could understand more about the creation of the universe itself."

The officers were speechless at such a bold claim, that such a device could change their view on the universe they dwell in.

"Well," said Officer Tom, "that does provide some motivation, but it's not conclusive. Who would steal a device that detects radiation. We have to consider other motivations besides scientific observation."

"Wouldn't we all like to know," said a voice from afar. The group of five consisting of Carl, Larry, Officers Tom and Curtis, and a bedraggled Stoz turned toward the green doors, and saw a man in black suit and tie march toward them. He held up his badge. "I am Agent Jim Kefauver of the FBI's Buffalo Office."

"The FBI's looking in on this," asked Carl.

"Yes Mr. Dasher," said Kefauver, "we are, fellow co-chairman of Dasher Pinow, because I see a link between these Spectral Scanners, and some strange phenomena no one can explain." He held up a tape. "Do you have a VCR."

"Yeah," said Stoz, "in my office."

"Let's go watch it, and you'll see."
-

"As you can see," said the person on the TV ," this pattern in the sky.."

"Man, they're even talking about it on the news," said Dennis, still clad in his pajamas, sitting on his red couch on the TV.

"Hey Lyra, Bonnie, look at this," said Dennis. The two came out of the kitchen and walked toward the living room.

"Hey remember those lights we saw at Lake George," said Dennis.

"Lights," asked Bonnie.

"Yeah, there on the news," said Dennis.

The two came over to the TV, and saw a strange aurora like pattern forming in the sky.

"Man, isn't that," Dennis said, turning his head around, and saw two girls, rubbing their thumbs together, like two guys guilty of murder. "What's the matter?"

"I didn't think anyone would notice," muttered Bonnie, her eyes filled with fear.

"What are you talking about," said Dennis, "Who wouldn't notice that. The whole sky was filled with color. when the jerk with the microphone banned all the fireworks. It's not like you did this did you?"

"No," said Lyra staring at the screen. "Sources so far have attributed these lights as fireworks, unable to find any other source," said the television.

"Okay. Oop, look at the time, I have to go feed Crystal, see you girls later," said Dennis. The girls suddenly felt great relief at the reporters statement.

"Man," said Dennis ,"what beautiful fireworks."
-

"Those can't be fireworks," said Carl, who was sitting in Stoz's office, watching the tape.

"That's because they're not," said Kefauver who was sitting on Stoz's desk. "It's looks like an aurora."

"I thought those only happened at like the North Pole," said Curtis, who was leaning against the wall.

"They can happen further south," said Tom.

"I said it "looks like an aurora", said Kefauver," but it's not. You see the colors of an aurora. Do you know how an aurora is formed, and what makes it shine?"

"Yes," said Larry," electrons that escape from solar wind enter the atmosphere and interact with different gases. It is the gas that determines color, in this case green is formed with oxygen, and that violet color if it were nitrogen. Then the magnetic field stretches these particles out, forming aurora borealis."

"Thanks nerd," said Kefauver sarcastically," where did you get your degree."

"Stony Brook," said Larry.

"Great school," said Kefauver stoic, "would have gone there, if my acceptance to Columbia bottomed out," he continued smiling, earning a glare from both Larry and Carl. "But that was a rhetorical question. They also form at least fifty miles above sea level. This thing was formed ten miles above the atmosphere."

"Whoa," said Carl, " so what is it?"

"Well," said Kefauver," NASA made an observation of that phenomenon, and it found it to be some kind of radiation. Most devices however can't determine what it is. Maybe your device could find the source.Maybe it could even trace it down what caused this, and who stole your device."

"Well," said Larry ,"we don't have scanner."

"You mean you never built a backup," asked Tom.

"If you were thorough in your knowledge," said Carl, mockingly ,"you would know that was our only prototype, and it was to be tested at NASA next week. Would have even been put on the International Space Station. But we do have spare parts. We could build a small replica built by this afternoon, maybe 1:30 P.M."

"Okay," said Kefauver, " you two build a replica of the device, and meet me at the hospital where they are treating the guards at around two. The FBI will cover that." He turned to the two cops. "Have you gotten any leads," asked Kefauver to the two cops.

"Well have some fingerprints," said Tom.

"Fax them to the FBI office in Buffalo," said Kefauver," and go to the hospital and talk to those guards when they wake up. Check for finger prints."

"Okay," said Curtis.

"I'll have some men explore Lake George and look for evidence," said Kefauver.

The men all shook hands, understanding their various assignments.

They were interrupted by a knocking outside.

"Hey guys," said Stoz," can I come into my office now?"

"No," said the five.

"Okay," said Stoz, weekly, before meekly walking away from the door to his office.
-
"Yes Crystal," said Dennis as he watched his little pony munch out of it's trough, " all that grain is gonna make you big and strong." He continued to stroke the not-so-little pony's snow-white muzzle.

"Uh, excuse me," said a Southern sounding voice.

Dennis turned around, and saw a tall gentleman. He was wearing a white suit, a red cowboy hat, brown leather cowboy boots, bolo tie, and had a tan bare faced.

"I'm sorry," said Dennis embarrassed ," I don't do it often, I just get attached to this pony..."

"Son," he continued in his Texan drawl," back home in Bandera on my uncle's farm, I treated his horse's like brothas. No man can be a real man unless he show's affection for the animal he loves. I'm sorry I intruded on you, your daughters let m'in."

"Daughter's," said Dennis ,"no they're my guests for the summer. I run a bed and breakfast out of this farmhouse.My name is Dennis Sadnik by the way."

"Well," Mr. Sadnik, he said jovially, shaking his " it's nice to meet a fella trailblazing antrapenuur. Stanford Kell."

"Wait a minute," said Dennis, "the Stanford Kell. Of Kell Computers."

"Founder, and president," said Kell ," and new neighbor."

"You bought Radley's farmhouse," asked Dennis, "that place has been vacant since 1980. How come you decided to buy."

"Well the land was cheap," said Kell, "and I felt a change of scenery would be good for my two daughters."

"Daddy," said a sweet little voice," can I come in."

"Come on in baby," said Kell.

A little girl wearing a small white T-shirt that said "Texas 4 Ever" in big blue letters and purple pants waddled in. She was also had pigtails made out of her blond hair.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Kelly meet my daughter Polly. She walked up to Dennis.

"Nice to meet you Polly," said Dennis in a soft voice as he crouched down down to shake this girls hand.

The little girl just stared at Dennis with a stoic expression. "You're bald," she said.

Dennis' jaw dropped.

"Polly," said Kell in a scolding but affectionate tone, "you know better than to talk to your new neighbor like that."

"Sorry," she said her lips pouting.

"It's okay," said Dennis rubbing Polly's head ,"it happens."

"Ooh, a pony," said Polly as she saw Crystal. "Can I play with her, daddy?

"I don't know," said Dennis ,"ponies aren't toys, they get scared easily."

"But Mr. Sadnik.."

"No Polly," said Kell, "you heard Mr. Sadnik. Go help your sister unpack."

"You know Kelly, I have go downtown," said Sadnik, unable to bare such as sad child's voice ,"but when I get back, you can ride on Crystal while I watch so you stay safe."

"Can I daddy,"

"Yes, just go help your sister unpack."

"Yay," said Polly running out of the room.

"Let's go get a drink downtown," said Kell

"Sure," said Sadnik," I know a place."
-

Shores of Lake Ontario

A dark figure stood there, watching the sky holding a strange set of binoculars. On the side of them was inscribed a logo entitled Dasher Pinow. The object beeped and figure smiled.

"Yes," said the oddly feminine voice ," I found you at last. Your power will be mine." She laughed.

New Neighbors (Part 2)

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There are at least three things, that no matter who you are, that WILL draw your attention; a model plane flying through the air, a beautiful rainbow in the sky or...

"Wow," said somebody in the street ," a limo." The patrons in the Frosty Spring all stared as the 20 ft long symbol of affluence parked in front of the bar. They crowded around the glass windows as the doors to the limo opened, revealing who existed behind the darkened doors of that chariot. Nothing could prepare them for who got out.

"Your gonna love this place," said Dennis to Kell as they came in through the door, "the guys here are very-," he paused seeing everyone stare at him.

"Everybody," said a tall, thin, guy, standing on a table, "to mi amigo, Dennis, and his hotel chain, let it forever shine, so he can always buy us all a shot," than he started laughing, as did everyone in the bar, giving Dennis and Mr. Kell a mocking toast.

"Ha ha," Dennis said sarcastically to the man, who wore a grey button-up shirt with jeans ," get off the table Jorge, people gotta eat off of that." He turned toward Mr. Kell ,"Stanford, this is my friend Jorge Mendoza."

"It's a pleasure Mr. Mendoza," said Mr. Kell ,"what business do you participate in."

"I work in accounting," said Jorge ," like my friend Dennis."

"Well," said Kell ," for a man of your background, that's a very great profession."

"Background," asked Jorge.

"What I meant was," said Kell catching himself ," is that accounting is an excellent field to be in." He let go of Jorge's hand and turned toward Sadnik. "Mr. Sadnik you didn't tell me you worked in accounting, I thought you were in hospitality?"

"Well," said Dennis ,"I am an accountant, but without my two guests, my house is pretty empty, so I figure, why not rent out a few rooms to the visitors of Saratoga County."

"Ah," said Kell, "well let's not stand here, I'm thirsty." The two walked over to the stools.

"Well, well, well," said the man in the stool next to him ," if it isn't the new big shot." The pair of new neighbors turned over their heads, and saw a man frowning at them.

"Stan," said Dennis, seeing the two shake their hands," John Uhlenbeck, owner of the Knickerbocker Inn."

"Competition," asked Stanford.

"Don't worry," said John grinning," I only blow out the tires of his car on Wednesday. Today is Saturday, when I soil his kitchen."

"Oh yeah," said Dennis beaming ,"I gotta get that tank of gas for your fire place, you know just throw it right in, and boom goes your house," he started laughing as did John, while Kell could only smile in confusion. Soon Zack in his beaming orange apron approached the counter.

"Zack," said Dennis, "get us two Sam Adams dark." Zack just shook his head and put down two glasses

"I'd like a Coors," said Kell.

"Buddy," said Dennis, "your in New York, you'll drink Sam Adams."

"Fine," said Kell. The glasses filled up, churning with frosty dark beer. The two men picked up their glasses.

"A toast.-," said Dennis before seeing someone large and fat bolt up to them.

"Hey Rodger," said Dennis annoyed ,"this is-,"

"Stanford Kell, oh my god," said Rodger as he took Kell's hand, rather forcefully, "Who knew my great friend Dennis who be living next to the greatest computer man since Steve Jobs."

"Yeah," said John not even staring at Rodger,"if you're famous and coming to Saratoga County, Rodger will find you. He found Fiona Apple, Jerry Seinfeld," he put his hand on his forehead and said agonizingly, "George Pataki."

"Yeah I remember," said Jorge shake ," it took three policemen to pull him off of him. We had to convince them the gun was fake." Zack just shook his head.

"Yeah," said Kell who was smiling while trying to get his hand released from Rodger's rather forceful grip," So you've heard of me, Mr...?" he asked nervously.

" Gross, Rodger Gross.Who could ignore one of the richest-," Rodger was stopped by Dennis' response ,"No Rodger, don't,"

"But-," said Rodger, who let go of Kell's hand

"No," said John, not even looking at Rodger.

"But-,"

"Callate," said Jorge.

"But," Rodger started but was stopped by a glare from Zack.

"Now come on," said Kell sympathetically ,"he's a grown man who has every right to speak his mind as he sees fit."

"Thank you Mr. Kell," said Rodger.

"Es tu funeral," muttered Jorge.

"What?" asked Kell.

"Nada."

"Anyways," said Rodger ," I'm in the tire selling business. I sell tires to people across Saratoga County, and I say business is booming."

"Yes and in spite of your success," said Dennis, his elbows on the table, "You drive a truck that leaks more oil than Trans-Alaska Pipeline." Dennis chuckled, and was met with a glare from Rodger.

"Says the man who still drives some old Chevelle around," said Rodger.

"That car is for leisure," said Dennis defensively ," and you don't go around-,"

"Enough," said Kell ,'I'd like to hear Mr. Gross' idea."

"Thank you," said Rodger ,"at least somebody hear has manners."

"Says the man who devoured 4 funnel cakes in one bite at the fair," said John.

"Anyways," said Rodger, who was trying to steer the conversation away from his life ,"the tire business is pretty good, but it could do better, but all it needs is a little capital."

"Oh," said Kell, " a business loan. So what is your proposal?"

"Well, I've some studying," said Rodger ," and I learned that the Internet is an area of great growth potential for any retailer, as shown by the rise of Amazon.com. So I figure why not sell tires over the Information Super Highway. Gross Tires online I call it," said Rodger beaming.

"Wait a minute," said Kell ,"you mean you wanna sell tires over the Internet. As in deliver them to people's doorway?"

"Yes," Rodger

"And how do you intend to profit from this enterprise," continued Kell.

"Well," said Rodger ," Since Amazon.com does not sell tires over the Internet, I could be the first one to capture that ever growing market of online buyers who have no place to purchase a tire online."

"They can go to a store," said Kell.

"But the Internet is everything," said Rodger, "videos, games, shopping, news. In like twenty years, people will use the Internet for everything," he grabbed Kell by the shoulders, "They won't even get up to go to the bathroom. In the future we'll all be fat slobs sitting in a chair, doing everything from it."

"Rodger's living proof," said Dennis, causing the rest of the group laugh.

"Shut up," Rodger told the group ," so purchasing a tire online doesn't seem far fetched."

"So your saying I'd have to fund a project for about two decades, hoping that the ROUTINE, of'a entire nation changes for this to work. How much would this cost me," asked Kell, narrowing his eyes.

"About 350 million dollars," said Rodger, stoically.

"We'll," Kell said, suppressing a chuckle ," I would need a copy of your business propos-sol."

"Okay," said Rodger clasping his hands together, "when do you need it by."

"Oh whenever," said Kell still stifling his laughter ,"j-just m-ail it to me."

" Can I go get it right now," asked Rodger, ignorantly joyful.

"No," said Kell, who was grinning, "mail it to me, right now I want to c-celebrate with my new neighbor."

"Alright," said Rodger, "well time to get back to my store." He got up from his stool and walked away. After the ringing of the front door, Kell let out an uproarious laughter. He laughed harder than any drunk at a comedy club. Tears fell on his bloated face as he fell to the floor.

"Is that guy for r-r-real," said Kell.

"Yeah," said Dennis annoyed, " but after a while it's not even remotely funny, his behavior get's annoying."

"Common Dennis," said John ," he's ridiculous but he is not a total idiot. Remember what he said about Enron."

"Oh yeah," said Jorge ," that has been one hell of a ride."

"Everybody knows the value of Enron," said Dennis ,"even Rodger would. A monkey could tell you to invest in Enron."

"I agree," said Kell ,"any man know the value of such an enterprise. I myself have met Ken Lay."

"You know Ken Lay," asked John.

"I golf with Kenny," said Kell.

"What's he like" asked Jorge.

"A very reliable man," said Kell ,"very kind. One hell of a genius. He's made money in ways most people can't imagine."

"Yeah," said Dennis ,"at least Rodger's smart enough to understand that."

"Come on," said Kell, raising his glass "Let's stop talking about business, you still owe me a toast!"

"Okay," said Dennis, raising his glass, "a toast to my new neighbor, Kell. United will shall overcome weeds, Jehovah's witnesses, and children throwing eggs at us!" They clacked their glasses and took a drink. Everybody cheered.
-

"But," said Lyra, who was sitting in her chair.

"I said no Lyra," said Bonnie.

"But-,"

"We can't risk it. We already have that to deal with "fireworks" show, so right now we need to lay low," said Bonnie.

"But we are just meeting-,"

"No, I have to keep an eye out for you," said Bonnie forcefully. "I'm going to take a shower, and when I get back you better not be over there. I'm just trying to protect you. Remember when you got drunk, you almost blew. It only shows how much you need someone to watch out for you."

"But,but-," continued Lyra, but Bonnie walked up the stairs, ignoring her. Lyra just sat in her chair, mulling over some words that an old man had mentioned to him.

Cause it seems you let her run your life a little. You are grown up, y'know, and you shouldn't always have your friends running your life.

Lyra frowned.

I mean you shouldn't have to ask anyone's permission to visit someone.

Lyra frowned harder

Look inside yourself and ask ,'am I in control of my life?'

Lyra thought for a minute. She rose from her chair, grabbed her astronomy journal, and ran out the door.
I am in control of my life, she thought to herself. The slamming of the door was not heard over the sound of the shower.
-
In front of the old Radley farmhouse was a truck, and a pile of boxes, stacked about ten feet high in a pyramid. On the middle level of period sat a girl in her her late teens. Her hair was died blue down the middle. She wore a dark purple mini skirt, and a white sleeveless vest, with a cell phone on her shoulders, and wore pink sandals on her feet. She just sat with her left leg crossed over her left, and was just filling her nails.

"Yeah, it's real boring," said the girl into the phone ,"just trees, all trees. Real lame."

"Ann," said a tired voice. Sarah just stared at her nails which she continued to file. "Ann." The voice came from a man wearing a black button vest, black pants, and a white shirt underneath the vest. He had bald head and a wrinkled face. He was currently dragging a box a foot taller than he was. "Miss Ann I really could use your help," he said with a British accent.

"Later George," said Ann, who continued to admire her nails with a gloomy eye. "Sorry," she said into her phone, "it's just my butler."

"Miss Polly," said George ," could you please help me with the boxes."

"I am," said Polly who was carrying a small box marked "TOYS" in red crayon," I gotta get Ms. Doll and her friends to their new room. I'll be back." The little girl walked into the house.

"Where are the men from the moving company," asked George tired.

"Oh they went on their lunch break," said Ann, now staring at her other hand.

"It's 10 o'clock," said George looking at his watch

"Yeah," said Ann, "well we all got to eat."

"Yes," said George gritting his teeth ,"only in America can buggers get paid."

Lyra walked up the hill an observed the scene. She walked over to the struggling butler.

"Hi," said Lyra happily as she extended her hand, "I'm Lyra Hart, I'm staying at the farmhouse down the hill for a few weeks." The butler let go of the package and extended his hand.

"George Dasurvur," said George," I'm staying here for life." He noticed Lyra slowly chuckling. "My are you depressed," he said deadpan.

"I'm sorry," she said, "where did you get such a cool voice. I've never heard anything like it."

"Practice," he said in that same baritone voice. Lyra only laughed harder.

"You should be in comedy," said Lyra.

"I would," said George, "but I afraid my agent has gone on holiday for six decades."

She just chuckled some more.

"Where are you from," asked Lyra.

"I'm from London," said George ,"It's just outside of England." Lyra just stared at her. "I guess I can't always get a good laugh."

"Do you need help with theses boxes," asked Lyra.

"Well actually.."

"Hay who's that," asked Lyra, who started walking over to Ann.

"Miss Lyra, you said, you we're going to.." George said holding out his hand, but dropped it as Lyra walked over to Ann,"dumb bint," he muttered angrily to himself.

Lyra walked over to the girl, who was currently chatting on her phone.

"Hi," said Lyra, extending her hand, "I'm Lyra." A silence hung over the air, as only the sound of a file on nails was heard, as well as some groaning caused by heavy lifting.

"I said," said Lyra, forcing a smile ," I'm Lyra." Ann continued to look down at her nails. A ring broke her out of her concentration, as well as causing Lyra to jump. She opened it and answered.

"Oh hey Darcy," said Ann into her phone. " Oh man that is lame."

"Oh my gosh," said Lyra yanking the phone away from Ann, "this is one of those handheld devices that allow communication over long distance. I think their called um, c-cell-,"

"Cell phones," said Ann risen from atop her box, "give it back!"

"Cell phones," said Lyra ,"but what kind of cells?" She later put her mouth up to the mouthpiece. "Hello mysterious," she said into the mouthpiece ,"I'm talking to you with a cell phone! This is really-," she was stopped when Ann pulled the cell phone away from Lyra.

"Sorry," said Ann, nervously ,"I don't know who that was." She paused. "Just let me call you back she said," hanging up the phone. "What's your problem" asked Ann, glaring at Lyra.

"What," asked Lyra.

"You know it's rude to bother someone while their talking," said Ann, crossing her arms ," let alone yank it out of their hands, idiot."

"It's also rude to call people idiots," said Lyra, crossing her arms, "I'm just trying to say hello."

"Well now I say goodbye," said Ann, who began walking toward the house.

"Miss Ann," said George happily, "I see you came to help me unload these boxes."

"Well-," said Ann stoically, before Lyra ran right in front of her.

"Wow," said Lyra, "so that's your name. Ann, small name."

"Could you go away," said Ann.

"Why, we just met," said Lyra saddened.

"I have to help George and Polly unload," said Ann.

"Really," asked George smiling.

"I help you unpack too," said Lyra.

"That would be so helpful," said George.

"Actually, I have to go meet a friend," said Ann, who began walking away.

"Can I come too," said Lyra, who started to leap after her.

"But I thought one of you was gonna help me," said George in a sad voice.

"No, it's more of a friend thing," said Ann turning toward her.

"But we are friends," said Lyra.

"Can't you take a hint that I don't want to be your friend," said Ann, grinding her teeth.

"I haven't gotten any hints, it's just you seem to wanna spend time with your friend in town," said Lyra quietly.

"I don't have any friend in town, I made that up," said Ann.

"You lied," said Lyra, "it's really bad to lie, you know."

"It's also really bad to annoy someone when it's clear they don't want anything to do with you," said Ann ," I mean you yanked the phone right out of my hand."

"Well you didn't seem to want to know me phone or no phone," said Lyra ," besides, I think your pretty cool with that cell thing."

"Oh please, my dad could by me ten of those," said Ann.

"Ten or ten million," said Lyra, "I think it's pretty cool you have one of those. I mean your likely to grow up in such an age with technology where you can still be with your friends, even when your not there." Ann thought for a minute, and seemed to drop her anger.

"Yeah," said Ann," I never thought of it that way." She shrugged." Fine, my name is Ann Kell, and I guess I'll be staying here for a while."

"I'm staying over at the Upstate Inn for a few weeks," said Lyra.

"Wow," said Ann disinterested ," I guess you'll be getting out of here sooner than me. Lucky."

"What," said Lyra, incredulously ," how could you not like it here. It's so beautiful."

"It's boring," said Lyra, "they certainly call it Greenfield for a reason."

"But Saratoga Springs is such a nice place, they've got-,"

"I don't care," said Ann.

"But-," Lyra was stopped by a hand shoved in front of her.

"I just,"said Lyra, before turning around, "fine, see you around," she said in a sad voice, and walked away like somebody who fought in a terrible way. Ann took notice, and sighed.

"Fine," said Ann ," you can tell me all about it, but you have to help me unload the boxes while doing it."

"Okay," said Lyra happily," I'll be right back."

"George," said Lyra, "get me a box."

"Really," said George, shocked and humbled by such a gesture, he began to tear up.

"George, are you alright," she asked, bending down.

"This is the happiest day of my life," said George crying tears of joy. He just knelt into the ground and began praying uproariously.

Lyra just stood there, dumbfounded, before deciding to pick up the first box. She walked past Ann, and began to talk about Saratoga Springs.

"The first great thing about Saratoga Springs," said Lyra, "is that it has trees, nice people,"

"Carry that inside," said Ann, pointing to the house with her nail file.

"Right," said Lyra, and began walking toward the house carrying her package, while Ann sat on the big box, filling her nails, and smiling a little, ignoring her butler dancing for joy.
-

The two new neighbors drove home, sitting in the limo. They had just celebrated their new found friendship with booze, cheer, and a portion of their liver. They sat in the backseat, chatting on."

"How's the otel buin'ness treating you," said Kell, who seemed a little dizzy.

"Just fine," said Dennis, who began chuckling ," got two guests, each of them staying on my daughter's room," he continued to laugh.

"Yeah, we're are your daughter's anyway?" asked Kell after breaking out of his drink induced euphoria.

"Oh gone, away somewhere," said Dennis shaking, and smiling ," moving on with there lives," he chuckled. "Like my son.They all move on leave ya," he said with a strange smile on his face.

"Wife?"

"Gone to that place upstairs," said Dennis, snickering, like the kind you get when you learn that your company is bankrupt, the kind of snickering that usually precedes something harsher.

"My first wife," Kell said, sadly, "she up and gone too. Not to heaven, no. She just said "I can stand it. I can't control my life." So she up and leaves you. Moved on like you said," said Kell ," only she leaves you with the young one."

Dennis stopped snickering ,"Molly," he said, dazed.

"No my elder one," said Kell, "Ann, named after her grandma. I remarried and met a new wife. Ruth."

"Nice name," said Dennis, is voice down to a whisper.

"She's Polly's mom. She's still in Houston, sorting out our affairs. Wonderful woman, I just wish Ann could see that. Getting into all kinds of fights. That's why I moved up here, thinking she would you know..."

"Move on?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe I haven't moved on," said Dennis his voice barely above a whisper," You found someone you love, your Ann is still a girl." He swallowed. "I-I'm the one who needs to move on. I still have Crystal. But how could she replace," he stopped lips quivering, "how could I move on from Lind.." he paused, feeling tears flow down his cheeks. Kell noticed this and picked up the car phone.

"Roy," said Kell, "Roy, pull over for a few minutes, my friend needs to get put himself in order." The driver though he couldn't turn around, needing to watch the road, held his thumb up in the air, and pulled over to grassy field. The car sat there for a minute, as Dennis let out a sadness he hadn't felt in a while, his tears moistening the leather seats, while his new friend pat his shoulder, telling him to let it out.
-

Bonnie walked down the stairs, wearing daisy dukes and a grey t-shirt, drying her blond hair, and her mouth open, letting out the silent moan of pleasure.

"Best thirty minute shower ever," said, still luxuriously drying her head. She began walking down the stairs. "Lyra," she said happily, "I know we couldn't go visit Sadnik's new neighbors, but we still can do some fun stuff before returning to the project. We can go visit that cafe, and get that pie you like, what's called, "lemon meringue," and we can try that bowling thing," she continued before she saw the and found the room empty. "Lyra?" Bonnie asked aloud, before the realization his her. She gritted her teeth, "new neighbors!She'll blow everything" And then ran out the door, annoyed.
-

"And another great thing about Saratoga Springs, is that the first guy to found it also opened up a hotel, so since it's early history, people have always wanted to come and see it," Lyra continued, with her well gathered research of Saratoga Springs, still somehow carrying heavy package after heavy package," and his name was Gideon Putnam. Oh and the Battle of Saratoga was never fought in the town per say-," she stopped as she saw a limo pull up next to them. And saw Mr. Kell step out, slightly disoriented but still normal.

"Hello there, Ms..." asked Kell.

"Lyra Hart," said Lyra, "I'm a guest at Mr. Sadnik's hotel. Is he in there?"

"Yes," said Kell, "but he's a little drunk, but I was hoping he could meet my family, who I think you've already met," he said peering toward his bedraggled butler, and his nails-obsessed daughter, sitting on one of the boxes, behind a half vanished pyramid. And his youngest daughter, Polly, who ran out of the house, arms open, screaming "Daddy!"

"Baby doll," said Kell picking up that bullet of joy," how has packing been going?"

"Great," she said, as he put her down. "Lyra helped me and George put the boxes in the house. Ann didn't."

"Oh really," said Kell, walking over to his daughter," a hotel guest is willing to help me move, but mah own daughtah won't," he said getting into his daughter's face.

"I didn't force her," Ann said without looking her father in the face," she volunteered."

"Yep," said Lyra ," she agreed to listen to me and convince her why Saratoga Springs is a cool place."

"And what did you learn," asked Kell.

"I learned that it had a population of 24, 691 in 1990," said Ann, speaking in the automated voice of an answering machine, bulging her eyes, and shaking her head," and that it's area is 28-,"

"29, interrupted Lyra.

"29 SQUARE MILES! Need I say more."

"No just get yo' butt off the box and get it into the house. I expect you to be doing this, not some girl you just met." Ann just grunted, and pulled it in. The box revealed a label: "ARMCHAIR," as she continued to groan, using the gurney to carry the box in.

"Really Lyra, I appreciate what you did," said Kell, tipping his hat. "Let me recompense you," he said pulling out his wallet.

"No," said Lyra shaking her hand," it's fine really, I was just glad to help." She saw Kell extend his hand and reached out to grab it.

"Fine young lady," said Kell ,"we could use a few around here," he said looking toward the house.

"Lyra, there you are," said Bonnie, who was racing up the hill. "I'm sorry she bothered you sir," Bonnie said to Kell, smiling nervously, "I always gotta keep an eye on her." Bonnie began to tug on Lyra's arm.

"Bothered me," said asked Kell ," you must be her roommate, I assure you..."

"We really need to go," said Bonnie, tugging harder on Lyra's arm," let's go."

"Your pulling me," said Lyra, getting slightly annoyed.

"Let's go," said Bonnie.

"Daddy I want to play with Crystal," said Polly, looking up at Kell, "you said I could when you got back."

"I know but Mr. Sadnik got a little sick, and the juice won't kick in for another three hours."

"But daddy-,"

"Look, it's 11:30 now. At 2:30, a promise to take you over once Mr. Sadnik recovers. Until then you can play with Chester."

"But Chester is too BIG," said Polly, "you said I can't ride him."

"If you don't wait, you can't ride her," said Kell, sternly.

"Okay," said Crystal, quietly.

"Chester," asked Bonnie. They saw a silver coated trailer pull in. Through the grill they saw what looked like an enormous grey stallion in the window. His eyes peered out, looking at everyone outside. Lyra couldn't help but stare.

"Yep," he said, "one heck of a stallion. Been in my family for eleven years. He's grown quite a lot since I found him a tiny colt."

"Yeah," said Bonnie,"we really need to go," she continued, tugging on Lyra's shirt.

"Bonnie," said Lyra, "that stallion-,"

"Yes, Lyra," said Bonnie, "he's cute. now let's go."

"But something about him felt wei-,"

"Goodbye Mr. Kell," said Bonnie, pulling Lyra away by her shirt. Kell could only look in astonishment.

"What was that about," he asked, rubbing his head. Then he remembered the inebriated man lying in his car. "George," he screamed.

"Yes Master Stanford," said George, lugging a box of vases on his back. "I'm gonna drop off Sadnik at home. Just keep packing."

"Yes sir, " he said wearily. He continued to load, while Stanford and Roy decided to drop off drunk Dennis at home. All the while, no once noticed Chester, who's eyes seemed focus on the two girls who were walking away from them. A focus not common for horses.

Unturning the stones

View Online

DeGraff Memorial Hospital, North Tonawanda, NY, 2 p.m.
The waiting room in DeGraff was quite crowded. The room had a white tan floor, dozens of wooden chairs, and glass windows on the front. The people standing up were doctors and nurses who we're either communicating with each other, or were moving patients around the building. The dozens of chairs were filled with either patients or friends or relatives of patients waiting. In the middle of the front third row sat Agent Kefauver. His tan wrinkled face was contorted into a frown, which indicated either being in great thought, or being visibly annoyed by the bawling woman in the seat next to his.
"He's so young," said the shrieking lady. She was rather overweight wearing a sickly yellow dress, her pale pudgy face covered in freckles, her red hair tied into a beehive shape. Her crying ceased for the moment, allowing Kefauver to rest his head, only to hear another wail. "My little Billy. I'm so scared, I don't think he'll make it," she said, grabbing Kefauver's arm, and leaning into his shoulder, allowing her fresh tears to fall on his dark suit
.
"I know.. you are worried about your son," said Kefauver with clenched teeth, with a hiss. He wasn't even looking at the woman, but was staring straight ahead, his eyes we're bulging out of some kind of rage, "but as I've said before, ten times, tonsillectomy is very survivable. Stop worrying about your son, for his sake, and yours." The woman stopped crying, and let go of Agent Kefauver. He decided to take a breath of relief and rested back into his chair, pulling his arms back, and resting his head on his hands.

"Yes," said the woman, wiping her nose," Billy, will be fine. He'll be strong like his father. Walter." She smiling, which crinkling broke into a quivering frown." Ow how I miss him," she screamed, wailing once again. She grabbed Kefauver's arm, and leaned into it, once again moistening his suit. He broke into another frown again, before rising up from the chair, freeing his arm away from the grip of the tragic lady, before walking away.

Kefauver walked over into another empty chair three rows back. He cared little for where he sat went into the bench. As he returned to his relaxing position, he felt something hard and wet impact right side of his forehead. He slowly wiped his forehead, and saw the remnants of a spitball on his palm. He wiped them on the side of his pants where no one would notice it. Kefauver looked to his right and saw a boy of about nine sitting next to him. He wore a white shirt with blue stripes, blue overalls, and had a red cap on his face. He was red headed with large freckles. He held his hands together while he stared straight up in the air, an impish smirk on his face. Kefauver saw the face of a guilty soul, and leaned his head into the boy.

"Son did you hit me with a spitball," said Kefauver, a wide grin on his face.

"What are you talking about," said the boy with soft, innocent voice," I didn't hit anybody."

"Okay," said Kefauver with a reassuring tone," I believe you. I'm just saying, you know, as an FBI agent, " the boy looked at the FBI agent in horror, " I'm saying that if you lied to the FBI, you could end up in prison. Just a lesson, you know" he waved his hand, "you seem like an honest kid." The boy gasped, and got out of his chair and fled.

"Get them every time," said Kefauver smiling. He rested for a few minutes, but turned around and saw Carl and Larry walking with a man in white coat in between them. He was Oriental, maybe six inches shorter than the two of them, wore white khaki's, black rimmed glasses, and a thin crop of dark hair. He was carrying a white box. Something concerned him, why hadn't they called him first before bringing him the scanner,

"Agent Kefauver," said Carl," we knew we had to talk to you about this but it-"

"Do you realize," said Kefauver with clinched teeth ", you are bringing a secret government project into a large crowd."

"Look," said Larry ," these people are sick or dying, they won't notice some box."

"Cool," said a young optimistic voice, grabbing the scanner, "these must be the binocular's I saw in the Highlight's issue. Can I-," the red cap boy looked up and saw a tough FBI staring down at him. holding his hand out with a stink eye. The boy returned the scanner, and ran away.

"What the hell was that all about," asked Carl. watching a scared boy run away.

"What the hell was so important you had to bring a top secret prototype down here," asked Kefauver annoyed, as the men moved into a crowded corner.

"That was my fault Agent," said the man in the white coat, extending his arm " I'm Dr. Herman Hoshasen, Director of R&D at Dasher Pinow." Agent Kefauver relaxed a little to shake the Dr's hand.

"Nice to meet you doctor," he said," I've always wanted to go Japan."

"Me too, Agent, I'm from Boston," said Dr. Hoshasen, smiling.

"Oh I'm sorry," said Kefauver," I didn't-,"

"It's fine," said Hoshasen," stereotypes don't to bother me. I'm from Boston. To make up we should go get some CHOW-DAH." The group of four cracked up, even Kefauver. The group calmed down.

"Tell me doc," said Kefauver, his face serious, "why did you bring this device down here," he stared down at the replica of the scanner.

"Well," said Dr. Hoshasen tapping on his glasses ,"when I saw that display last night, I was shocked just like everybody. I was so keen on studying it, I was already building a similar replica when-,"

"Get to the point-," said Kefauver annoyed, "I don't wanna hear long winded explanations, it wastes literary space."

"I tested the device out a half hour ago," said Hoshasen ," it works almost as well as the other device, but because of the lack of radio-oscillator, it only works at a fraction of the distance of the original, which isn't bad since the original goes for millions of light years, and Earth's distance-,"

"Get on with it," screamed Kefauver, "before a kick your ass back to MIT."

"Okay," said Hoshasen, who narrowed his eyes," for the record I went to Cal Tech," he said angered, "I scanned the sky, and found some traces of that mysterious radiation in the air near Lake George-,"

"Okay we confirmed what happened," said Kefauver ," now what-,"

"Will you let me finish," said Dr. Hoshasen, "I know to you I'm some Asian nerd, but what I say does matter. I found that stuff over Lake George, but I found a similar trace of it in the warehouse-," Jim dropped his annoyed face, "and I that same trace in this hospital," Kefauver looked at the doors leading into the emergency room.

"Yeah," said Larry, whispering "we were shocked too. This radiation isn't anything like we've seen in the history of the electromagnetic spectrum." He held up a white tube with a cube of foam at the head," we were able to absorb it with our Radio-Measure. We gave some to our lab to study. Also we haven't picked up on original scanner."

"Well what is," asked Kefauver.

"All we know is that this stuff," said Carl, looking around, whispering, and handing Kefauver," is that stuff is not from Earth," Kefauver put it on, detecting five green blobs, "and that the men guarding the warehouse we're exposed to it." Kefauver handed Dr. Hoshasen and began walking over to the hospital rooms, in the corridor to the left, but stopped when he saw Officer Curtis and Tom step outside.

"Agent," said Tom, looking tired," all five of those men except for one woke up, and gave us testimony, we also tested them for the fingerprints we found at the warehouse

"That's great," said Kefauver," so who is the prime suspect." The officers stared at him dead-eyed. "Well."

"Well," said Curtis, delirious ," t-truth is, we know as much as you do." Kefauver stared at them briefly confused. The two cops looked at each other, before looking back.

"Sit down, Kefauver," said Tom, "we've got a long story to tell you."
-
"Easy girl," said Dennis, as tried to make Crystal go slowly with the little girl on top. Polly was allowed after an hour to go to Dennis' house and ride the horse. The sight of the little girl on top of a horse with a tiny blue helmet on her head would have been put onto the first page of any family photo album. He was glad Kell's cure worked on his hangover in a few hours. He wonders why he couldn't market that stuff in stead of computer software. He certainly had the appearance of a snake oil salesman. Must have been one of those family remedies that are ruined by commercializing them.

"Like Pepperidge Farm," Dennis thought to himself.

"Now Polly," he said, "pull on the reins for her to go right, but don't pull too hard," he held out his hands, since he was nervous about a little girl riding his pony no matter how little she was.

"Okay," said Polly, "Giddy up," she said, pulling on the reins. Crystal whinnied, causing Dennis to panic, until Molly just turned right while trotting around. After a few minutes, Dennis relaxed, and sat in his chair, since Molly seemed like a natural.

"Man," thought Dennis ,"She and Crystal are like a match, just like Sarah, when she first-", he stopped his thoughts, looked down, and took and breath.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Polly. Dennis broke out of his daze. "Mr. Sadnik I'm tired," she said groaning and leaning her head Crystal's neck. "Can I go down" she said.

"Sure Sar-Polly," he said hastily, and pulled the fatigued young girl off of her, "you've been at this for an hour now. You could use a great rest," he said quietly. He then walked over his young horse and began leading her back into the stable. "Good job Crystal," said Dennis, "your a fair opponent," he said, his voice getting louder and theatrical ," I powerful beast that will know when it's conquered! A-," he stopped when he saw Polly staring at him blankly.
"So what do you wanna do right now Polly," asked Dennis kneeling down, "your daddy is gonna be around in about ten minutes."

"I dunno," she said shrugging her shoulders.

"Do you wanna play checkers," asked Dennis.

"No."

"Do you wanna watch TV," asked Dennis, crouching down.

"No," said Polly.

"Do you wanna color," asked Dennis, smiling.

"No,"

"What do you wanna do," asked Dennis, chuckling.

"I dunno," she said sitting down.

"Do you wanna just sit here and wait," asked Dennis.

"No," she said, standing up. The grin she was making was both adorable and frustrating. Dennis heard a groan, as he heard two footsteps march into the farm. One of them was a really annoyed looking girl. Dennis took notice.

"Lyra." asked Dennis ," are you okay?" Lyra said nothing and sat one of those cubes of hay, her hands on her cheeks.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I just wanna be away from Bon-Bon write now," said Lyra.

"I'm sorry your sad," said Polly, walking up to Lyra, "but we gotta turn that frown upside down."

"Yeah," said Lyra not noticing the little girl.

"C'mon," said Polly, " I get into fights with Ann all the time, but we always make up. Well Daddy tells us to stop, but when its all over we go back to being...okay with each other. In the end we all forget what happened."

"Yeah," said Lyra, lifting her head out of her hands ," yes it is." She looked at the little girl and patted her on the hat. "Who could be mad when your around." She turned her head toward the horse. "Oh hey C-rystal," she said, and the horse just nodded at her. She walked up to the horse and patted it. To Dennis' shock, it appeared to him that Crystal was staggering around the barn, as if trying to lift a hoof to pet Lyra.

"What's gotten into you girl," asked Dennis walking over to the stable.

"Does Crystal have to take a dump," asked Polly. Dennis looked at Polly in shock.

"Polly where did you learn that language," asked Dennis.

"Ann taught me," said Polly, "since Daddy does it when he goes to the bathroom."

"Right," said Dennis ,"say, Polly, let's go take short walk.

"No."

"You wanna get some ice cream," Lyra said to Polly, her mood uplifted.

"Sure," said Polly, sweetly.

"C'mon," she said.

"Would you hold my hand," asked Polly.

"No," said Lyra.

"Why not," asked Polly.

"Well," said Lyra, breathing out, "sometimes when you let someone hold your hand for too long, it will be hard to let go," she said turning away ," or worse yet they will pull your arm toward you, and make you go where you want to go," she gritted her teeth.

"Why would I hate that," asked Polly, staring up at Lyra ,"I like going places with Daddy." Lyra just stared at her, unable to explain.

"I'll explain a little later," said Lyra, unable to respond ,"let's get some ice cream."

"Yes," said Polly, who ran outside the barn with Lyra, explicitly NOT holding Polly's hand. Dennis took no notice of this, and began grumbling.

"Not only does Crystal like her, but children seem to like her more," stewed Dennis ,"and now she is giving her my ice cream." Dennis thought, than took a breath. "Man I can sound like such a child sometimes."
-
"I don't understand it," said Kefauver. He, Hoshasen, Carl and Larry, and officers Tom and Curtis we're sitting in one of the hospital office rooms that wasn't being used . It was a good place to have a makeshift office: a large round table, a fax machine, and since it was a hospital, it was full of interns who aren't payed enough to care what is going on. "Please run that buy me again."

"We have," said Officer Tom, with a raspy. His face was riddle with sweat, he took of his police shirt due to the heat, and he looked positively jaded. Officer Tom was also very frazzled, but in less terrible shape. "I spent hours talking to these guys, and I've spent hours talking to you, Doctor Who, and you two. Why aren't you at work?"

"Because," said Larry, who was calmly enjoying a sirloin stake ," we are very concerned about this project, since it is going to NASA."

"Why don't you send someone else," said Tom, who was sitting down, leaning his face against the table.

"Because," said Carl enjoying a business," we have other people do work for us. That is what success is: have others do your labor so you can come out on top. We we're students of Mr. Kensworth when he taught at Stony Brook."

"Actually," said Tom, rising from his chair," that makes great sense, Curtis, you explain what's going on, while I sit in a chair and watch." Tom laid back into the chair, and put his feet on the table, while Curtis just glared at him. He shrugged.

"Okay," said Curtis, "I'll try to explain it better than fellow, more experienced officer who sets an excellent example for conduct," he said turning toward Tom. " I spoke to all five of the guys who woke up," he shook his head in frustration ,"but this is where it gets interesting!"

"We spoke to the AV guys first. Mr. Roth and Mr. Wetts. We put them in the same room since they we're working together, and when they told us both what happened. When Roth woke up, the nurse told me had tie him down with leather straps to keep him from beating Wetts. When Wetts woke up, he says he went up to check on his personal friend Roth, only to be greeted with words I can't repeat in front live studio audience. According to Roth, Wetts smashed him in the back of the head with a bat."

"What's so weird about that," asked Kefauver flexing his eyebrow.

"Well Mr. Wetts denied doing anything of the sort-,"

"Well of course somebody would deny something like this," said Kefauver, "few people want to go to jail willingly."

"I'm getting there," said Curtis, raising his voice, "When Jameson woke up, he wanted to kick the crap out of Roth, who apparently smashed his head with a bat."

"What," wondered Kefauver. Carl and Larry dropped his bat.

"Oh yeah," said Curtis shaking his head, "Jameson accused Roth of smashing his head."

"Well there you go," said Kefauver waving his hand, "Roth faked it."

"Let me finish," said Curtis," Mr. Roth was found unconscious at his work, with a bruised skull, so something hit him on the head."

"Maybe he made it u-,"

"Agent Kefauver, I need you to listen, lest I end up having the fate of the once proud officer Tom Kelly," he glared at Officer Tom." I need you patient because my patience is wearing thin." Carl and Larry chuckled, and said something about "patient, hospital" until they saw Officer Curtis glaring at them, and remembered he was carrying a gun and stopped.

"I doubt Mr. Roth injured himself- because the back of the head is very hard to injure by yourself."

"What did Wetts see," asked Kefauver.

"According to Wetts, he fell into a daze, he sat at his desk, and suddenly found his friend unconscious. He ran outside to the door to get help, when he saw Clark already at the door when he opened it. Wetts claimed that Clark came at him with a bat , and smashed his head, and also attacked the surveillance cameras in the AV room. And yes Mr. Wetts had maybe 2 blows to his forehead, according to the X-rays."

"What about Clark," asked Kefauver, who was unsure of what he was hearing.

"Clark is saying that he woke up in some daze and saw Roth and Wetts out cold on the floor, and a baseball bat to the side. He ran too the other guards screaming "Call 911," when Thompson shows up with a wrench, and belts him in the face with it, before losing conscious, after being hit on the head with a small object." Kefauver, Dr. Hoshasen, and Carl and Larry just starred. "I know, it's crazy. There were several lacerations on his face. Thompson was the only person found unconscious without a single injury on him."

"So there's your man," asked Kefauver.

"Well I spoke to Thompson at the hospital, and according to him, he woke up in a daze with anger toward Jameson. He apparently was looking around and just saw Mr. Clark unconscious. He ran to find Jameson, who told him in his words 'relax, drink this, relax' in some monotone. He handed him coffee, according to Thompson. Thompson drank the coffee, thanked Clark, and then tried to run to the AV room, when suddenly felt dizzy and lost consciousness."

"But the AV room was across the building to the entrance doors," said Larry ," were you said Mr. Thompson was found."

"I'm getting there," Curtis. "Jameson said he saw Roth walk out of the room kind of the daze, with a strange hue in his eye. He said he walked up to him, and told him "Danger," in a robot voice, and that his eyes we're absent of any kind of warmth or kindness, or danger even. He said "over there" and pointed over him. He looked and felt a big blow to his head and collapsed. A cinder block to the head, which was confirmed by X-rays, and bits of gravel found in Jameson's hair," he saw that Carl, Larry, and Dr. Hoshasen winced at this. Kefauver looked bored, not at the investigation, but a cinder block to the head.

"Evidence," asked Kefauver.

"Oh yeah," said Curtis, stressed out, rubbing the back of his head. "All the camera's were destroyed. But the evidence only makes things harder. On the bat found in the AV room, we found Mr. Wetts fingerprints,"

"Okay so we no-,"
"I said let me finish," said Curtis, "We found Mr. Thompson's finger prints on the ledge where the original Scanner was,"

"So-," said Kefauver, before he met Curtis Carter's glare.

"But according to the doctors, they pumped his stomach and found trace of a knockout agent, not to mention he was covered in coffee. We found clothing fibers on Jameson's hands."

"You mean he dragged Thompson across the room," asked Larry, "he could have touched his own robe."

"You'd think so," said Curtis ," but according to Mr. Guinness, Mr. Thompson wore a special hypoallergenic suit, which the medical records confirm, and thus the fibers on his suit would have been different from everyone else. Anyways, the bat found on the ground of the AV room was dented, and it had Mr. Wett's fingerprints on it. We found the wrench, and it did in fact have Mr. Thompson's fingerprints on it. We also found some of Mr. Roth's blood near the area where Mr. Clark was found. Another bat was found near the AV room, where Mr. Clark's fingerprints were found." The men gathered stood in silence at all this. One could have heard Carl and Larry's knives and forks hit the ground.

"I-I-I, understand know," said Kefauver quietly, "after being on the job for this long, I've never been more confused in my life. There is evidence to suggest that everyone was a suspect, but there is also evidence to suggest that everyone, is a victim."
"Yeah," said Curtis, eyes watering ,"I've been on the job for a couple of years, and I never thought I'd see this. People killing each other for a robbery, it's so low."

"Do you have anything against Guinness," asked Kefauver, strangely quiet.

"No," said Curtis, " none of the guards mentioned him being there at ten o'clock P.M. The punch clock shows that all the guards arrived for their night shift between 8:29 and 9 p.m. last night. None of them mentioned Guinness. When he put the call to 911 around 11:02 p.m. They arrived at 11:06 p.m. He had been working there 6 months, and every guard told him that he had been working none stop all ways arriving at 11 p.m. for the late night shift." He stopped to breath. "The worst part is that each of the guards is avoiding each other.Guinness told me they were good friends, but now they've beaten each other, and not only that, they curse out each other, because none of them was able to stop the robbery. They think they failed and are blaming each other," Larry and Carl looked at each other sadly, "and Guinness tells me their close. That poor kid. How could such a young kid deal with his friends distrusting each other," he let tears flow, and breathed, and felt Tom put his shoulder on him.

"Curtis these things can happen," said Tom tapping on Chris," 25 years in police work, stories of betrayal are common. By fellow officer, businessmen, friends. But we soldier on."

"He's right," said Kefauver smiling," I've worked for the FBI since the days of J. Edgar Hoover. You've been on the force for a couple of months. You'll learn to deal with these things." He frowned ,"But these kind words don't bring us any closer to catching who did this."

The door walked in, and Dr. Hoshasen entered holding the pseudo-scanner.

"Where were you," asked Kefauver, with a sharp edge.

"I decided to be practical, rather than be some nerd who gets orders from the police," said Hoshasen, " and scanned the five men."

"Why," asked Kefauver.

"Well," said Dr. Hoshasen ," I was interested in the radiation on the men and at the warehouse so I scanned them."

"You think their's a connection between this stuff, and those ," asked Kefauver. He stopped when he heard a fax machine release an paper. After many mechanical noises, the paper was released. Hoshasen ran to get at it but was blocked by Kefauver.

"I'm FBI," screamed Kefauver to Hoshasen, "I'll read this." He took a good long hard look at the document, turning it different ways. "You read it," he said to Hoshasen, shoving the paper into his chest. Hoshasen glared at him before reading the document.

"Unbelievable," said Hoshasen wide-eyed, "this is terrifying."

"What," asked Carl.

"I faxed images of the radiation to our lab," he said, "and according to him, the radiation showed similar patterns to normal neural oscillation.

"Really," asked Larry. A long paused followed. "What?"

"Brain waves," said Hoshasen ,"this radiation is so weak and so hard to detect because it follows the patterns of brain waves. I bet if you give those men a CAT scan, you'll fine the same neural disruptions."

"What," asked Kefauver.

"These men were brainwashed," said Hoshasen ," and this radiation caused it."

"That's ridiculous," said Kefauver, "brainwashing is a process that takes weeks even months to accomplish. I don't care what those CIAsses told you, there is no way to brainwash a person in a day. There are no such things as Manchurian candidates. I did a background check on those guards, half of them have military training during the era of the Cold War. They would have suspected if they were being brainwashed."

"Maybe," said Hoshasen, "but this machine was designed to detect unknown forms of radiation. Besides the men said they were in a daze, before getting to the hospital. This is foreign substance, whose properties are not well understood," he said looking through the machine, "they could do this kind of-Oh my god!"

"What," said Kefauver.

"The scanner is detecting a moving source of this green radiation," said Hoshasen, putting down the scanner.

"Where is it heading," he said.

"It's moving along I-90, just in front of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. And there's more."

"What," asked everyone who slowly surrounded Hoshasen.

"Another pinkish radiation has been found, similar to the one at yesterdays 4th of July," he pulled away from the scanner, "near Saratoga County."

Short intermission

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The intermission shall end at the next update!

A Night of Troubles

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Dennis had walked back into the house and just sat down watching TV, on some sort of news channel. He look like he didn't really care about what he was watching, some kind of news channel. He looked like he was relaxing, after a day of getting drunk, and teaching a little girl how to ride a pony. He heard the little girl, and his tenant were in the kitchen, their spoons clanking against the sides of the bowls that were to hold their precious ice cream. He couldn't help but smile at these sounds for they seemed to be reminiscent of two girls who would always have ice cream before their dinner was made. He than pushed the sound out of his mind, and just turned up the volume on the TV: "The army has decided than the death of Barry Winchell was in fact a crime motivated by hate..." he was distracted by the ring of the doorbell, and ran over to the front door. He opened it, revealing some old guy wearing a derby hat over his balding head, black pants, and some black vest, while holding a cane and slouching.

"Can I help you," asked Dennis, his arm keeping the door open.

"I am George Dasurvur," said George, "Master Kell's butler."

"You're British," asked Dennis.

George nodded," yes I am from London."

"Wow," laughed Dennis," a British butler, I haven't seen one of those, Stan must do pretty well to have one of you guys."

"Indeed," exclaimed George," we are in fact the ultimate status symbol. An American man owning a British man. How exquisite, and not only a British man bring you something, you can even play dress up with him," he said, his eyes squinting. Dennis grimaced at him.

Dennis sighed," Sorry, I didn't mean to see you as a prize." He paused, rubbing the back of his head. "You want some coffee, or- you never mind, you guys must enjoy some tea."

Dennis shrugged," as much as I would enjoy some of your celebration of my culture," Dennis felt the sarcasm of his statement, "I must return Miss Polly to the house."

"Come inside anyways," Dennis beckoned, waving his hand in the direction. "Polly, George is here to bring you back to your dad's house." He allowed George to come into the house, letting the door close. He saw the kitchen door open, revealing, a little girl with her face covered in white cream, and a girl who looked like she relaxed after a long day. Dennis looked toward Mr. Dasurvur, who seemed to have less of a blank expression on his face, and grinned a little when he saw Lyra.

"Hi Mr. Dasurvur," said Lyra, her spirits

"Hello Ms. Hart," muttered George in a strangely dramatic tone, "It is only by the good grace that I should again encounter your presence twice in one day," he removed hit hat and bowed.

Lyra chuckled, "you're being a little dramatic Mr. Dasurvur."

"As I have said before," replied George, standing up almost straight and putting the the hat back on his head, "I was in acting, a little after the War, but then my agent told me Peter Sellers had a better shot than me."

"Than what happened," asked Dennis.

"I told him, he should be, cause I certainly have him in my sights," he chuckled, but resumed his usual grimace when he saw nobody else laugh. Dennis waited til he stopped to ask him the question.

"You two already know each other," asked Dennis, turning his head from George to Lyra.

"Yes," said George, "This girl was kind enough to help me unload the lorry."

"Well that was nice of you Lyra," he said putting his hand on her shoulder, "you did alright helping our neigh-," he paused, as did Lyra, who just stared at him. He noticed his hand on the college student's appendage, and slowly pulled it off, and turned away from each other, blushing.

"Well, I shouldn't stay hear longer, Miss Polly," George shrilled," it's time to go-," George's eyes widened, seeing as Polly was no longer in sight, the group looked around, before seeing the little girl, lying on the couch, half asleep.

"Miss Polly," he said, tapping her cheek with his bony finger. She woke up, with a quiet squeak sound.

"Hi George," said Polly, "Lets go. By Mr. Sadnik," she said waving her hand.

"So long my friend," he said waving back.

"Miss Hart," George turned his head around as he walked toward the door, holding Molly's hand, " There is a serious clog in the drain, if you could come over, that would be exquisite," he said grinning.

Lyra covered her mouth, "Very funny, George."

"But really Ms. Hart, Master Kell did enjoy your company, and was ashamed you couldn't stay longer, but our friends are our friends, I suppose." George turned his head around, and walked outside the front door, with Polly holding her hand. Dennis and Lyra stood out on the porch watching them leave.

"So you went to their..house," Dennis said, stuttering.

"Yeah, I wanted to meet our," Lyra paused ,"I mean your new neighbors. "

"Why didn't you stay longer," asked Dennis, causing Lyra's once renewed face to seethe. "Did Bonnie tell you too?"

Lyra looked annoyed ,"Yeah. I'm sorry she made me-,"

"Why are you apologizing to me, huh? I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. You're an adult, you are the one who decides whether or not to follow my advice or not, unless its affects my property."

"Yeah, your right, I'm sor-," Lyra started but remembered what he said," Right."

"I'm not gonna be always looking out for you like when you were-," Dennis paused, before deciding to recant on his original statement. "Just ask yourself what is it that you want for once," he than ran back inside the house, ready to have a nice cold one. Lyra just stood there, pondering what she told, but was broken by a familiar, and surprisingly annoying sounding voice.

"Lyra," said Bonnie, running onto the porch, "where were you? We need to finish our study," emphasis on the word study.

"Sure," mutterer Lyra, staring into space, not even acknowledging Bonnie.

"Well come on," Bonnie ordered, ignoring her frustrated friend, walking back into the house.

Lyra sighed than followed her in.
-

"So how was your play date with Mr. Sadnik and his little pony," asked Stanford, as he sat on the white couch in the yellow living room of the old farmhouse. Polly was currently fiddling around with her doll, trying to get into the dollhouse, which according to her, had been foreclosed because of collapsing property values, and sub prime loans .

"Fine," said Polly, in a lone tone.

"What do ya mean fine,"

"Just fine," in an even lower tone. She turned around and returned to her doll, when she felt a couple of strong, warm hands pull her up.

"What's wrong," asked Kell, putting her daughter on his lap.

"I don't know," said Polly, in small.

"I would like to know."

"I don't know," Polly rubbed her eyes," I got to ride a real pony, instead of that dumb plastic one. If felt really cool and she seemed nice.."

"And you are upset you can't have one of your own," Dennis leaned into her daughter's face, "because you see how fun it is?"

"Yes."

"Well, we are gonna be staying here for quite a while," said Stan, "once yo momma get's here. And you have Chester."

"But he's too big. And you said I couldn't ride him."

"When you're older you can."

"Can we please buy Crystal?"

"What?"

"Don't worry daddy," said Polly, smiling, "Mr. Sadnik is your friend, I'm sure we can get her cheap."

"That's not what I mean," Stan uttered, and he gently lifted Polly of her lap, and on to the couch, and gave her a good long stare. "Polly I need you to understand something. Mr. Sadnik is my friend, but a friend doesn't insult another friend, and trying to buy Crystal would be an insult."

"Why,"

"Well, Crystal isn't just a pony to Mr. Sadnik," he remembered what he heard, and struggled to find the word "he told me this pony was very special to him," he almost teared up, before trying to stay strong for her daughter, "it means a lot to him, and you don't just buy it from him, it's like family. Let me put it to you this way: would you ever sell me?"

"No."

"Would you sell George?"

"No."

"Mommy?"

"No."

"Ann?" Stanford saw Polly in thought. But the way she looked, like someone negotiating a deal. Her lips were tightly packed, and she had her index finger on her lips. She stood there for a minute. "Polly," said Stanford in an annoyed tone. "No."

"Okay, where there you go," said Stanford. "That's why I won't ask Mr. Sadnik to buy the horse, because you don't buy people's family."

"Okay," said Polly.

"Good," said Stanford, "Now I have to get back to my office, make some calls so you sit here and play."

"Okay," replied Polly, "I will. Daddy can I have a raise in my allowance."

"How much," asked Kell, as he bent down toward his daughter.

"10,000 dollars a week." Kell couldn't help but smile.

"Is it because you want to buy a pony of your own size?"

"Yes."

"How about 10,000 kisses a week," he said, kissing her daughter on the forehead." and room and board included."

"Okay," she said in a high voice.

"Good," he stood up and walked out of the room.

"Now," Polly returned to her dollhouse, and held up a boy and girl doll, "we must discuss the bankruptcy laws that are applicable for the sell off of this estate," the girl doll said. "I argue that my client should be allowed to dispose of the assets at the highest possible value in order to under Chapter 13, reorganize her financial structure."

"Miss Polly," said George, walking into the room with his cane.

"Yes George."

"I've decided to go to the state park tonight to go for a walk," said George, "I'd appreciate the fresh air. Your father, however just got a call. He is going to Albany for some business deals. We couldn't get a babysitter, so An will have to babysit."

"Ha," laughed Polly, "you are a riot George," she continued to chuckle.

"No Polly," said George ," she will babysit you tonight."

"But-,"

"Look, even I need to take a holiday sometime," said George, " and your sister said she would do it."

"But," Polly replied, stamping her feet, "every time she babysits, she makes me do the dishes and all the other chores"

"Yes," muttered George chuckling ," I can only imagine the torture."

"Polly," shouted an angry teenage voice.

"Good luck," said George, as he picked up his cane, and ran out of the living room. Polly stood there quietly, her face white with fear, and the only sound she heard were a pair of shoes that walked off the porch, and then a car peeling out, with a screech one only heard in a crime movie. Eventually, she felt the sound of some fancy high heels scraping the floor, and turned around to face the girl.

"Polly," said Ann with a smile that one could only find on a shark looking for its' prey," Dad and George are going out, so-,"

"Dishes," muttered Polly with a defeatist expression,"got it." She put down her dolls, and marched off to her torture. While most families had dishwashers, the Kells hated them since they didn't always keep the dishes clean, so she used the old "rag and washcloth" strategy in dish-washing, and thus a week of dish-washing was the worst punishment in the house.

-
After an hour, Polly had finally finished washing the dishes. She survived the smell of dish detergent and the constant exposure of her skin to hot water, and walked away with weary hands. She slowly pulled of the yellow gloves with a rubber snap, and throw them into the silver colored trashcan, and walked out of the kitchen. Normally she would take the time the open the fridge and have a soda, but she knew her supervisor was watching her every move. She just sat there, putting nail polish her hands, and putting her feet on the table.

"No Polly," said Ann in a high, annoying voice voice, "no juice and soda, it will fill you up, like Dad says."

"Dad also said not to put your feet on the table," Polly replied, annoyed at having her delicious beverage blocked.

"Is are you going to tell him, blabbermouth," Ann exclaimed, with emphasis on the last word , walking over to Polly with a stoic expression.

"No," shuddered Polly. She just stood there, awaiting her next labor from her older sister.

"I heard you talking to dad," said Ann ," you said you wanted Mr. Sadnik's pony." Polly, looked up at her sister stunned. Ann was normally very dismissive of Polly's interest. Normally, when Polly wanted to talk her about ponies, she would usually tell her to go away, or just throw a pillow at her.

"Well," Ann rubbed her foot against her right leg ," Daddy said it would be mean to buy his horse."

"Dad's just being cheap," said Ann. Polly looked up, "he doesn't want you to have the pony because he doesn't want to pay for it."

"What," Ann looked up, shocked at this idea. "But Dad-,"

"Daddy is just a businessman. It is his job of finding nice ways of saying no to people."

"But-,"

"Look, I'm your sister, so it is only nice that I tell you the truth," said Ann, a smirk on her face. "I don't think it's fair either. That horse is really nice, and it's clear that you like him-,"

"HER!"

"Her a lot. Mr. Sadnik is too big for a horse like that. He might one day crush her."

"What," gasped Polly in shock.

"I have an idea. George and Dad are gonna be out very late tonight right?"

"Yeah so?" Polly looked up as Ann's smirk grew into a clever grin.
-
9 p.m.

Things had quieted down in the Sadnik household. The lights were off and Dennis had gone upstairs to watch TV, although to his own family, it would mean "this will be the last you'll see of me, till morning." Meanwhile two girls stayed upstairs, working on some late night project, each sitting on a bed.

"Alright," said Bonnie, "The Tele-Crystal can work at certain.." she stopped and noticed that Lyra wasn't paying attention, just staring off into space.

"Lyra," said Bonnie ," I know you are upset about what happened, but you really have to.."

"You really need to stop.." replied Lyra, "you really need to stop bossing me around."

"Lyra I'm just trying to help you, I've been your friend for years..."

"Yes but..." she stopped, hearing some kind of scream coming in the distance, that only got more frantic as time went on. She leaped out of bed and came to the window to see what was causing the ruckus. Bonnie dropped the pink crystal she was holding onto and came to the window. She saw two figures, one less than have the height of the other, probably dressed in black, made only visible by the flashlight the small one was carrying. The taller one seemed to to be pulling something. It was braying and shouting and running around, and it stood on four legs.

"Oh my gosh," screamed Lyra ," Come one let's go get Mr. Sadnik-," Lyra turned and saw Bonnie no longer next to her." Lyra heard Bonnie, her running down the stairs.

"Bon-Bon wait,"
-

"Come on, you stupid horse," screamed the tall girl in black, trying to tug at the horse.

"It's a pony," screamed the short one ," and you're the one that's making him all scared. I think we should bring him back."

"It'll be fine," said the tall one ,"once she gets to know you, she'll be fine."

"But-," the short one was interrupted by the sound of grass. She turned around and saw with her flashlight a girl in a purple tank top and tan shorts run toward them, with a furious look on her face.

"Ann," said the younger one, "run."

The tall one looked up saw the same girl darting toward them. In a panic, she let go up the rope pulling the horse, who galloped off wildly in a panic. The little girl attempted to run only to get decked in the head by the rampaging girl. The tall one in black attempted to run, but could not outrun the angry girl in a tank top and was tackled. A girl in a white tank top with green stripes ran out of the room and saw the downed black figure, and saw her friend beating down on the black covered figure. Her attempts to control the situation were blocked by the sound of a panic pony running around in fright, a muzzle on her face.

"Come back," said Lyra, chasing after the panicked pony.
-

"Rabbit Season, Duck Season, Rabbit Season.." said the TV in Dennis' room. He laid in his bed under his sheets. in a white T-Shirt and orange shorts with a grin that could befit any four year old in a toy store.

BAM!

"Ha ha ha," laughed Dennis, "this never gets old." He picked up a mug from the top of his drawer and took a sip of coffee. The mug had "LOONEY TUNES". He put it down, but just after he heard a bang. He heard the commotion outside. He ran to the window and saw ruckus unimaginable: a pony running around the field, a short figure dressed in brown lying on the ground and a tall black one grappling with one of his tenants. The other was running around, chasing the pony. He bolted out of the room.
-

The black figure was pinned under Bonnie, while the short figure sat there shaking.

"You're not taking her away," shouted Bonnie, punching her in the head, holding the person down by the arms as she straddled her chest. She saw the figure wearing a mask.

"What the hell is going on," screamed a figure from the house. Bonnie turned around, and saw Dennis, a stoic, but still frightening look on his face.

"Mr. Sadnik," said Bonnie jumping off the figure, who was two ,"these two were trying too steal.."

"Shut it," said Dennis, his voice ice cold. He saw Lyra chasing after Crystal with an icy glare. He pulled out a special whistle and blew. Crystal immediately stopped, and trotted over to Dennis.

"It's okay, Crystal," Dennis cooed, his voice suddenly warm, petting his pony's face, and pulling the muzzle off her face. Lyra slowly walked over to the group, nervous.

Dennis walked over to the tall burglar, his teeth clenched. "Okay punk," he said, seething, "what makes you think you can take my pony," he pulled off the mask, revealing a teenage girl, her lip slightly bleeding.

"Ann," Dennis asked in disbelief. He walked over to the other figure dressed in black, and pulled off her mask, and saw a quivering little girl. "Polly?"

"I'm sorry Mr. Sadnik," cried the little girl.

Dennis looked up at Bonnie, his face in rage. Bonnie's face looked confused and apologetic. Lyra looked scared.

"Everyone," Dennis pointed to his house. "Inside."

Excuses

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Dennis opened the wide doors to his barn, gently tugging at the ropes of Crystal, and petting her on her muzzle. After this night, Dennis felt no need to give his pony anymore grief they she had been through.

"It's okay," cooed Dennis, "I'll keep you safe, those girls aren't going to go near you again." Crystal whinnied. "You can say that again replied Dennis." He pulled her usual resting spot on the barn. She sat down on her hunches, like a man slumping into a chair after a long day. "Yep, it's been a long day." He tussled her mane some more, but noticed something odd. He pulled it back, and clenched his teeth. "No one will ever touch you again. I promise."
-
In the living room of the farmhouse, two girls were sitting on the couch, looking down with a guilty look on their face. The tall girl looked like her face was scratched up, while the short girl seemed to have tears on her face. Across the room, leaning on the door were two older girls, one of them glaring down at the two girls, who for obvious reasons had a lot to fear them. The other girl was less angry and more apprehensive. An uncomfortable silence hung over the air, until it was finally broken by the ringing of the bell, but the fear on the girls sitting on the couch. In walked a man with a smirk on his face. Not a kind smirk, but the kind one got after scowling. He looked at girls on the couch with scorn, while he looked at the two girls on the door with annoyance.

"Bonnie, Lyra," uttered Dennis with a fearful calm, "go wait upstairs, I want to talk to these girls alone."

"Mr Sad-," uttered Lyra ,"Go," which echoed like a ghostly whisper. Lyra walked out the swinging door, quiet footsteps being heard, while Bonnie continued to stare at the Kell sisters with great contempt, before a glare from Dennis wordlessly told her time to leave. She went through the swivel door, and walked upstairs. Dennis walked over to the red chair in the room, and sat down never taking his eyes of them.

"Why," he asked unusually softly.

Ann look changed from anxiety to more of a tone of passive annoyance. Probably since the girl beating her up was gone, her fear was gone. Polly, however retained that look of anxiety on her face, looking down.

"I don't think you heard me," Dennis continued his teeth clenched ," what would bring you break into my house. and try to steal my horse. Hmm." Ann's look did not change, but Polly's eyes only continued to water.

"Since you won't tell me, I'll call you Dad, and have him come over."

"What," shrieked Polly, while Ann continued to have that look of passive annoyance, with her arms crossed, "i'm sorry. It was Ann's idea, please don't tell Daddy."

"Oh I am not gonna tell him Polly," Polly shrugged in relief, "You're gonna tell him." Polly backed up in fear. "But-,"

"I don't care whose idea it is," replied Dennis, his calm fury returning. "You trespassed and you tried to take my property. I don't want your excuses. I said you can play with Crystal when I tell you to. I have no idea why you would do something like this." He looked toward Ann. "I don't know what your issue is with your dad, but keep other people's lives out of it." Ann continued to have that annoyed look, which enraged Dennis even more.

"Come on," said Dennis, walking over to them. "I'll take you home, we can wait for your dad there."
-
Half an hour later

Stanford Kell pulled up in his car. It was a blue Lincoln Continental. Stanford preferred driving himself whenever a deal was to be made, because he felt it signified his strength when making a deal. "I got dem suckers good," he muttered to himself. He smiled as he pulled in, but was confused when he saw a balding man in pajamas standing in front of his house with his two girls. He looked ready to get an ax, but calmed down when he saw Dennis. Still he was confused when he saw a calm look a Dennis' face.

"Dennis," Kell stepped out of the car, turning off his headlights, "what's going on?"

"Your daughters came over to my house," said Dennis," I'm sure they'll tell you all about it. Go on Polly, tell him." Dennis stepped aside, giving Stanford full view of his daughter.

"Polly," asked Stan, "what is going on?"

"I-," Stanford walked closer. Noticing the bruise the bruise on Polly's head, and the scratches all over Ann's face made him panic.

"What happened?"

"We broke into Mr. Sadnik's house, and we tried to steal Crystal," Polly admitted, tears leaking out of her eyes.

"You what?" Stanford growled, making Polly, and even Ann winced a little.

"Why are you two hurt," asked Stanford. He turned around ," Sadnik, did you hit my kin." He walked over to Dennis, slightly menacing.

"No," said Polly, "It was one of those girls at his house."

"What," asked Stanford.

"Don't worry," said Dennis, "I'll deal with them. Go on Polly, continue."

"We tried to steal his pony. Ann just said you were being cheap." Stanford turned toward Ann, a glare in his eye, but Ann either was tired or simply didn't care.

"And,"

"And what, we didn't do anything else," said Ann, annoyed.

"OH NO," said Dennis with a sarcastic and angry edge. " As I put Crystal back in the barn, I saw that little dye job in her mane. After you were gonna steal her, you were turning her mane pink, I saw it myself."

"But we did-," argued Polly

"Polly, Ann, get in the house," Stanford muttered, an edge to her voice.

"But we-," Polly stopped, as her father's face told her now was not the time to argue. She fearfully walked into the house, afraid of what was to come. Ann walked in, a frown on her face, but more a frown of exhaustion rather than genuine guilt. It left the two men who had trouble eyeing each other.

"Dennis," said Kell, "I'm sorry I assumed you would assault my daughters. I'm sorry they tried to steal from you. I don't blame your guests for what they did." Dennis just looked at him sadly.

"Goodnight Kell," said Dennis ," I don't blame you for what your daughter's did.

Both men walked back to their homes, one with a somber face, the other with a distressed face.
-
"What were you thinking," asked Dennis to Bonnie. She and Lyra were both sitting in two plastic deck chairs in front of Dennis. They were in Dennis' office, he was seated behind his desk. "I'm asking again, what were you thinking?" Bonnie was confused, wondering what he was getting at.

"What was I thinking," asked Bonnie, "I was trying to save S- I mean Crystal. Those girls-,"

"Yes I know what those two did Bonnie," said Dennis, "I heard you five times already, I saw what happened, I'm not blind.I wondering why you chose to attack to people in the dark. They could have been carrying guns for god's sake. Instead of running to me, you attack two strangers."

"We were helping-,"

"I heard you!" He punctuated his statement by slamming his fist onto the table. "But you don't seem to be hearing me. Do you realize you could have gotten yourself killed, not to mention, you nearly scared Crystal off the farm. Imagine if she galloped off the farm and into the road. She could have been run of the farm and killed." Dennis paused for a minute letting that sink in. Bonnie began to retort, but know she was beginning to understand the gravity of the situation, she thought for a minute. She didn't think that the people might have been armed, or that Crystal could have gotten hurt protecting them.

"I'm," she began, her eyes watering. "I'm sorry," she began, "you're right, I wasn't thinking, but.."

"Yeah that's right," Dennis said, "you weren't thinking. I don't know why you're so protective of a pony you don't even own. But that's beside the point. You also assaulted two strangers."

"But they were..."

"I KNOW, what they were doing," said Dennis ," but that is beside the point. I'm trying to start a business. Something I've working on for years now." He turned around, looking at a picture of a woman with blond hair behind him. "You assaulted my new neighbor's kids. Yes he is a calm guy, but he also an influential businessman, so his words could affect my hotel. You've already created conflict with the new neighbors, and whatever happens here will reflect on my business. Yes I know what they did, but you crossed a serious line." He paused and turned around, facing them. " I can't risk that, so I want you out of here by tomorrow."

"What," asked Bonnie stunned.

"Mr Sadnik," asked Lyra, shocked and finally speaking. " With all due respect sir Bonnie.."

"You're her friend, you feel the need to defend her, but I want you two gone."

"Lyra didn't do anything."

"I don't give a damn, you two with your behavior are gonna cause me lot's of problems, which I don't need in the stage of my business."

"But, "said Lyra, "we need to do our," her eyes darted back and forth ," project

"What project," asked Dennis. "You guys aren't doing anything. The only time you guys have gone out is during the day. At night, you guys are in one or another's room doing god knows what, except on fourth of July." Their eyes shifted, " As far as I know, you haven't done anything remotely related to astrology-,"

"Astronomy-," corrected Bonnie.

"WHO GIVES A SH-," screamed Dennis, before controlling himself.

"That's not fair, we paid you in advance," retorted Bonnie.

"Oh really," said Dennis mockingly ," you paid me. Well you obviously didn't read that contract you signed when you came in." He pulled it out throwing it on the table for them to read. "And if you look on section 2, you read 'I hereby signed refuse all rights of visitation if I have committed any felonies on property.' You assaulted my neighbor's kids, that is a felony. Thus I can throw you out," he went over to a large photo of Jimi Hendrix, with a white shirt and a red bandanna. He pulled it off the hook revealing a safe. He opened the safe, and pulled out a wad of cash. "And if you read further, I can throw you out, and not even give you back the advance." He through the money on the table in front them. "But I will anyways, because I'm not that kind of person."

"Mr. Sadnik," said Lyra, her hands in a begging gesture. "We are really, really sorry for causing you this kind of trouble. We promise from now on..."

"Lyra, stop saying sorry, it won't help you. And neither will your empty promises. You are twenty two years old, you should know that. I've tolerated you two because of your laziness and idiosyncrasies, you seem okay. But this is where a draw the line. Your are adults by law and you two need to understand the consequences of your actions."

"Mr. Sadnik," Bonnie said the voice returning in your voice, trying to think of a good response "we defended you because we are your friend. You even invited us to spend July 4th with you and your friends."

"You two are my guests. I was trying to be nice." Dennis paused. "But again, I am now a business man, and I'm trying to keep my business afloat. And this could cause unwanted attention."

"But-,"

"This conversation is over," Dennis said. "Now get out of my office."
-
"What game are playing, Ann," Stanford said. He was staring her down, but she remained apathetic. "Answer me girl."

"Well," she said in a passive tone, "I was trying to help Polly. Maybe you should talk to-,"

"No, I spoke to Polly," said Stanford," and I am not taking her side. She is going to be grounded for a month. She knew she was wrong, but you were the one trying to start trouble. I pull you out of Texas to help you escape your bad name, and all you do is create more trouble. I can't even look Mr. Sadnik in the eye. After all I've taught you about respecting your neighbors..."

"Yeah right," Ann replied, her voice rising up ," You didn't teach me anything."

"What?"

"All my life, it's 'Not now Ann I have a call'," she said copying her father's Texas accent." 'Go play somewhere ELSE Ann.' Now you suddenly are like ,'Don't do this Ann,' when almost all my life, you wanted me out of the way."

"You ungrateful brat," he replied. "I put food on the table, clothes in your drawer, and soon I you will be in college which I am also going to be paying for. Everything I did was for you. I know you are upset about your mom being gone, but.."

Ann screeched, and jumped out of the chair, and ran out of the room. "

"I am 17, I don't need to hear that speech anymore," she said running to the front door.

"You act like a child, know get back her, I'm not done with you," he ran and grabbed her wrist.

"Let go of me," she screamed.

"You are gonna listen to me.." he was cut off by a slap to his face. He sound of the slap echoes for a bit. Ann and Stanford stared at each other, not knowing what to say. Ann was too angry, and Stanford, was too shocked to respond. Ann slowly made her way to the door, while Stanford just watched, doing nothing to stop her. A slam was heard.
-

"Well you've done pretty well for yourself," said Lyra standing in Bonnie's room, while she sat in her bed sulking.

"I don't want to hear it," Bonnie said

"You will hear it."

"I don't-,"

"SHUT UP!" Whatever words that were to come out of Bonnie's mouth were lost on the tongue and never came up.

"For this whole trip, you have been belittling me and telling me what to do," she paced around, trying to calm herself. "You've mocked me, you embarrassed me in front of the new neighbors, and you hurt those neighbors and you got us kicked out."

"What about when you got all drunk on that beer stuff. You could have-,"

"I was drunk, no one was going to listen. But Mr. Sadnik is right, we could have been in big trouble for getting into a fight."

"I was trying-,"

"I know," shouted Lyra ," but our problems don't matter. It's what he saw."

"You wanna be in charge," shouted Bonnie.

"Really?" asked Lyra, screaming

"Yes really, since apparently I don't know what I'm doing and got us screwed over," Bonnie shouted.

"Okay!"

"Fine!"

"FINE!"

"So what do we do," asked Bonnie. Lyra, now in control, thought about what she was going to do. She had never been called upon to take charge, so thinking up a strategy was new to her.

"My way?"

"Yes," Bonnie underscored. "Your way!

"Okay," said Lyra. "We leave the hotel, but we stick around to see what he does, for about a week. After a week, when he is nor longer mad at us, we come back, apologize, and show him some observations, so he'll believe we were doing work. We'll ask him if we can finish our assignment for the next few weeks, and and we mention the eclipse."

"Well," Bonnie said, never expecting such a professional plan, "I don't have any other ideas, so let's do it."

"Agreed," Lyra said, taking Bonnie's hand. Their conflict over, they now set off make a new plan.

"Besides, what's the worse that can happen," asked Bonnie.

A Cut and a Save

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Inside Dennis' bedroom, the alarm rang continuously. If he heard it, he didn't show it. He continuously laid there, still in bed, clad in green pajamas, his faced turned over to his left side, his tanned face in a very hard appearance, like a soldier sleeping after a terrible battle. It lasted until Dennis turned over to the left, falling out of the bed with a hard thud.

"Ugh," Dennis grunted, his face facing the floor and still on the ground, until he realized his tasks for the day. He jumped up and ran out of the room, running to the next door room like a cop looking for a suspect, and found both of them empty.

"They're gone," he said to himself, his tone not really reflecting any joy, nor any sadness, more like a feeling of emptiness, like something was missing. He went back into his room, and ran to shut off the still ringing alarm.
-

Dennis walked into the barn which held Crystal, and was holding an old tin bucket. He was clad in an old grey t-shirt. He pulled out a wet rag as well as a container of liquid soap from the bucket, and walked over to the small pen, which held his little pony inside. The pony heard his footsteps along the hay covered ground, and looked toward away from him, her dark eyes filled with an unusual amount of sadness.

"Come on Crystal," said Dennis in a soothing voice ," don't be shy, I'm just need to get the dye out of your mane." He put the rag and soap back into the bucket, and dropped them on the ground, opening Crystal's stable. The pony trotted out, her hooves gently scrapping the hay on the ground. Dennis walked over the wall with had a large hose with a green coil on a hook. He pulled it off, and attached it to a faucet nearby. He uncoiled the house and brought it toward the pony. He looked the Crystal's mane, which still was pink. He took a better look, ,and his eyes widened when saw the pink had spread to pretty much the top part of her mane.

'Or maybe it was dark, and I didn't notice the pink until I got a better look,' he thought to himself, his face now neutral. He took the hose in his left hand, and sprayed it onto the pony, the freezing waters making the pony shake her head and whinny as they hit the top part of her head..

"Whoa," said Dennis, holding his right hand up, the cloth still in his hand, "easy girl, this is just water, it won't bite." He took out a bottle of liquid soap he got and began washing her the top of her mane with it. He remembered one time when Jason accidentally got pink dye in his hair, so he had to create a special soap to get it out of his hair. He never thought he'd be using the same soap on his pony. He chuckled remembering that day:

"Dad I feel like a poodle", complained Jason. He was in the living room, standing awkwardly, explaining to his dad about one of his stunts gone wrong. Dennis just sat there, a newspaper in front of his face, while he continued,"Please, I've tried washing this out like five times."

"Well maybe this will teach you not to play paint balloons," Dennis said in a quiet voice, while not offering his son even a glance. He sat there for a few minutes not saying much else. The silence permeated through the air, and to Jason when his dad was silent, it was often scarier than when he was made. It was the rare "screw you go help yourself " silence when he really caused trouble. Jason walked up to his dad and begged him. Dennis never budged. "Fine," muttered Jason, annoyed at this father's ignorance. Just as he reached for the door to the upstairs, Jason heard the paper go onto the table.

" Go wait outside," said Dennis still in his chair and turning toward Jason,"I'll clean this junk out of your hair.I got to make something.

"But everyone will see me," complained Jason.

"Go outside poodle boy," mocked Dennis, who grabbed the paper to hide his grin. Jason sighed and walked out the door to the front lawn. "And don't move, or I'll put you on a leash," Jason turned around and glared at Dennis, causing him to chuckle. "Out," said Dennis in between laughs.

Dennis smiled inwardly, remembered how he secretly got his old neighbors in Queens, the Genaros, to take his picture so he could secretly cherish this moment. His younger sister , a hairdresser, had developed the dye removing formula, and he had carried that same recipe with him. It could clear dye away from hair like acid would burn through paper. He poured some of the soap onto the rag, and began scrubbing at Crystal's mane. As suds formed, he attempted to remove the dye, but the parts of her mane remained absolutely pink, it was annoying. He pulled at the mane, until he felt Crystal pull back signalling he had hurt her.

"Sorry girl," Dennis muttered. He received a nicker in reply, and went back to scrubbing her mane. Half an hour later, of scrubbing later, Dennis' hands we're pruned and burned slightly by the warm water, but still the dye had not come out. Dennis finally dropped the rag and examined her mane. His eyes widened, and muttered ," My god, there's more pink in her mane. The soap made it worse." He looked at Crystal ,"Stay here for a minute will you girl?" She shook her muzzle.

Dennis walked into the the house and walked into the kitchen. He walked over the phone on the white counter and made a call. "John, could be bring the steel wool?"
-

John stood over Crystal. He was wearing a white tank top and dirty overalls to help in the clean up operation on Crystal's mane. He brought the steel wool and his own soap, but after a while, his own hands grew pruned from the the warm water, while Crystal's mane had become more black than pink.

"You know Dennis," said John with the gusto of a Broadway actor ," I think when a guy asks a guy to come over to his house, it usually goes ,'Hey John, the game's on, want to come over.' Or ,'Hey John, my carburetor's shot, I could use a hand.' Or ,'Hey John, grab a bear.' It doesn't usually go ,' Hey John, could you help me style a PONY'S MANE!' Seriously!" He crouched down until he feel onto his butt, to weary to move.

"John," uttered Dennis, sitting in a folding chair that he kept in the barn,"you didn't have to come. I wanted your steel wool. You came on your own accord, and because you got nothing better to do. You hire somebody to manage that hotel of yours.

" Ugh," sighed John, still on the ground, haven't paid little mind to Dennis retort." "My hands are wrinkled," he complained.

"Your in you're sixties John, every part of you is supposed to be wrinkled.No I don't what sixties that is supposed to be. I mean by the looks of it, you'd be in the 1860's." He smirked and snickered quietly.

"Oh ha ha," said John sarcastically. He got up from his chair. "Why can't you just get one of those Kell girls to wash this dye out. I mean they're the ones who put it in. Let them endure this torture."

"First of all," Dennis exclaimed rising from his chair, "you have been scrubbing for like five minutes. Secondly I don't those girls anywhere near Crystal." He walked over Crystal. "They scared her to death," he said in a soothing tone, and began petting her man. "Besides Polly loves Crystal, and anytime spent with her would never ever be punishment for that kid, even if it meant cleaning up after her. In any case, I am buying a security system so that this won't happen again."

"Was it really necessary to kick those girls out," continued John.

"I don't wanna-,"

"Just answer the question, Dennis," interrupted John ," I mean I understand you not want to bring trouble to your business, but I think you may have overreacted."

"Those girls acted weirdly, you know. They had weird color hair, one of them couldn't even hold a pencil right," replied Dennis.

"You wanna hear weird," said John shaking his head, "My family's been in the hospitality business in Saratoga county since the days of independence. I've been running a hotel since Truman was president. You wanna hear weird. Imagine five college students in red robes with pentagrams on their hoods. Imagine them standing outside at night at 2 in the morning shouting 'By this hour, the Dark one will grant us power,' okay?" He started chuckling ."I know this because I heard it through the night. They woke me and the wife up. And I still can't get the cheesy chant out of my goddamned head. The bottom line John is that when you work in an industry that the Civil Rights Act requires you to accommodate you, you're going to meet some weirdos."

"Lifestyle is one thing John," said Dennis, "but here is another thing. Even though they said they were astronomy students, I never once saw them with a telescope or some star chart. You know I heard them speaking to Carl and Larry, I heard one of them ask 'what is NASA?' What astronomy student hasn't heard of freaking NASA!"

"That is actually kind of strange," admitted John. His eyes widened and he began shaking his head." Yeah an alternate lifestyle is one thing, but these girls don't sound...sound in general."

"That was among," Dennis paused remembering another uncomfortable moment that made him blush." Other things that made them seem weird, but the fight with the neighbors really was a final straw. In spite of their...quirks, they were harmless up until that point.But they not only could have put themselves in danger, they assaulted Polly as well."

"Why did you invite them, to go to Fourth of July," asked John.

"I asked them because I," he paused ," I wanted them to see the beauty of Lake George to encourage tourism. They said they already planned to see Lake George for an "experiment," whatever that was, so is was only sensible to bring them with us." He shifted his head away from John toward Crystal, but John didn't look convinced."

"I seem to recall two girls who always used to come with you me, Roger, and Carl and Larry, on our Fourth of Julies, and they lived in your house, in those same bedrooms you rented out. And they certainly knew how to hold a pencil," he said slyly.

"I don't wanna talk about this okay," Dennis said frustrated.

"Then comes this little girl who brightens up a whole, loves ponies, and well... brightens up all a whole room. A girl who anyone will kill to keep safe." He paused. "Are we talking about Polly, or Sa-,"

"Just drop it already-," said Dennis ,"it's not important."

"Okay," said Dennis in a softer tone," I believe you." He looked away from Dennis, a smile on his face. He turned back to them. "You know you could have kept the cash anyways."

"I wanted to show those girls I can never be bought and sold, that having money doesn't make them all powerful."

"Says the guy who slaved for Kensworth, and let them cut your pay on Christmas."

"Hey," shouted Dennis, "I never worked for Kensworth, those guys just bought the building. I haven't worked there in over ten years, and my firm treats me like a person. Their honest and they do business with Arthur Anderson."

"Fine Dennis," sighed John ," I'm just saying as both an innkeeper and as businessman, don't be soon keen on returning a deposit like that. The last time I ever got such a big advance like that was when John Lennon came to my hotel. "

"Alright," said Dennis exhausted. The pause endured between the two exhausted gentlemen.

"Why don't I get us some drinks," said John.

"Sure," said Dennis, "get me some of the Cherry Cola in the fridge."

"You got it," said John walking out of the barn. As he got the door, John heard Dennis scream. "Ah." John turned around alarm.

"John, I cut myself, could get bandages while you're in there."

"Sure," John said, running to the barn.

" The first aid kit is in the upstairs bathroom, don't run towards me ya dope!" John turned and ran back toward the house.
-

"Oh," said Dennis, clutching his right hand, which was now sporting a slash across the palm of his hand. Crystal just nickered while staring at Dennis. He pulled a napkin out of his pocket, and pressed it against his right palm trying to stop the bleeding. He continued to moan and complain until her heard a knock on the barn door, and a familiar uniformed lady showed up from behind the door.

"Mr Sadnik," asked Stirling.

"Hey Stirling," said Dennis through gritted teeth, "what's going on."

"I was wondering if-," he saw him writhe in pain, "are you okay."

"Yeah, I just cut my hand a little," said Dennis

"Let me see it," said Stirling, holding out her hand.

"No it's fine," replied Dennis, "John's just getting the first aid-,"

"Let.Me.See.It," demanded Stirling, much more firmly.

"Yes mam," said Dennis, immediately holding out her hand. She examined her hand looking at it, and was sickened by the sight of blood coming from the long cut on Dennis' palm.

"Uh..well, I accidentally rubbed by hand on.." he looked at Crystal ," a nail."

"A nail," screeched Dennis, "we better get you a tetanus shot then." He started pulling Dennis. "Come on, we gotta get you to the hospital."

"Did I say nail," said Dennis, wondering how he can get out of a trip to the hospital. Stirling , while maybe at least twenty years younger than Dennis had been a cop for two years, she had lived in Greenfield for 9 years, and Dennis knew she had an unusual interest in him. But he also knew what she hated the most was lie, which meant he knew his two choices: let her take him to the hospital, or let her put him in the hospital. He was about to answer but was stopped by John running into the barn.

"Dennis, I got the-," John stopped when he saw Stirling holding Dennis' hand. "Hello Stirling," he said, staring at the site. There was a pause until Stirling realized she was still holding Dennis' arm. She let go, a blush on her face. "I got the kit," said John, holding up the white plastic box with a Red Cross.

"Good," said Stirling, "I'll just tie those bandages around you're hand."

"That's fine," said Dennis, holding up his hand nervously, "I can attach-,"

"I'll.Tie.The.Bandages," said Stirling.

"Yes ma'am." He held out his arm. She dragged him to the chair and sat him down. She was very strong despite her appearance. She took the bandages and the rubbing alcohol out of the case, and began putting it on her hand.

"Anyways," said Stirling, as she massaged the wounds," I'm here because the sheriff's office wanted me to investigate here for some reason. They told me there was a lead here for some device that was stolen a few days ago."

"What was it," asked Dennis

"Some scanner by some company near Albany called Dasher Pinow," said Stirling

"Carl and Larry got robbed," blurted Dennis.

"Carl and Larry," asked Stirling. She stopped applying the bandages and was eerily stroking Dennis' palm, just avoiding the painful cut on his hand. Dennis realized what he just done."You know these people?"

"Well," said Dennis, trying to find something innocuous to say. "I know of them." Stirling's index finger hovered just above the cut. He decided to cut to the chase. "I mean, uh , I know them very well. I'm friends with them. But it is not like they share their inventions with me. I hear their very important." He smiled sheepishly. Stirling looked at him, but didn't see guilt, but nervousness, mostly due to her hand on her palm.

"Yeah I imagined they wouldn't," said Stirling, "they have some pretty big government contracts. Not stuff people speak openly about. The device that was taken was some Spectral Scanner," she pulled out a picture of the device on hand. It looked like some pair of space age binoculars with a white exterior, and what looked like dark viewing glass.

"Yeah, I haven't seen it Stirling," said Dennis ," I've never seen anything like it."

"Neither have I," said John, who had been quiet throughout the interrogation. He as well as Dennis relaxed as Stirling applied the lotion, which is less painful than anything Stirling could do to someone for lying.

"Listen do you know where Lyra and that other girl are," asked Stirling, "I'd like to talk to them to."

"There not here," said Dennis, "they left the house just this morning, and took everything with them."

"Why, did they say where they were going," asked Stirling.

"No they didn't," said Dennis, looking straight but with an uneasiness, "I have no idea where they are."

"Are you sure," said Stirling as she leaned into Dennis, with the eyes of authority.

"Yes." A tense pause held for a few minutes until finally Stirling switched her eyes back to her normally relaxed and calm ones.

"Okay Mr. Sadnik, I have what I need," said Stirling. "I gotta go, see you around."

"Bye." She walked out of the barn, but not before staring and the pony with the black and pink mane. The pony recoiled at her gaze, but if Stirling was stunned by the appearance, she didn't show it. Silence reigned in their for a few minutes until finally Stirling's squad car was heard pulling out of of road.

"That girl," said John, "Whoa."

"I wonder why would she have a thing for me," asked Dennis,"even after all these years."

"Who knows," said John, "considering you showed her the neighborhood, loaned her money for the first few weeks, was her only friend, and she saw you look sad and lonely at Lindsay's funeral-," he paused when he saw Dennis' glare.

"Sorry, Uh," John tried to look for something to change the subject with. He rubbed the back of his head and looked at Dennis' bandaged hand. "So w-what did you cut yourself on."

"I don't know," said Dennis. "I patted and rubbed Crystal's mane," The men looked left toward the pony that was going it's own way, "But as I was rubbing it, I just rubbed my palm onto the something sharp.," Dennis looked at his bandaged hand, "It hurt like hell."

"There is nothing sharp on Crystal's head, how could you cut yourself like that, unless she bit you, and that was no bite mark," wondered John.

"I don't know," said Dennis. He saw a black tube in John's hand."What's that?"

"Black hair dye," said John," thought it could hide the pink in her mane."

"Where did you find it," asked Dennis.

"In the bathroom," said John with a smirk, "and you said I look old." Dennis pondered his words and made a realization.

"Wait a minute," said Dennis, shaking his arm ,"I don't dye my hair," he said waving to hair, that was still sheen for man of age. John continued to stare at him, with a smile. "I don't!"

"Whatever you say, Dennis," he smiled.

"Just give me the die," Dennis held out his hand.

Under the Coat

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"I again thank you for your county's assistance in this investigation, Sheriff Cowan ," said a man sitting in a brown wooden chair. Two individuals were sitting in a white room, and a brown door. In between them a wooden brown desk. "Why was I asked to come here?" The man in front of the desk sitting in the wooden chair wore a black suit, black shoes, a black tie, and white dress shirt underneath. His face was tanned, and his hair a shaven chestnut brown. The man sitting behind the brown desk in a the black leather chair was John E. Cowan (at least that is what the golden sign on his desk said) the long-serving Sheriff of Saratoga County. He also work a black suit and a white shirt which was distinguished from the other suit by a blue striped tie. His face was pale, he had wrinkles, and frown lines, and his hair was a black but graying haircut in the regular style. His face was covered in a distinctive frown.

"I appreciate your appreciation Agent McCarty," said Sheriff Cowan his frown into a genuine smile. "But," his smile turned into a frown. "What I feel is a lack of cooperation." His fists began to tighten. "I have been impartial to the FBI's operations, having been trained at the FBI Academy when it opened." He teeth began to clench. "But I must ask. Why was I not told of the participation of other sheriff's offices in the state. I am a member of the Sheriff's Association, so I feel that would be important for my fellow sheriffs to cooperate in an investigation."

"Well," said McCarty, lifting his leg off of his lap, "I felt discretion was important because this technology is very valuable..."

"Yes," interrupted Cowan, frustrated ," yes I heard the same the selling point. 'This technology could be used to discover the origins of the universe.' But if a device is missing I need the cooperation of the FBI, as well as other sheriff's of the area." He looked down, then up. "Also, I've looked at your leads and done my investigation, and filed all the reports by the officers by the Sheriff's Office, as well as the Saratoga Springs Police Chief ." He pulled a large tan yellow folder. On the front was a sticker that read "Case File 04-05-2109-D," in small print, while in the middle of the sticker was "SCANNER." Cowan rose from his chair and put his hand down on the file hard, as if fearing McCarty would grab it from him. "You tell me that the device was stolen in all the way in North Tonawanda, and you think the thief is somewhere in my county. But you have no clue, besides," he pulled out notepad, and his glasses, " 'Dark Hair, Caucasian Male, ages 20-30,' " he read aloud, in an angry sarcastic tone. "Yet somehow you have video record of the man video or otherwise, only some mention of an anonymous source, who ALSO can't figure out why anybody would need a "Spectral Scanner," and high tail to Saratoga County. And more importantly, what somebody would use a device like this for, in a town that has not known any presence from NASA since Buzz Aldrin stop by. Ten. Years. AGO!"

"Well," said McCarty, his face as neutral as ever, except for a small grin on his face, "we that's what we are trying to figure out," he continued in a tone that sounded like a pre-programmed response from a computer. A tone Cowan heard years ago when dealing with state officials who forced him to put state prisoners in the county jail. A tone that would never to cease to be a bane to his existence. McCarty saw the file pressed under Cowan's palm and extending both his middle finger (which Cowan was beginning to feel tempted to show to McCarty in great detail) and his index finger, and than pulling them to his palms, as if to say, "give me these files."

"I want to know more, and I want to know now," said McCarty.

"And you will," said McCarty,standing up, and extending his hand, sporting an even more noticeable but still slight grin ,"we just need those files."

"And I don't want agents crawling my county, or any other county without the full cooperation of the FBI, and I thus I can't give you these forms," he said, glaring at McCarty, his hand still where it was, guarding the police file he refused to turn over.

"How about," McCarty said, with a big grin, "the sooner we get those files, the sooner I'll get out of your hair, or what's left."

Cowan slowly bit his lip, and began to ponder. He couldn't ponder because he couldn't stand the guy he was looking at. He felt maybe give him what he wants now, and than search for his own evidence later. He slowly took his hand of the file, but before McCarty grabbed it off the table, Cowan snatched it off, pulling it into his hand, and slowly extending it to McCarty. McCarty finally snatched it up, laughing. "Man, you need to slow down when you do things," uttered McCarty. "You really do things quickly." He slid the file into his jacket. "Well so long Sheriff," said McCarty, as he opened the door, and walked out clearly jovial.

Cowan walked right up to the door, yelling ,"You didn't shut the door." McCarty continued walking, the sounds of his footsteps which were covered up by the sound of a slamming door.

"I don't get it Helmsley," said Stirling, pacing across the room in front of Sergeant Helmsley, who was sitting in the corner on a folding chair, in the lounge, reading a newspaper. It wasn't much of a lounge, more of a corner on the green carpet where the two put a couple of chairs, a small table and a microwave. The rest of the room was green with a couple of desks. The building itself was the size of a small summer cottage, a box shape made of brown wood. She continued to pace until she saw Helmsley was barely paying her mind. "Helmsley?!"

Helmsley startled, woke up from his news induced slumber. "Stirling, stop bugging me, I'm on lunch break... 'Eclipse to occur August 11..' "

"First of all, your not eating anything, and secondly it's 10:47."

"Old age, what are you gonna do."

"I think something weird is going on, with this Scanner."

"Why?"

"I spoke to like ten people across the county about the scanner, and every cop on the case, and they learned about as much as I could," said Stirling.

"Yeah, the investigation just started a few days ago, get over it. Finding this object will take time, and they are going to have to find it soon," said Helmsley, "did you send the report to the Sheriff's office, like I told you."

"Yeah, I faxed it, but the way information is being told it seems like the FBI isn't trying to find it. The robbery took place all the way across the state in Buffalo, and the leads the FBI are giving us are awfully random. Yesterday, I went to the Library, the clothing store - where they told me to look at the college girl section."

"Wait," said Helmsley pursing his lips ," the store did of the Sheriff's Office, according to the FBI did?"

"Well the store did," said Stirling, bemoaning her youthful appearance ," the gas station, the pet shop, where I saw the cutest little turtle..." she began to smile, until she saw Helmsley give her a look. "And some other animals, and Dennis' hotel."

"What," asked Helmsley, who had not read the instructions for searching the leads, but merely handed them to Stirling, having been too sick to investigate. "They suspect Sadnik." Helmsley had always known Dennis to be a decent, if somewhat difficult human being. He had his up and downs, and in the past eleven years, those downs had hit him hard. But there was no reason to think he was stealing. "But wasn't he in Lake George on Fourth of July the night it was stolen. We both saw him."

"I said the same thing, but when I called the Sheriff's Office, this fed, McCarty-didn't like him, he sounded like some asthmatic pervert with his heavy breathing- made me go out and investigate anyways. I didn't think Dennis could commit any crime, but then I thought he would be the only guy with any connection, I mean he runs a motel in the middle of nowhere..."

"So he could be harboring some fugitive or criminal," finished Helmsley. "Well did you speak to him."

"Yes," said Stirling, "I asked him if he saw the scanner, and in a side note, he apparently dyed his pony's mane pink." Helmsley dropped his paper in shock at that statement. " Then I asked him if I could speak to Lyra and Bonnie."

"Who?

"The astrology - or astronomy students that were renting from him."

"Oh you mean that girl who you decided to have a drinking contest with," Helmsley mocked ," the girl seemed to have her head in the stars, as you told me."

"I mean, I figure two astronomy students would know about it. But for some reason, they left early, and Dennis didn't seem keen on telling me why. I was even was gonna right it in the report."

"Was? Why didn't you write it in the report? This seems pretty important, since Dennis, or those two girls could be prime suspects.in this investigation?"

"I was going to write it, until I got another call looking for another lead. They gave a vague description I can't even remember, that contradicted the last one, so I felt I couldn't trust them."

"So you feel the FBI is hiding something, and you believe those two girls might have the answer?"

"Yes?"

"And as your superior," Helmsley's voice became much sharper ," I could bring you up for withholding information in a federal investigation right, dismissed, in spite of your suspicion that the FBI is withholding info. The only person who could be in anyway involved in this is Dennis with his motel."

"Yes!." Stirling said strongly. A silence held for about two minutes.

"Fine, what do you propose?"

"We start looking for info on our own. Let's start with Dennis, and see what he's up to. He probably not in on anything," she started to walk out of the room, into the lockers to get her uniform. "Dennis never stole anything, but he might not realize something under his nose."

"I'll call all the other counties in the capital district," said Helmsley, getting up from his folding throne, and waking to his desk to make a call ," see what kind of leads we are getting. I wouldn't worry too much about Dennis, He hasn't got much to hide."

"Well," muttered Stirling in the other room, "emotionally it is different."
-

Dennis normally hated late mornings, but something told him today would be normal. He would enjoy a late breakfast, first after checking up on old Crystal.

"Crystal," he said jokingly ," It's Dennis. The security guy is coming in a few minutes. Let's see if your dye job stayed iiiiin." He walked, or skipped into the barn. When he saw Crystal, he was pleased to see the dye job stay in...But shocked at her mane's new neighbor on her head.

It looked like a railroad spike, though pure white, spiraled out of her head. It was coned shaped and looked sharp enough to puncture a steel wall.

"Oh god," he said as walked over to his pony, some white bone coming out of her head. "What is that thing on your head," he was stressed out, and began to touch the bone, when Crystal freaked and galloped to the other side.

"Crystal," he yelled ,"I'm sorry. I didn't know that was your special area." He heard a knock at the barn door. He nervously walked to the door, starting with, "could you come back later..." he paused when he saw a young, nubile authority figure, and the door.

"Dennis," said Stirling ," I need to talk to you, and what about a 'special area.'? "

Dennis paused waiting for an excuse not to show him an uncomfortable truth. His little pony grew a horn, she was a uni-horned horse.

"Well, eh..."

The Fifth State of Matter

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"Dennis," said Stirling, as she pushed on the barn door which was being blocked Dennis' body ," we need to-,"

"Talk, sure," said Dennis. He impulsively pushed the door closed, and locked it. He felt relieved until he remembered who he slammed the door on.

"Dennis," screamed Stirling, which was only punctuated by her ," how dare you slam the door! What the hell is going on in there?!"

"Nothing," said Dennis, as he searched around the barn for something to cover up the bony objecting now protruding from Crystal's mane. He looked around for a rag, a sheet or anything to cover up this unusual fact. His searching grew more frantic with each pounding of the door. He guessed she was about fifteen seconds from breaking the barn door in. He looked up, to his relief, found an old top hat from a Costume party, behind the stable. It was old and ratty, but it looked tall enough to cover up the horn on her head. He placed it on her head, only for Crystal to whinny and shake the hat off. "Crystal," Dennis whispered tensely, picking the hat off the ground, "keep it on, you can't let her see you like this."

"Okay," said Stirling, "I'm about to bust down this door in ten.." Dennis ran toward the boxes looking for something useful. He pulled out the boxes around the barn, trying to find something to keep the hat on. "Nine," he looked an examined a rock, 'no too light,' he thought to himself, 'Eight', he looked toward the walls ,' seven,' he continued to run around, looking for something that would would force Crystal's hat on. 'Seven' he flipped the the last of the wooden crates open, finally finding rope he could use. 'Six,' he came toward Crystal with straps from an old rein and that accursed hat, the one that had made him the laughing stock of many a costume party. 'Five,' he ran toward to the barn door.

"Hey," said Dennis, wildly opening a door, and exaggerating his voice ,"what's happening? You looking good."

"Dennis," Stirling asserted, moving into the entrance while Dennis wisely backed away from her ,"You DON'T. EVER. SLAM THE DOOR. What is going on in..." she stopped walking into him when she noticed the pony wearing the top hat, and looked like she was trying to shake it off, with a nicker to punctuate the sound. She paused.

"Ta-da," muttered Dennis with a voice of deception rather than bravado ," I just wanted to surprised you. I think she looked adorable in that hat," Dennis' eyes darted back and forth. "I figured she would look adorable."

"I thought you hated the idea of dressing animals up," remarked Stirling. "That's why you hate those pet shows, because they degrade animals, you made a whole speech about it, a speech that made me..." Stirling's cheeks blushed, " respect you."

"Well, I thought it would look a little cute."

"What is this, Abraham Lincolt," joked Stirling.

"No," said Dennis," that's her male counterpart, this is," he paused ,"Mare-y Todd Lincolt," the word sounding like it had a question mark at the end.

A pause held for a minute, with the only noise being Crystal's nickering Dennis hoping his excuse would hold up. What happened next was something he couldn't really bargain for. It started with a grin, but than a chuckle, and finally it delved into uncontrollable laughter. Dennis realized he did what few actually managed. He told a joke that while under normal circumstances would be a bad pun, in a tension filled moment, can help cool a fire. This scenario made peace, helped stop conflict, and Dennis inadvertently just saved himself from barricading a female cop.

"O-okay," said Stirling, still giggling ,"I'll accept that." She stopped and broke into a wide smile. "It was pretty funny, and Crystal does look kind of cute," she looked toward the pony still shaking her head, trying to get rid of the annoying cute hat. "We still need to talk," finished Stirling, going from cheerful to professional with that sentence.

"Okay," said Dennis."I'll talk. I got nothing to hide."

"Okay," said Stirling. "I need more info on Lyra and Bonnie."

"I told you-,"

"I know what you told me. My guess the crook has been to some kind of hotel. I also going to visit other parts of Saratoga County, starting with John's place. But I need anything you can get me. Addresses, Vehicle Registrations, License Plate numbers, anything that will get me those two girls," said Stirling with a strong conviction.

"Okay," he said with resignation, "I'll show you the board I keep, which keeps track of all the people who have checked in, I promise you these two have been my only guests in that last few days. And I have had ads up for this place since April, just come with me into the house," the began marching to the backdoor of the barn when Stirling again began taking another glance at Crystal's mane.

"Still couldn't get the dye out of her mane I see," Dennis looked toward her mane, and saw some on the bottom that he didn't see before. He stopped for a minute," at least you got most of it."

"Yeah," he said, still frozen, until Stirling stared at him.

"Okay," said McCarty. He and several agents, included Dr. Hoshansen, sat around at rectangular, white table in the middle of a blue rented ballroom in downtown Saratoga Springs. The ballroom was known for hosting conventions and Bar Mitzvahs in the past, but rarely an FBI investigation. Thankfully the hotel could provide adequate security, so that nothing could come in, and more importantly, no information could ever leak out. Six agents sat at the long ends of the table, three on each sides, looking similar in their dark suits. On one end was Agent McCarty, who was currently standing and leaning whose jacket he finally removed from the heat, revealing tanned hairy forearms, and whose left knee was leaning on the table since he stood up. On the other side of the table was Dr Hoshansen, who was still fiddling with the build together scanner.

"As you all know," he addressed the crowd around him, taking his knee off the table, and sitting in the chair. "None of this information is too leave. As far as the Sheriff's Office knows, we are still looking for the thief."

"But we are, aren't we," asked Hoshasen, who lifted his head out of the proto-Scanner, which was still on the table. The other agents stayed silent, or even glanced in his direction, something which unnerved him.

"Yes," said McCarty rising from the chair and walking over to Hoshansen,"but old man Kefauver says there is a link between what the news called "fireworks," and that missing Scanner, and you claimed.

"Well yes," said Hoshansen, "As I've said, I found that the" he paused ,"radiation all over the warehouse and on the guards. Truth is I can't even call it radiation anymore."

"Well what is it," asked one of the FBI agents.

"I don't know. This back up scanner," he held up the device, "picked it up and detected it like it was radiation this stuff floats off in waves like it was radiation, I even found it doesn't pass through lead." He paused. "But this stuff doesn't have a specific purpose or state. The green stuff I found in Tonawanda wasn't anything like radiation at a subatomic level, and when I examined it, it seemed to have more of the property of brainwaves than actual radiation."

"But how did you pick up on what this stuff was in the sky over Lake George." asked another agent.

"Well," continued Hoshansen, "It was found on the same wavelength as the green stuff, and the scientists at Dasher Pinow are still trying to determine what it was. Anyways, we the Scanner, it bugs in and out, large traces of this stuff all around Saratoga Springs, which isn't too far from Lake George."

"I still don't understand," asked the same agent ,"why aren't we in the Buffalo Area, investigating there."

"What's your name, sir ," asked McCarty, interrupting the dialogue between .

"Michaels," said the agent, "Howard Michaels."

"Well Michael," McCarty said, taking on a more childish form, "did you read the forms before you came in."

"Uh," said Michael, "I assumed we'd be discussing this in the meeting so-," he paused as McCarty came up to him.

"Don't. Assume," the advice coming out like a rushing river. "Assuming things is always a very a bad idea. Like assuming that there are few bad guys surrounding a crack house when there are MANY. Or assuming that there drugs in that house when in reality there is a fat old lady in a bathtub you just barged into," the other agents chuckled. "The point is, don't assume. Always get the facts." He looked toward the door. "All the agents here read the files, mostly because we want as much confidentiality- and thus as little talking as possible. So go outside and get the facts, and don't assume you read them, when in reality you scratched yourself." The agent grabbed his file and walked out of the rented ballroom, embarrassed and trying to ignore the looks and laughs he was getting from his agents.

He walked outside the ballroom, and sat at a chair near the big doors, and began pulling out the file. The file had a sash written "CLASSIFIED" in bold, red, print. He pulled it out and began to read.

"Report By Agent James Kefauver Dated July 6th, 1999"

At 11:00 p.m. on July 4th, 1999, Ryan Guinness, 22 years old, was beginning his shift at Ploz High Security Warehouse, on Erie Avenue in North Tonawanda, NY, when he found his all his colleagues unconscious due to injury. At 11:02 p.m. he dialed 911, where the workers were rushed in the next day. Due to damage done to the video cameras, not one person suspect has been found on the case. According to an inventory, the only object stolen was a Dasher Pinow Spectral Scanner, which was designed for the purpose of allowing astronauts to observe radiation while performing a spacewalk.

The reason for the theft is as of this writing unknown. However, at the time of the theft, an unusual light had appeared over the skies of Lake George. What was originally thought to have been fireworks- ones that had been detonated in a defiance of an ordinance that had banned fireworks that day in Lake George, was then thought to have been an aurora. However signs showed that it was not an aurora, but instead an unusual radiation like pattern. It's purpose still unknown due to the fact that normal devices by NASA could not study it. It was found however, through the use of a backup scanner that had less power, that a similar substance was found throughout the warehouse. Through study, and through the testimony of all the guards who were present, it appears this substance, which did not fit any of the credentials for an element on the periodic table or even a state of matter, it shall be classified as the Fifth State.of Matter, had somehow influenced their minds since it carried certain wave length patterns. All guards had been present with injuries, as the evidence listed testified...but not one of them has been proven to actually have solely responsible in the theft, but remain under FBI observation.

Through a special GPS security device on the Spectral Scanner, we traced it through to the Montezuma NWR, before it was cut off on July 5th, at 5:25 p.m. At 6 p.m. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Agent Sheryl Bates discovered a vehicle partially submerged in Cayuga Lake. At 6:43. the vehicle had been extracted by a salvage team. The vehicle was a 1995 Chrysler Neon, it's license plate was found to be X4545, which matched a vehicle that had been reported stolen in North Tonawanda on July 4th, at 3:30 p.m. This Fifth State had also been found in this car, which matched the substance found in the warehouse, but the Scanner was still not found. Also a 1993 Black Chevrolet K5 Blazer had been reported stolen from the NWR around 5:30 p.m., license plate GHL-9934

Due to the detected presence of Fifth State all around Saratoga County, the same substance that had created an aurora like effect, it is believe that thief shall appear in Saratoga County over the next few days.

As of this writing, the identity of thief is unknown.

Motive: Unknown, but theorized to have something to do with Fifth State

Location of the original scanner: Unknown

Purpose of the Fifth State in Saratoga County:Unknown

Michaels finished reading the article, but still ideas continued to run through his head. He gently tapped his forehead with the file, and said "Jesus."
-

"Anyways," McCarty said, once again standing up until he heard the door open again into the ballroom where a sweaty Agent Michaels came in, with the file in hand.

"So Mr. Agent Michaels decided reading was a good idea after all," gestured McCarty, how wonderful. "If he read the article it means he is done assuming right?" The other agents started to chuckle.

"Anyways," said McCarty ,"Dr. Hoshasen has just picked up another signal of the green stuff-was is it Michael's?" he interjected and looked toward Michaels.

"Fifth State."

"Is that your assumption or do you know-."

"Yes," replied a frustrated Andrews, "Yes, I read it."

"Okay," said McCarty, grinning as he noticed Agent Michael's look of exasperation, "Dr. Hoshasen with his old scanner has detected a small signal of green Fifth State near-," he looked at Hoshasen, silently asking him for the answer.

"Oh," said Hoshasen, finally catching on ,"we again found a new signal of the Green Fifth State near...he paused, in Montgomery County."

"So Old Man Kefauver had the right idea," muttered McCarty under his breath, in a somewhat annoyed tone," I want you," looking toward the agent to his immediate right," to contact the Sheriff's Office, tell him to get any available officers to set up a roadblock, through all the roads in and out of Montgomery County. Don't tell him much, just tell him the vehicle name and license plate number. Have any agents ready to abduct his person. He's our guy, and not the county's." He stopped when he again heard the door open, revealing a fat guy and a thin guy both in matching black uniforms.

"Well, well, well," said McCarty, "if it isn't Dasher and Pinow, aka Chubbs and Skinny." He chuckled in a forced way. Carl and Larry also chuckled, because they weren't above jokes like that in college, but something about McCarty made them seem weary and thsi forced them to chuckle. "What's the news?"

"Well," said Carl, "we came by to see if you needed anything."

"Also," said Larry, "we want to know where Hoshasen has detected Fifth State, as Kefauver has called it."

"Well," said Hoshasen he began looking at the scanner ,"I've really," he paused, "what the hell?" Everyone paused, confused as to his reaction.

"Herman," asked Carl.

"What's going on."

"I'm detecting some blue energy in Saratoga Springs," said Dr. Hoshansen, taking his eyes out of the scanner, "and if this scanner is correct, it appears to be another form of Fifth State."

"What," asked McCarty. "Plug that thing into the monitor, I want to see for myself." Hoshansen plugged the proto-Scanner into television set in the ballroom. On the screen was a map of Saratoga County. By combining the scanner with the television, they were able to detect waves the fuchsia and mint green Fifth State all around Saratoga County. But northeast of Saratoga Springs, over a largely green area, their appeared to be a blue hue mixing in with large amounts of mint green and fuchsia.

"Where is that coming from," asked McCarty.

"Well," said Hoshansen, "I'll get some coordinates, but it looks like," he pulled out a file, "it's over one of the areas where we detected the Lake George Fifth State," he read the paper, "some place called the Upstate Inn." Carl and Larry's eyes widened at this statement.

"Dennis," muttered Carl, which was not unnoticed by McCarty.

"Whose Dennis," asked McCarty, glaring at the duo.

"Well," said Hoshansen reading the file, "the proprietor of the place is a man name Dennis Sadnik, age 51."

"You know this guy," asked McCarty, his voice going from playful to ruthless rapidly.

"Yeah, we know him," said Carl nervous.

"But not as professionals," interrupted Larry, "we're friends, but we never share any of our inventions, I mean he's an accountant whose trying to start his own business."

"I find it strange that the device that can detect this Fifth State is stolen," said McCarty in a piercingly inquisitive voice ," and this Fifth State, the first kind, and a third kind appear over the house of a man who apparently has a bond with the two gentlemen whose company designed this device."

"He couldn't have stolen it," said Carl.

"He was there with us on Fourth of July the night it was stolen," continued Larry.

"Be that as it may," said McCarty, "apparently he may have something to do with it, whether he knows it or not." He got up from his chair, and grabbed his coat. "I'm going to have my own talk with Mr. Sadnik." Carl and Larry flinched at this. "And if I don't like what I hear, I'm going to charge him with the theft, and you two for leaking government contracted equipment." Carl and Larry began to sweat. "And don't run to Kefauver, he maybe running the investigation, but outside Western New York, that old fart has no influence." Carl and Larry flinched at the disrespect this guy had for senior agents.

"Michaels," said McCarty, "your coming with me." Michaels was dismayed. "It will give you same training which you badly need," said McCarty, as he walked out the door. Michaels sat in anger, as did Carl and Larry before following McCarty out the door.

Feds and Vets (Part 1)

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"So that's why you kicked Lyra and that other girl out," asked Stirling. She was sitting with Dennis in his office. On the desk between them was two Styrofoam cups of coffee, and a box of half-finished donuts. "They got into a fight with your new neighbors who were trying to steal your horse.

"Yeah Stirling," said Dennis, who still sat nervous in his chair, coffee in his non-bandaged hand. "I didn't tell anybody because I don't want this attention. Two girls who are the daughters of a rich computer tycoon caught stealing from a neighbor. It's just not good for business."

"Don't worry," said Stirling, a genuine smile on her face. "I won't tell anyone, since you don't seem to be pressing charges." She pulled out a pen and a black police notepad, and began taking notes. "So let me see if I have all the details," she said opening the notepad.

"These girls names are Lyra Hart, and Bonnie Sweets."

"Yes."

"They are students from Stony Brook, and they live in Brookhaven, at least according to the info you gave me."

"Yes."

"They showed up, and gave you your fee in advance, in cash, and they weren't carrying a credit card, nor did you ask them for one."

"Uh, Yes," said Dennis, reluctantly.

"You didn't think that might be suspicious," said Stirling, incredulously.

"I didn't think they were crooks, and I don't know why you are so suspicious of them."

"Well, I told you how the scanner was missing right."

"Yes."

"Well the leads the FBI gave me were unusually random. I ran around town going to seemingly random places, none of them remotely relating to a radiation detecting scanner," uttered Stirling, the last three words coming out like a pre-programmed machine. "But a motel in the middle of nowhere would appear to be the only place that a thief would go to." She put the coffee cup down on the table.

"Well," Dennis replied ," I can see your reason there, and they are astronomy students." Dennis got up and walked to the tan filing cabinet in the far right corner of the room. He pulled out a file reading "Customer Data." " I keep tabs on all my early customers," Dennis uttered as he put the file on the table, "here is the info I have on them, names, addresses, licence plate number," he pulled out a detailed copy of a check-in form, and put in front of Stirling. She looked at it shocked at the unusual questions.

"You asked them for blood types" she asked incredulously.

"Emergencies happen," replied Dennis, in a matter-of-fact tone, "but it was optional.

"Favorite color?"

"An important detail when judging an individuals personality."

"I know," said Dennis ," I just want to run a good business, so I ask for this info."

"And you didn't ask for a credit card number?"

"Cash on the table is a good deal for a motel owner."

"Alright," she said, putting check-in forms into her shirt ," I will take this info."

"You actually think these girls have something to do with this," asked Dennis.

"I don't know," muttered Stirling ," nothing the FBI is doing is making any real sense. I'll see you around Dennis," she got up from the chair, and began walking out of his office. Dennis soon followed her out the door to his car. He walked until he saw a few feet away, Crystal, her hat hanging limp from hat, about to fall off, had walked out of the barn.

"Hold on Stirling," said Dennis running from Stirling, "I got get Crystal back into the barn.

"Sure," Stirling waved her hand at him ," it's fine get her back in there." She took a look at Dennis running back to the barn at stared at the barn.

"I bet the lead paint is even older than the barn itself," Stirling joked to herself, chuckling. She began to walk to her police car when she saw another police car pull up. The car was a black sedan, with darkened windows, which only added to the mystery and intrigue that stopped Stirling from entering her vehicle. Two figures who had been barely visible in the darkened windows stepped out. Two men got out, both of varying sizes, but with an oddly matching of dark suits, sunglasses, and black ties. One was slightly below average height, somewhat tanned skin, and shaven chestnut. The other one was tall (at least seven inches taller than the other man), shaven blond hair, and was built like a brick wall, and looked like he played for the Jets. Yet in spite of the strength that was implied by his size, he looked like he was edging behind the much shorter man.

"Hello," said the short man holding out a badge,"Agent McCarty of the FBI," he looked back toward Michaels ,"this is Agent Michaels."

"Officer Hannah Stirling of Saratoga County Sheriff's Office," replied Stirling, her tone just slightly under sarcastic ," we spoke over the phone."

"Oh yeah," McCarty realized, "we did. I see you followed the lead we gave you here to the Upstate Inn. What did you find."

"Nothing, I was just visiting a friend," replied Stirling, a big sneer on her face.

"In your uniform." McCarty was either incredulous or seemed to be looking at more than Stirling's uniform, but to her, it was obvious that she wasn't buying it,

"He invited me for lunch."

"Oh I see," said McCarty, "you're familiar with this man."

"Yeah," said Michaels ,"are you-,"

"Michaels, go play with the radio and let the adults talk," said McCarty.

"But Sir-,"

"Go," and Michaels walked away like a child that felt left out. He noticed Dennis was walking out of his barn, and was walking toward the two.

"Can I help you," asked Dennis, approaching the FBI Agent.

"Agent McCarty, FBI, are you Dennis Sadnik?"

"Yes."

"Can I have a look around your property?"

"Why?"

"Classified information."

"What do you mean classified-"

"McCarty," Michaels uttered, exiting the car. Dennis was stunned by the appearance of Michaels, and his gargantuan size. "He could play for the Jets," Dennis muttered to himself.

"Agent," whispered Michaels, "something came up on the radio."

"What?"

"Just check it," whined Michaels.

"Excuse us," uttered McCarty before going back to the Sedan, as Dennis and Stirling stood by each other and watched.

"What is going on," whispered Dennis to Stirling.

"What," asked McCarty, as he got back into the driver's seat.

"There's an agent Johnson who wanted to speak to you." McCarty hushed up, and turned the small dials on the radio.

"Johnson," said McCarty ,"this is McCarty what is it."

"It vanished," said a crackled voice over the radio. "The Fifth State over Greenfield, it stopped flowing."

"What," a shocked McCarty asked. Michaels too who seemed to lie back in his chair in a sort of a daze, sat up straight, having been shocked by what he had read in the document about the mysterious substance. Its' disappearance could only mean big trouble, possibly for the owner of the property. His expression ceased when Agent McCarty got out of the car.

"Agent," inquired Michaels, "where are-,"

"Stay in here and keep the seat warm," replied McCarty, causing agent Michaels to slide back into his seat.
-

"Mr. Sadnik," McCarty approached Dennis in a charismatic matter, "we are sorry for having disturbed you, but I am required back at the office. I must leave you," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a white card, " but please call us if you see anything," he finished. Dennis took the card, uneasily from him, and stared at it, McCarty turned around and walked away. "Oh and Stirling," continued McCarty, quickly turning his head back, a sick grin on his face, startling Dennis, "go with guys your own age." He turned his head back, just avoiding the deep glare that was forming on Stirling's face, who until then, had been silent.

"That's Officer Stirling to you," she screamed, but McCarty continued to walk on, ignoring his reaction. He got back into the car, and drove away, leaving a confused Dennis and a seething Stirling.

"I don't like that guy," said Dennis in half-hearted tone, but Stirling continued to fry in anger.

"Stirling I really think you need to chill," said Dennis.

"But," replied Stirling, in a tone that reminded Dennis of an angry teenage girl, whom he knew personally ,"he said-,"

"No Stella," uttered Dennis in a parent talking to a child tone, causing Stirling to wince ,"you're gonna act like 30 year old, not in girl's locker room, and turn the other cheek, or should I talk to Helmsley." Stirling took a deep breath, and calmed down, the threat of her superior scaring her anger away. Dennis returned to his own thoughts and wondered what the implications of such a visitor were. "First my neighbors try to take away my little pony, than you come in and start interrogating me, and now the FBI?" he wondered this aloud. "What do they want?"

"I don't know," muttered Stirling. "What do they want," asked Stirling. "Who knows, maybe it's all a conspiracy to cover up strange lifeforms or something," she joked. Dennis ignored the comment, but turned toward his barn, and his neutral mode went into a calm inner panic, as he remembered what had been happening to Crystal. "I'll she you around Dennis," exclaimed Stirling before playfully punching Dennis in the shoulder, who was lost in a sea of anxiety. Stirling turned around and walked back to the car, but suddenly realized Dennis had been awfully quiet. "Dennis you've been-," she turned around before seeing an overweight run straight up the hill, in a panic. She wondered what, before finally decided she had seen Dennis enough and decided to go back to the station. She got back in her cruiser, quietly, but couldn't help but feel strange thoughts reverberating through out her mind.

'Is he a friend, is he a dad, is he a brother, or is he really my boy-, no, how dare make me think that !'

Stirling rattled her head to get rid of the annoying thoughts and drove off, but not before seeing Dennis clamber into his barn.
-
In Greenfield there was only one veterinarian for livestock. Dr. Norman Cheval was that veterinarian. He was also the only veterinarian in town. Period. Thus when you saw the white square sign with dark green font on his lawn that said ," The Best Vet in Town," he wasn't stroking his ego, he was telling the truth. In a way. He was recognizable by his white coat, his crew cut brown head, and large brown beard. In fact, patients would always joke that he was the hairiest creature in the clinic. He would laugh it off, but somehow the patients always had their premiums doubled. Currently he was sitting on his desk, doing work, or at least that it what he told his wife.

"Oh Kent," said the actress on his TV," I wish I could fall for you, but something prevents me."

"What," asked the actor and Dr. Cheval at the same time in a dramatic voice ," what prevents that, Elise?"

"The doctor called," said Elise ," I had a cramp in my leg."

"No," screamed the actor known as Kent, as did Dr. Cheval, who grabbed the television in despair ,"no don't Elise." Tears began to fall down his eyes on to the screen. "We'll get through this," he said to the screen. The door slammed open, and Cheval jumped to switch of the TV.

"Dr. Cheval," said the lady who opened the door, in a panicked tone.

"What," screamed Dr. Cheval, "what," he lowered his voice ",is it?"

"There's a patient here to see you," said the lady in the pink blouse and white skirt.

"Does he have an appointment," asked Dr. Cheval, taking his feet off the desk.

"No, but..."

"Let me talk to him Justine," said the man being blocked by Justine. He was panicking. "Let me through."

"Oh here we go," said Dr. Cheval. "I'll talk him." He paused. "You didn't see anything," asked Dr. Cheval accusingly.

"No Dr. Cheval I didn't see you watching soap operas again."

"Good." The lady walked away revealing a panicky middle aged man. Normally, seeing a panicking man in a vet's office would mean a cute little bunny was in critical condition and would need intensive care. Unless of course, you knew Dennis Sadnik and his pony emergencies.

"Norman," said Dennis running into the office. "I need your help."

"For the fifth time Dennis," said Dr. Cheval ," you are supposed to make an appointment."

"Norman this can't wait," uttered Dennis desperate.

"I don't care if that horse won't drink from water, you need to make-,"

"I'm telling this can't wait. If you just saw," continued Dennis.

"No, I am busy, and I can't deal with people who feel they can barge in at any time."

"Please," asked Dennis.

"No," Cheval replied, hardly moving his head.

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"Please," moaned Dennis, in a dramatic fashion. A silent pause held in the room. Dennis didn't drop his fearful face, nor did Dr. Cheval drop his stoic face. Dennis reached into his wallet and pulled out a bill. "20 dollars?"

"No."

"40?" Another pause held.

"Okay."
-

The two men approached Dennis' horse trailer. It was a grey thing shaped like an 1950s radio, with lines along the side, a curve toward its' roof, and small but not so clear viewing port. and a lead coated exterior. People could only see the silhouette of the horse through the old window. Dennis always told people he bought it an auction in St. Albans, Vermont. To this day, no one knows what he was doing in St. Albans, Vermont, but people knew it was a personal matter, since he drove there with his old Chevelle, as he always would. Indeed he had drove their today, so it meant things were serious. Today was a very personally matter indeed. They both walked quietly but in different ways. Dr. Cheval was passive and indifferent, while Dennis was quiet like a mouse trying to get away from the cat. But seeing the Chevelle, Dr. Cheval knew something was going on. Still his face remained stoic.

"Okay Dennis, show me what's inside," said Dr. Cheval. He saw Dennis open the doors to the trailer, and noticed his bandaged hand, for the first time. "Hey Dennis, what happened to your hand?" Dennis ignored the question and opened the doors to his trailer, the end that closest to the window." Inside was a brown pony. Bars near the door blocked Crystal in case she tried to make an escape. But that wasn't the thing confusing Dr. Cheval. Atop the head of the pony with dark black eyes was a top hat.

"Why is the pony wearing a top hat," Dennis continued to ignore, and reached for the hat on Crystal's head, who was now shaking her head and whinnying like crazy.

"Hold still Crystal," cooed Dennis ," I'm sure Cheval can help us." He pulled the hat off, and suddenly, Cheval's world went white.