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Subject: {ASSM} That One 3/4 - Rebecca (zoo/best) TBD
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Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:10:07 -0400
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The events in this chapter overlap the events at the end of chapter
two, from a different perspective.
--------

That One: Rebecca
------------

I gestured at the usual chair.  "Good to see you, Linda.  How are you
and Cindy?"

"Bored.  Need something impossible to do."

We shared some laughter, then I sobered and sighed.  "Well, this one
might be exactly what you're looking for.  I have a video I want you
to see, before you decide if you and Cindy want this one."

"Giles?  You've never given us a chance to refuse, before."

"I know.  Watch."

After it was over she sighed and looked at her bitch.  "I don't know,
Giles.  Cindy's an unashamed sneak, but that girl knows all the moves
a dog could use, doesn't she?"

"Yep.  Her father has had a kennel since before she was born.  Grew up
living around protection dogs, and even knows how to train them."

"You want her, don't you?"

"Yes.  She's letting herself die.  If we don't break through, she'll
be dead in less than a month.  Notice anything else?"

Linda winced.  "Yes, I did, because I'm sensitive to it after we lost
Yuri a couple years back.  She's gone Goth.  Do her parents know?"

"They know, but I'm pretty sure they haven't completely internalized
the implications."

"There's something else, isn't there?"

I sighed and looked at Cindy.  "Yes, there is, and it scares me.  I'm
not sure about her mother, or her, but her father is vehemently
anti-zoo and knows what to look for.  I'll give you the link to his
site so you can read what he has on it."

She smiled a little sadly.  "Another reason you want us?  Because
we're not?"

"Exactly."

"I want Oscar, too.  I have an idea I've been working on since Yuri,
and I want to see if it works."

I chuckled.  "Take him.  Let me know about your idea when you're
ready, and... Don't forget to set up your camera."

She caught my hesitation,  "What is it?

"Take a chance.  Tell her we're not going to let her get away with
making her death meaningless.  If she asks, tell her everything.
Nothing to lose, right?"

She thought about it, then sighed and nodded.  "Might work.  You're
the boss, and you don't make many bad calls.  What's Hester think?"

"She's redecorating our spare bedroom, based on what she saw and heard
when she got the tour, yesterday.  As soon as she's done, in a couple
days, we'll bring Rebecca home."

Linda's eyebrows shot up and I sighed again.  "Mostly, it's her
father, but her mother isn't willing to contradict him when he's
wrong.  The man has an overwhelming personality, but he genuinely
cares at the same time."

Linda shook her head wearily.  "Hester thinks we're dealing with a kid
who does it right, and she's always wrong, anyway?"

"Yes."

"What about Dianne, if she gets dumped on you again?"

I sighed.  "It was a tough call.  We decided that she'll stay with
Cynthia from now on, since she already does that sometimes, anyway.  

She stood and smiled.  "Glad I didn't have to make that decision.
We'll get that two days for you, somehow."

* * *

A week later Rebecca was lying on a blanket in our back yard, and
Cindy and Oscar flanked her a few feet away.  Jackie, Hera and I were
on a blanket of our own, while I kept an eye on Rebecca.

Cindy suddenly stretched, and when she was done, she was about an inch
closer.

Rebecca spoke without seeming to look at her.  "Stop that, Cindy.  I
know all the tricks.  Go away."

Cindy got up and backed off about a foot , then resettled.  After she
stretched and rolled on her side before she went to sleep, she was
closer than she'd been when she was caught.

Rebecca rolled onto an elbow and studied Cindy.  "Huh.  That's a new
one.  Never seen it before.  I'll let you get away with it, this time,
Cindy.  Don't try to tell me you didn't hear me, either, just because
your ears haven't moved."

Then she rolled on her other side and studied Oscar intently.  "At
least you listen to me.  I don't think you've tried anything since you
parked yourself and started watching me."

"Ok, Giles.  Dad's good.  You folks are better.  How'd you get Cindy
to do all the sneaking she does?  And that thing with her ears
freezing like she's dead and doesn't care.  It's not normal.  Only
seen it in dogs that are terrified, and she's just too relaxed and
confident.  I don't think she knows how to be afraid of people."

I smiled at her.  "We didn't teach Cindy how to do what she does.  All
we did was encourage her be herself, and then we figured out a way to
use it to help people."

"Dad hates animal fuckers, you know.  He's good at spotting them, and
he made sure I could, too.  How'd you hide it from him?"

"I was wondering if he taught you how to spot us.  He didn't spot any,
because he hasn't met any, and both your parents signed paperwork
saying they agreed to stay away, because Hester felt you needed
complete separation during your therapy, to reduce the stress in your
life to a minimum.  Legally, we have custody, and are completely
responsible for you."

"What are you going to do if I decide to live?"

"Up to you.  We have our own school, and it's accredited.  Attending
it is up to you, and if you don't want to attend, it's not going to
affect what we do to help you.  You should, of course, or at least get
your GED, somehow."

She looked around and sighed.  "How much is this costing them?  A lot,
I hope.  Make them pay.  They can afford it."

"Sorry, Rebecca.  It doesn't work that way.  Everything we offer is
free."

"You're kidding!"

"No.  That's the way we set it up almost eight years ago, and before
the first year was over, we had a corporate sponsor willing to fund us
for ten years, with a half million a year in charitable contributions,
that weren't linked to our success rate."

"I've never heard of anyone giving away that kind of money without a
lot of strings attached to it."

"I hadn't either, but Cynthia went to work right after we got her as a
patient, and she found the right way to twist arms to make it happen.
Anyway, without the corporate sponsor, we would have lost money the
first year.  After that, we've been able to meet expenses with all the
other donations, so the corporate donation goes towards buying the
stuff we'd planned for, later."

She nodded and looked around, then looked at Cindy and sighed.  Cindy
was still in the same position, but about another three inches closer.
"You win, Cindy.  Get over here."

Cindy got up, walked over and flopped on her side next to Rebecca,
then rolled until her legs were propped on Rebecca, who looked
startled, then she relaxed and giggled.  "Smooth.  If I want to leave,
you'll know it, even if you're sleeping."

She petted Cindy lightly, and I spoke gently.  "She's no different
than anyone else who works here, except for one thing.  Both of her
shoulders are yours to cry on, any time you need them, until you and
Hester decide you don't need her, or you have a dog of your own, if
you want one.  If you want her on the bed, she can live there and
nobody will care.  Every dog and bitch here is some sort of Love Dog,
or in training to be one."

She jerked her head up and stared at me.  "Love Dogs?"

"Yep.  That's the calling name.  Officially, her graduation
certificate says she's a 'Guide Dog for the Soul'.  So's Oscar."

She winced and sighed.  "I never dreamed something like that was
possible."

It was my turn to sigh.  "Nobody does.  I didn't have a choice.  I
gambled my entire inheritance on this, because if it didn't work, I
would have died within a week of my first bitch's death.  So far, it's
working."

"Mom and dad taught me that when someone helps you, you pay them back.
I agree with that much, anyway."

I shrugged.  "Do I fix lunch for two, or call the mortician?"

"Cold man."

"Why should I waste my time telling you, if you're not going to be
around to learn from it?"

"Fuck it.  I'm hungry.  As long as I can stay here when I'm recovered,
I'll stick around.  And...  Thanks, I guess.  If I have to shovel dog
shit for the rest of my life, it's better than doing it wrong, no
matter how right I am."

"Lunch, it is.  I promise you this much, you won't be shoveling dog
shit unless you want to.  Might wind up teaching others how to do it.
Need help getting up?"

"Whoa!  Slow down!  Wait...  Did I just hear you say you could use me
as a *trainer*?!"

"I talked to your father.  You've been doing it longer than we've been
here.  Appreciate it if you think about it, but look around before you
decide.  There's some permanent staff, of course, but most of the
people are volunteers.  Linda is one of those volunteers.  In the two
days she got to know you, she was impressed, and she doesn't impress
easily."

"She ignored me.  I thought she was just a handler."

I smiled.  "She read the dogs, not you.  You want to try and tell me
dogs can't read the real person when they meet them?"

She blushed.  "I guess not.  Help me up, please.  I'm pretty weak."

I did, and she managed to make the walk to the kitchen table, where
she settled and sighed.  "I have to know.  Did you do all that because
you wanted me?"

I looked up from chopping some carrots.  "No.  I'll be honest.  Very
few of the people we help, decide to help us directly by donating
time, and fewer still want to work here as part of the staff.  Not
many can handle the stress.  All of us want you to live, first.  After
that, yes, I'd like to have you here as a trainer and handler."

She sighed.  "Yeah.  I didn't want to live because...  Wait.  You're
as bad as Cindy!  I thought Hester was my therapist, but it's been you
and the dogs, hasn't it?"

"More or less.  Mostly, it's the dogs.  I was there to make sure you
wouldn't try to hurt them.  Not that you could, probably.  We teach
all of them what to look for, so they know when to back off.  'Guide
Dogs for The Soul' are the best of the best, and they get used on the
people everyone else has given up on."

"What about Hera and Jackie?"

"They're my co-wives.  Jackie is Hera's mother, and officially retired
to being a full time, spoiled, house pet.  Hera works in reception
during the day unless I need her with me for some reason."

"Uhh...  Are all the dogs and bitches zoo?"

"No. They all get familiarized, of course, because we want the
decision to be mutual if it happens, which is rarely.  We do have dogs
and bitches who are comfortable dealing with the curious, under
supervised conditions."

"You mean they let strangers fuck them?"

"Yes."

"I don't hate zoos.  Never did.  Dad gave me the links, of course, and
then went into detail about everything that was wrong with it.  He's
like that.  Never sees what's right, unless he's the one doing it."

"I know, Rebecca.  We see it all the time."

"Yeah.  Guess you would.  So why me?  How come you agreed to help me?"

"Your father asked us to."

"He did?!  Dad actually asked for help?  That's gotta be a first!"

"Asked isn't really the right word, but it fits, mostly."

"Begged you, huh?  Tried that with me a few times.  It quit working,
this time, because he's never listened when I told him what he was
doing wrong."

"Hester knew as soon as she started talking to him.  Been almost eight
years since we last turned the spare bedroom over to someone else for
as long as they wanted it."

"What if I decide I want it permanently?"

"Then it's yours.  You decide you want to spend the night fucking your
boyfriend or girlfriend, all we ask is that you close the door and
keep the noise down so we can sleep."

"What if I decide I don't want a boyfriend.  What if I want..."  She
blushed when I looked up.  "Oscar, for example?"

"Then you want Oscar.  He knows what to do.  Anyone here can answer
questions if *you* need help.  You said you've seen the web sites, so
there's probably not much anyone can tell you about the details,
right?"

"Uhhh...  Yeah.  Hey!  I'm a fourteen year old girl, and you're...  A
lot older.  Is it ok for you and I to be talking like this?"

"Two ways to look at it, depending on the relationship you want. Right
now, the paperwork your parents signed made us your foster parents, so
they couldn't interfere with your therapy.  That makes this a normal
father-daughter conversation."

"The other way?"

"I work for Hester as a therapy assistant, and as far as overall
policy goes, she's in charge of what gets done.  The rest of us handle
the details, as we see fit, as long as she hasn't told us exactly what
she wants us to do.  Legally, anyone here could be considered to be
under twenty four hour care.  You happen to be one of the people under
'constant supervision'.

She finally nodded.  "What if I screamed 'rape'?"

"If it was true, I'd be pinned to the floor by two very upset dogs,
and there would be an investigation by us, and the authorities, until
the facts were known."

I smiled tiredly.  "People would know you were lying if you said I did
it, though.  Even the strongest hypnotic compulsion won't get me to
have sex with a woman, let alone force me to rape her.  It's been
tried, and Hester tests me at least once a year."

"What if...  I wanted to explore with you?"

"It's normal to want that.  However, because of who I am, it's
impossible to take it past a clinical examination, and Hester has to
be there when it happens.  Plenty of young men and women who work
here.  It would be better to focus on them instead of me.  I'm willing
to be your father, Rebecca, I can't be one of your lovers."

The timer went off and I smiled.  "Let's take a break and eat."

She shook herself.  "Yeah.  Let's.  I have a lot to think about."

Before I got up, I grinned at her.  "Let me give you something else to
think about.  Everyone knows you're the most experienced trainer and
handler here.  That counts more than the fact you're also a patient.
If you speak, they'll listen."

"Not smooth enough.  Giles.  Why would they listen to criticism from a
fourteen year old?"

"Lesson of the day.  I didn't say it had to be criticism.  You take it
from there."

Her eye widened slightly.  "Oh.  Yeah.  Got it!"

Then she stared at me.  "You're *worse* than Cindy!"

"Thanks.  You're pretty good, yourself."

"Thank you...  Father."

"You're welcome.  I'm going to give you a small serving for now.  Let
your stomach get used to food again."

I chuckled.  "Listen to me.  Telling a professional how to do her
job."

"Huh?  I'm no...  Oh. Yeah.  I helped mom and dad all the time when a
dog went off its food.  Didn't think about it applying to humans,
too."

She ate in silence and when she was done she leaned back to watch me
finish eating.

After I put the dishes in the washer, she sighed and smiled bitterly.
"Be easy to fall in love with you, Giles.  You move like a dog."

I resettled, studied her a for awhile, sighed, and spoke gently.  "How
long have you known, and how did you manage to hide it?

"I've known since puberty.  I know where all the holes are in dad's
video coverage, so I did some exploring.  Enough to know, anyway.
Thought you'd figure out how I hid.  Dad gave me the links he uses to
learn about zoos so he can help them become humans again.  Lot of
folks talk about how they've managed to hide for years.  Once I knew,
I quit, completely.  Been waiting until I was old enough to leave home
without divorcing them, that's all.  Thought I could handle the
stress, but...   Imagine you've heard it all, before."

"Unfortunately, I have.  You have free run of the compound as long
you're escorted, which for now, will mean unless I have to be
somewhere else, I'll be with you.  If you find a dog that isn't
attached, he's yours.  They're free to anyone we treat, who needs a
permanent companion dog."

She stiffened and her eyes narrowed.  "It can't be that easy."

"It *is* that easy.  We do what it takes to help people be the best
people they can be.  Usually, people just need a companion dog they
can bond with.  If they need to turn zoo temporarily, as part of their
recovery, that's what has to happen.  If they want one to love as
their husband or wife, well, there are dogs and bitches who can be
that, too, and we never try to tell the person which one it should
be."

"Eight years, and nobody on the web has mentioned you folks...  Oh.
Yeah.  I get it again.  'Code of silence'?"

"Maybe.  Mostly, I think it's because we're open about it.  We don't
advertise it, but we don't get paranoid about it, either.  Mostly,
people see what they expect to see, and as long as there's no fucking
going on to see, it can all be explained away as doggy enthusiasm."

I shrugged and went on bitterly.  "We lie a lot, too, of course."

She nodded.  "Of course.  I know a lot about that."

Suddenly she flinched and looked down.  "You two don't like being
ignored, do you?  You're quite a team.  And you, Oscar.  I didn't
figure out you're a sneak, too.  Good job!"

The she shifted as if she was going to stand, and slumped.  "Can you
help me to the bathroom?  I don't have the strength."

"Support or carry?"

"Support, please."

"No problem.  You be ok, alone?"

She thought about it a long time, then nodded.  "Yeah.  I'm a passive
suicide and that's over now. You can relax.  I'll holler when I'm
done, ok?  You can help me to the bed, then I want to find out what
it's like to go to sleep with dogs on the bed, if they're willing to
do that."

I chuckled.  "Most likely, they'll stay there until you tell them to
leave."

She thought about it while I helped her to the bathroom, then giggled.
"I should, just to see what they do about it, but...  I need some love
that doesn't have strings and criticism attached."

I chuckled and let her go so she could push the curtain aside. "Holler
when you need help."

"I will."

I wasn't surprised when I heard the water running in the tub, so I
sighed and went to the bathroom and spoke before I went in.  "Rebecca?
I can't let you take a bath unobserved."

"Sorry.  I forgot, since it wasn't one Hester made me take.  I'm used
to hiding, ya know?"

"Want me to get someone else?"

"Nahh...  I don't want to wait, and didn't you say you can't rape
anyone?  Come on in.  I'll get used to it.  I remember Hester telling
me you folks are usually nudists when you're not expecting company, so
I need to get used to that, too."

She settled in the tub, I settled on the commode, and the dogs found
room on the floor near the tub.  Jackie came in, sat on her haunches,
and settled her head on my lap for some attention.  I didn't know what
Hera was doing, but I figured she was most likely on the couch or my
bed, unless she'd gone back outside to watch what was going on.

Eventually Rebecca looked up from her bathing and sighed.  "Scrub my
back?"

"I can do that."

She bent forward and I did as she'd requested, then she settled in the
tub so her knees were bent and she had her head on the sloped part.
"Mom and dad never worried about me trying to drown myself."

I'd resettled, so I smiled at her.  "As long as one of the dogs is
with you, we're aren't, either, but the law says anyone who is
suicidal has to be watched by a human at all times, until the
therapist in charge decides otherwise.  We value privacy, so we don't
have anything except portable cameras in our home."

She sighed.  "So that means someone watches me in person."

"Yes."

"I think I'm figuring this place out.  Cindy and Oscar have been
trained so I can't suicide around them?"

"It's possible, if you're creative enough.  If you're curious, hold
your breath and put your head under the water, then don't move.  I'm
here, so they won't howl."

She did, and five seconds later Oscar had a firm grip on her hair and
was lifting her head out of the water.

As soon as her head was clear she fended him off and shifted until she
was staring at me.  "I've heard about dogs rescuing family members.
Never thought I'd meet a dog who was trained to stop a suicide."

"Now, you have."

"More of that let them be themselves stuff?

"Yes.  Then, if we can get them to do it on command, we start setting
up conditions to see if we can get them to do it on their own.  If
that works, we start figuring out ways to teach other dogs to do it.
Helps that we make it all a game for them, so the others usually want
to join in at some point."

She thought about it, then nodded.  "Like to meet your head trainer."

"You're talking to him."

"You?!  But...  Oh.  Yeah.  Ok.  When you started, you owned a bitch
and Hester was the therapist you got to help?"

"Exactly.  Thing is. I'd only done an obedience class with Ginger, and
all I've done since, is reading and trying out my own ideas.  Dogs we
use have to be able to work independently while their handler is with
them, and most of the trainers I checked out want robots when they are
done.  When I suggested there were other ways, they thought ..."

"Yeah.  You may have got it right, but you did it the wrong way, or
something."

"Yes.  Your father told me that *if* I managed to save your life, and
*if* I let you near any of our dogs, someone would have to watch you,
because you liked to experiment.  I'm not going to lie about what
happened.  I decided I wanted you here.  Hell, Rebecca, you *belong*
here, so you can be around people and dogs who need someone to guide
their explorations, and helps them by thinking up 'crazy new games to
play'."

She jerked upright.  "Damn!  You did talk to dad, and he gave you all
of it.  That's what he called them when he was getting after me.  I
was ruining the dog because I was trying to make it a game. Protection
work is supposed to be serious stuff."

"We protect people for a different reason, one that allows us the
freedom to look for unconventional ways to get the results we want."

"Yeah?"

"Love.  And by making it all a game, the dogs don't get depressed when
they fail, or someone doesn't need them any more, because there's
always someone else they can find to play with them."

She shivered and Cindy focused on her.  "I'm ok, Cindy.  Just a bad
memory."

"I bet dad I could make his favorite bitch attack him, and he wouldn't
be able to call her off.  He was always talking about how a person who
knew what they were doing could steal a trained dog and make it
theirs, if they really wanted to.  Nobody ever did it with one of
*his* dogs, when people tried, of course.  He got a lot of business
because of that.

"Anyway, this guy came in looking for a dog to protect a storage yard
from the kids in the neighborhood, and dad was...  Bragging about it
and decided to use me.  You know, the 'she works with them daily',
stuff.  So I put one of the protection suits on and he handed me a
leash, then told me to see if I could steal something from the area
she was told to guard.

"I asked him if he was going to put his own stuff on and he... Laughed
at me and said it was a waste of time.

"So he set her to guard the back yard and then sent me in to go 'steal
something'."

"I did.  Her.  When they came in, she about tore my arm off when I
told her to get him.  And she wouldn't stop until *I* told her 'out'.

"The guy thought it was funny, and that since dad was so honest, he
got the job, because the guy didn't think any of the kids would be
wearing protection gear and be able to take the bites.  Wasn't that
kind of neighborhood."

"After the guy left, dad called the locksmith, changed the locks,
deliberately didn't give me a set of keys, and told me I wasn't going
to be allowed to be around the dogs any more, unless they were in the
house."

I sighed.  "So you decided to die."

"Yes.  Wouldn't you?"

"Only thing keeping me alive, was Ginger and how much we loved each
other.  Best Hester could do for me was extend it to a week, from the
five minutes it would have been otherwise."

I waved, taking in everything.  "All of this was a desperate gamble to
see if we could find a way to force me to keep living, and we wouldn't
know if it worked, until Ginger actually died."

She nodded.  "It did, though, hasn't it?"

"Yeah.  It was a close thing for that first week, but Jackie was
exactly the bitch I needed to make it work.  I'll be able to keep
going when she dies, because Hera will be there for me.  I have other
reasons to keep living, too.  Helping people like you is a big part of
what keeps me alive, now."

"Head trainer, huh?"

"Yes."

"I got some ideas about protection dogs.  Mind if I try them out with
whatever dog I decide to make my husband?"

"As long as you share it with anyone else who asks, if it works.  You
willing to listen to suggestions while you're experimenting?"

"As long as I can ignore them."

"Works both ways.  You'll have to take the time to let them know
you're seriously considering what they suggest."

"I'm not my father.  If nothing else, I'll help them try it with a
different dog, ok?"

"Fine with me."

"I'll take the job.  If you want to pay me, fine.  Otherwise, as long
as I can live here, I'll do it for free."

I held out my hand.  "Done."

We shook, and then I reached for the handset I always carried, put it
on speaker phone, and called Cynthia.

"Need something, Giles?"

"Add Rebecca to the staff as our head trainer."

I got a shriek as an answer.  "I won!  I won!   Is Jackie or Hera
there?"

"Jackie is."

"Jackie!  Special pickup!  Office!"

I looked down to see her quivering with eagerness.  "Go!"

And she was gone.

"She's on her way."

"Good.  I'll send her back with Rebecca's new vest.  It has her name,
and the words 'Head Trainer' on it.  Everyone said I was too
optimistic when I insisted it would be today.  Whups!  Phone.  Chat
later."

I put the handset back on my belt.  "Why wear our own legs out, when
we have the dogs?"

She finally giggled.  "You folks are crazy!  Remote control dogs!"

"Yep.  We want you to teach us how to be crazier."

"I'll try."

"Thanks.  Done soaking?"

"Yeah.  Help me out so I can dry off."

I studied her some more and sighed, then turned to one of the
cupboards after I opened the drain.  "I'll get the handicapped seat,
so we can rinse you off, then you can dry as much as you can before I
finish the job and help you to your bed.  Once you're settled, I'll go
fix a high energy snack for you.  By then, if she's not busy, Hester
will be here and I'll turn you over to her.  If she isn't, you can
talk to her during dinner."

Hester cleared her as provisionally non-suicidal, which meant she
could do limited activities, but someone had to be with her at all
times, still.

There was another problem too, which was easily fixed.  Rebecca was
still too weak to walk very far, so we talked it over and I got the
duty of pushing a wheelchair around, for those times she needed it.

A few days later we were watching the kids and dogs in the day care
area while Rebecca chafed at not being able to romp with the dogs like
she used to.

I don't remember what we were discussing when she stopped in mid
sentence and turned her head slowly, then studied...  Something.

Finally she relaxed and spoke quietly.  "Watch Juno."

I found her, and smiled.  "That's Jeffery she's with.  Looks like
they're having fun together.  Hope he doesn't run her over with that
contraption."

"You don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?  Looks like they're enjoying themselves."

"Juno is helping him learn how to walk and run.  He thinks she's
playing with him, I bet."

"She's what?!"

"Yeah, that's how I felt when I first realized what she was doing. She
started out by getting him to go straight, now she's getting him to
keep moving while he changes direction.  When he gets it right, she
comes back and licks him until he giggles, and when he starts getting
tired, she flops right in front of him so he has to stop, then after a
bit she gets up and nuzzles him.  Both them are enjoying themselves...

"Uhhh....  Giles?"

"What, Becky?"

"Remember you said I could try my crazy games?"

"What do you have in mind?

"That walking trainer Jeffery is in.  What if we made one two dogs
could carry between them?  Sort of a wheelchair and trainer for kids
that could go...  Anywhere there was room, at whatever speed the kid
wanted, including running?"

I thought about it.  "Kid's legs can be fragile.  What if they
stumble?"

"Yeah.  Oh well.  Forget the running.  Some sort of wheelchair
arrangement that protects their legs might be better."

"Don't give up so quickly.  What if the kid doesn't have any legs to
worry about?  Think they'd like to be able to 'run' faster than any of
their friends?"

She giggled.  "Let me find a couple dogs that work as a team...  I'm
stupid!"

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  Mom and dad always told everyone I learned how to walk by
hanging on to any dog that was willing to let me half jerk their fur
out when I fell."

I chuckled.  "Happens in a lot of families with dogs."

She giggled again.  "I bet.  Might be easy to teach a dog to help a
kid learn how to walk.  Down to let the kid grab a special harness,
then stand to help them up and let them get their balance, then the
rest is nothing more than working short leash at heel, right?"

We looked at each other, and she was grinning, while I knew I must
have looked shocked.  "It *can't* be that easy, can it?"

"Why not?"

I sighed.  "Yeah..."

She frowned.  "You look sorta weird."

"I feel weird.  When people don't need a wheelchair, what do they
usually use?"

"This a trick question?  Only things I can think of are...  Crutches
and canes.  You can't be serious!"

"You said it yourself.  Once they're moving, it's short leash heeling.
Must be a way to make an adjustable framework that would distribute
the weight of even an adult.  Put legs or something on it and the dogs
could down when they're tired, but the person would still be standing.
If it had a seat, they'd be able to sit down when they get tired."

She glowed with an inner fire.  "Physical therapy dogs to help people
relearn how to walk, and maybe even run.  That trainer thing, with
some sort of built in speed brakes so it can't move too fast  The dogs
could be the motors."

I laughed and bent down so I could hug her.  "Your project.  Don't
worry about the cost unless you need more than fifty thousand dollars.
That's what we set aside each year for special projects, and nobody
has used any of it yet, this year.  Come up with a working prototype
and we'll see if we can find someone you can license the design to.
Might even be a patent or two in it for you."

Her voice was hushed.  "Fifty thousand dollars?  You'll let me spend
that on *one* of my crazy ideas?"

"We will.  We have volunteers who like challenging things to design,
so you can tell them what you want, and then focus on training the
dogs.  Expect more help than you need, once you ask for helpers.  I
bet it's something the kids would love to help with."

She sobered and looked around, then nodded.  "Kings and Queens for a
day, with their own throne, carried by a pair of dogs who respond to
their every command...  It's going to need a seat belt.  Safety helmet
and padding, once they start using it to run.  Hey!  Put them in a
protection suit.  Have pageants and all that stuff."

She froze again. then slowly turned to look at me.  "What would happen
if someone was afraid of dogs, and they were wearing a suit while they
were carried around by dogs, and had other dogs there to 'protect
them'?"

"I don't know.  You'll need to talk that over with Hester."

"Ok.  Protection dogs that think stopping someone is a game.  That was
one of the things I was using to ruin dogs.  Take me to the runs.  I
finally know what personality I want in my dog."

I started wheeling her towards the runs.  "Ok.  I'm curious.  What
type?"

"Jackie, with Oscar's patience and Cindy's easy confidence that she
can get what she wants, eventually."

I laughed.  "Yourself, in a dog's body."

She blushed, then giggled.  "Yeah, I do want that, don't I?"

Then she grinned up at me.  "Probably be closer to what I want if I
just looked for a dog like you."

It was my turn to blush before I relaxed and laughed.  "If  you don't
find one here, there are kennels where I sometimes find dogs with
personalities we can use.  You can join me when I make the rounds next
week."

"If they recognize me, don't tell them I'm working for you, ok?  I
don't want my parents to know, ever."

"You sure?"

"You want my dad here, telling you everything you're doing wrong, or
looking around and seeing all the zoos?"

"No.  Want me to let you tell the lies, if someone asks?  I'll back
you up."

"Thanks.  How about if we tell them you're letting me pick out a dog
because I need one around to help me keep from getting depressed and
trying to kill myself again?"

"I think Hester would be willing to write the prescription.  One dog
or two?"

She giggled.  "Better make it two so they can go to the bathroom and
get some sleep when they need it."

* * *

I was on the way to the third kennel on my list when Becky groaned.

"Something wrong?"

"You going to the Mercer's?"

"Yes."

She sighed.  "They've known my dad for years.  No way they're not
going to recognize me."

"I can skip them and come back by myself."

"Nahh...  I think I can lie my way through this.  Might as well start
with someone I know.  If I get away with it here, I can probably get
away with it all the time."

"Sorry."

"It's ok.  Was gonna happen someday."

It was my turn to sigh.  "True."

I parked and got the wheelchair out, then she settled in it and
started it towards the gate.

A middle aged woman was there, and she held it open for us, then
closed it before she turned back.  "Good to see you, Rebecca.  We
heard what happened, of course.  You helping Giles pick out dogs,
already?"

"Nahh..  It's nothing like that.  Hester decided I need a couple dogs
keeping track of me, and they didn't have any I liked enough to keep
around, so Dad's taking me around so I can try to find them somewhere
else."

She turned to me and held out her hand.  "Hello, Giles.  Good to see
you again."

"Thanks, Martha.  Have time to take us on a tour?"

"Of course.  Where're Jackie and Hera?"

"Working.  Cynthia needed both of them today, to help screen some new
patients for Hester."

"Come on."

Then she paused and studied Becky.  "Robert never said anything about
you needing a wheelchair."

"I still get tired pretty quick.  Getting better, though."

Martha sighed.  "I see.  You remember where the runs for the sale dogs
are?"

"Yeah.  What about puppies that are ready to go.  Got any?"

"Two litters.  Could you look them over for us and tell us what you
think?  Save us calling your father in and paying him for an
evaluation.  We'll pay you what we would have paid him."

Becky's head came up quickly.  "But..."

"Hush, Girl.  Robert's good at it, but you're better.  Tell you what.
Do that for us, and if you find the dogs you're looking for, they're
free."

She gestured for Becky to start moving, then turned back to me and
spoke seriously after we started walking.  "Robert's a fool,
sometimes.  Isn't a kennel who knows her, who wouldn't hesitate to
hire Rebecca and put her to work as a handler and trainer.  If she
wants to 'play games' with her dogs, you let her, ok?"

I laughed.  "You know how we work.  Once a dog belongs to someone, all
we do is sit back and let them bond.  Robert told us his side of the
story, and now she's our foster daughter until she decides she doesn't
want us any more."

I winked.  "Her parents know she's not suicidal any more, of course.
If you mention you saw her, that's fine.  Since these dogs will be
hers, as long as she doesn't abuse them, she can spoil them all she
wants.  We'd let her do it with the ones that keep an eye on her, but
we do have other patients they need to see, and they're already
spoiled, so it's not the same.  All part of the therapy."

"Hmmph.  I know your double talk, both of you.  None of Robert's and
Karen's business, what Rebecca is doing, now, so we won't say a word.
Already told them they're fools, anyway, for the way they treated
Rebecca all these years, but nothing ever got through in time."

Becky stopped and looked back.  "You stood up for me?"

"We did.  Even offered to take you in for awhile to give all of you a
vacation from each other, but they refused."

"They know I'm living there until I'm old enough to live on my own.
Giles is going to let me train my own dogs to sorta test me before I
get to do any training with their dogs.  Mostly it's because I need to
learn how to train something besides protection dogs."

Martha nodded.  "You'll do fine, and if things change, your parents
will never hear it from us.  When you're old enough, if Giles hasn't
convinced you to stay on as one of his trainers, come see us.  We
can't afford to pay you what Giles can, but we can pay you enough you
can live on your own."

"Thanks.  Can we go look at the dogs?"

Martha laughed.  "Of course.  We'll be right behind you."

We were looking at some dogs that were about a year old when Becky sat
up and pointed.  "Those two.  They for sale?"

Martha looked.  "Samson and Sandi?  Any of these dogs are for sale."

Becky nodded.  "Wouldn't be fair to separate them, would it?  They
look good together.  It's like they know what the other one is going
to do."

Martha laughed.  "Already think they're yours, don't you?"

"Obvious, huh?"

"I'll get the paperwork and some leashes, if Giles was forgetful."

I laughed and dug in my pocket.  "I'm an optimist and have them with
me.  Would have carried a couple more, but we're full right now.  This
time around has been for Rebecca.  Write them up as the usual
donation.  We'll take care of the rest, in case they don't work out."

Martha laughed as she was walking away.  "I wouldn't bet against
Rebecca.  You'd think Robert would have learned by now, but..."

She obviously cut herself off, and went inside their office building.

Becky tipped her head back to look at me.  "What was that all about?"

I chortled.  "I think she and Henry called at least one of your
father's bluffs, and there was money involved."

"Oh.  I hope it was a lot."

"Doesn't matter how much it was, as long as he lost, right?"

"Yeah.  Nice to know it happened."

We grinned at each other, then I spoke barely above a whisper.  "And
you think Samson and Sandi are going to let you prove him wrong in
public, again, so he can't ignore the fact you can be right?"

She sighed and looked at the dogs.  "I don't know.  I guess I still
love them, but I think I want to start over, and forget about them,
for now."

"I understand.  We'll head home from here, and you can call it a day.
You've been pushing it, but it was good for you, so I haven't said
anything.  When Martha gets back, if you hold the leashes, I'll push.
Let's see how they do with a wheelchair between them."

"Got it.  I want Sandi on my left and Samson on the right, to match
how they work together."

When Martha got back she handed Becky the envelope with the paperwork,
then took the leashes and brought the dogs back.  All that happened
was that her eyebrows went up slightly when she was told which sides
to put them on, then she shook her head.  "I can see you have plans
already.  I'll carry the paperwork so you don't lose it, and get the
main gate open."

Becky short leashed the dogs, then sighed.  "You ready?"

"Yes."

"Push when I say go, then turn when I tell them to, ok?"

"Got it."

"Right...  Sandi!  Samson!  Team heel!  Go!"

I pushed, and Samson decided he should be on the left, got bumped by
the footrest, and backed off to settle into position on the right.

Becky told me when to turn and stop by preceding every command with
'team', and by the time we got about ten feet away from the van, the
dogs were paying attention to her and starting to move in the same
direction I moved the wheelchair.

Becky called a 'team halt' and sighed.  "Get the side door open and
I'll see if I can load them."

I opened it and got out of the way.

She levered herself up, found her balance, then strode confidently
towards the van.  When she was a few feet away she spoke as if they
were already trained.

"Team, up!"   She tugged firmly before she let the leashes drop free
and the dogs bounced in and started exploring all the new smells.

I started closing the door and as soon as it was closed enough that
the two of them couldn't bail out, she tossed the leashes inside and
turned to Martha.  "I didn't think it would be so easy!"

Martha laughed and held out the envelope.  "They love to ride, as long
as they are together.  Took us a long time to get one to stay while
the other was being worked."

Becky giggled.  "I bet!  Anyway, since I gotta have at least one dog
around me all the time, I figured I'd get two so one could take a
break while the other one kept an eye on me.  I have some other ideas,
too, that need two dogs that like to work with each other.  Be awhile
before I can try them out.  Can't do anything other than the therapy
training, right now."

Martha held out her hand to me.  "If she offers suggestions, listen to
her.  Robert never did, but the rest of us are already using some of
her ideas that we happened to overhear, or that he called 'a waste of
time', when he told us about them.  Most of them work, once you figure
out her point of view."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Thanks."

She turned to Becky.  "Good luck, young lady.  You've earned some."

Becky blushed, then put an arm around me.  "I'll be ok, I think, now
that I have parents who appreciate me for who I am."

Martha nodded.  "And you love them back, right?"

"Yes."

"Good!"

Then she turned away and left us there.

We watched her go, then we got in and Becky reached to scratch the
noses that were pressed against the screen behind her seat.  "Relax,
guys.  Once we get home you can play all you want."

Then she looked at me.  "We'll have to keep the gates closed."

I nodded.  "Jackie and Hera won't mind.  They're used to having other
dogs in the yard for training."

* * *

"Dad?"

"What is it, Honey?"

"I made a mistake."

"Oh?  Sandi and Samson are doing fine, aren't they?"

"They are, but...  They aren't doing it for anyone else unless I'm
there to tell them what to do."

"Relax.  They're your dogs instead of ones we've chosen to be
available for general use.  Your concepts worked, so now all we need
to do is find a pair who aren't as likely to bond with a specific
person.  It's some of that different training we do.  You're used to
working with dogs that can't be handled by anyone who tries, that's
all.  Besides, we'll need that single bonding in teams that are given
to paraplegics, right?  So, in the long run, you didn't make a
mistake, you just managed to find a problem we need to work around
later."

Becky came over and hugged me.  "Weird, isn't it?  I make a mistake,
and you don't see it as one, and make me see it the way I should have.
It's just that I felt like I was so close to what I wanted...  That
when I realized I wasn't, it tore me up inside.  Thanks."

I hugged back and then held her off so our eyes could meet.  "It's ok.
You've been recovering quite fast, considering how long you've been
abused mentally.  This is the first relapse you've had, and I don't
know if it can really be called one, anyway.

"Not only that, you've helped a lot in other areas.  Remember, we
didn't expect success on the first try when you started, and didn't
you pick Samson and Sandi to be your own dogs, more than you did for
their other skills?"

She looked around to make sure we were alone, then she relaxed and
giggled.  "You're right.  I liked the way Samson moved, and how
considerate he was of his sister.  Hoped he'd someday love me as much
as he loves her, and he does.  More, maybe, because he ignored her
when she was in heat, and bugged me all the time."

I chuckled.  "We noticed."

Then I teased her.  "Sounded like Sandi managed to join in a few
times."

She blushed.  "I don't remember who started that.  She enjoyed that
sort of attention from the beginning, and once I started letting
Samson tie, she started nosing us both, and licking anywhere she could
get with her nose, before she came around and...  I think she was
flagging Samson, but he was busy, so I rubbed her off after I stuck a
couple fingers in her.  Now it's something we do almost every time.  I
had to teach her not to flag me unless we're in my bedroom, and she
was harder to teach that, than Samson was, to stop pawing me!"

I laughed.  "Feel better about them not doing everything you wanted?"

She punched my chest lightly.  "Yes!"

Then she looked at her watch and smiled.  "I'd better put the dog
chair up and go see Hester, before she decides to come looking for
me."

She pulled free and seated herself in the dog chair.  After she put
her feet on the rests and strapped them in place, she waved at me.
"Team run, guys.  Let's go home!"

They took off at a dead run.

I watched them part way, then sighed and headed for the office, and
back to work doing some of the tedious stuff that kept it all running
smoothly.

* * *

That evening, after we all settled in the living room to catch each
other up on the day's events, Becky sighed.  "The kids in day care are
going to be grabbing any dogs that aren't working, for awhile."

I shrugged.  "More than usual?"

"Yes.  They had so much fun with Sandi and Samson and the dog chair,
they asked me if I'd help them have a contest to see who can come up
with the best project that uses a 'dog motor'.  I told them I'd check
with you guys, first."

After Hester and I stopped laughing, Hester smiled.  "As long as they
understand the dogs they are working with might have to be used to
help someone else, and they can't do anything that might hurt the
dogs, they can do any extra training they want."

Becky turned and hugged Hester's legs.  "Thanks.  I figured I'd give
them six months, so the kids who can only work the dogs here, will
have a chance.  Guess I'm going to be pretty busy until it's over. May
I talk it over with Cynthia and get her to make up something we can
print out that has the rules and stuff?"

I chuckled.  "Instead of her, you could do it all yourself, and have
it graded for whichever class something like that would be a good
project for."

"Yeah.  I could, couldn't I?  Ok.  I'll do it that way.  Thanks, dad."

"You're welcome, Honey."

Then she stretched and leaned back to look at Hester.  "Still feels a
little strange, calling you guys mom and dad, but it feels right,
too."

Hester nodded.  "Whatever you feel comfortable doing.  Do you have any
homework?"

"No.  Did most of it at school before I had to hold the beginning
obedience class.  Then, I went back and finished it after most of the
kids went home."

Hester nodded.  "I'm glad you decided to go back to school.  Having
any problems with the older kids in day care, any more?"

"Nahh...  Not any more.  The ones that were giving me a bad time
decided they want to get in good with me so I'll help them more,
instead of letting them fumble along on their own.  I would have
anyway, but I got them convinced the rude kids get helped last.  Most
of them don't need a lot of help, anyway, just..."  She sighed.
"Someone to tell them they're doing it right, when they are."

Hester bent forward and hugged her.  "What about you?  I've been
hearing a lot about everyone else, but not much about yourself,
recently, except when you come in for our weekly chat.  Nothing wrong
with that.  Teenagers aren't noted for telling their parents a lot,
especially when they're enjoying life."

Becky sighed.  "Sorry.  I've been so busy, ever since I decided to try
training the dogs for my dog chair, I haven't been thinking about that
sort of stuff.  Figured you guys were keeping an eye on me, and since
you hadn't said anything, everything is ok."

Hester laughed.  "We've been watching Sandi and Samson, more than we
have you, and they say you're fine, and they are enjoying it all.
You're starting to get a little frayed though, so sometime in the next
few days, I want you to take the time to write down everything you do,
and plan on doing, then make a schedule for yourself, so you can
manage your time better.  That includes planning private time for you
and the dogs.   I'll talk to Cynthia and see if she can find some time
to help you with it, then I want to see it so Giles and I can go over
it with you."

Becky sighed again.  "So you noticed I've been pretty tired at the end
of the day and going to bed early instead of doing a lot with Samson
and Sandi?"

"Yes, we have, and I think you need to slow down and stop pushing
yourself, before you collapse."

"Ok.  Can I go take a nap now?  I usually wake up later and do stuff
with the dogs, or homework, if I have any."

"How long do you plan on staying up after your nap?"

"Couple hours unless I'm still tired, then I usually just lie there
and cuddle them and let myself go back to sleep."

"That's fine, then.  Schedule some private breaks during the day, so
you can nap if you have to.  You don't have to get it *all* done right
away, you know."

"But I'm having so much fun!  It's like I'm playing all day, except
for school."

We both laughed, then Hester spoke gently.  "We're both glad you feel
that way.  Now, off with you, and if we don't see you before
breakfast, that's fine."

"Thanks, mom."

She bounced up, kissed us both, then headed to her bedroom, with both
of her dogs ahead of her.

* * *

A few months after the 'dog motor' contest got underway, I was settled
in reception and idly chatting with Cynthia and Becky, when the
driveway alarm went off.

Cynthia glanced at the monitors, froze, then started laughing.
"Barbara just got dropped off by her parents.  Don't bother getting
up, Giles.  She's on her way."

"That's impossible.  She doesn't have the strength."

Becky went over to the window and looked out, then gasped.  "She did
it!"

I got up and joined her, then sighed.  "Been saving this one for us?"

"Not really.  Remember when all the day care kids went crazy and they
wanted me to help them have that dog motor contest?

"Yes."

"Barbara and her parents cornered me a few days after it started, and
asked me if I'd help them teach their dogs to push a cart on command.
I did, then they thanked me and shut up, except to say Barbara had
some  'crazy ideas' she wanted to try out.  That was the last I knew,
until a few weeks ago, when we taught her dogs to growl on command."

I smiled.  "Let's see how they handle the door for her, then."

Max was strapped into a framework that had a pivot point so the
modified mobility cart could turn without him needing to step
sideways.  He kept pushing until he stopped in front of the door. Jess
stepped forward, and instead of coming in through the door dog,
shouldered the main one open and braced herself against it after she
was out of the way.

Barbara spoke confidently.  "First gear.  Inside."

Max started a soft growl, then pushed her inside.  As soon as they
were past her, Jess let the door close and  went to stand next to the
cart. 

"Dog motor off.  Neutral."

Max stopped growling, settled on a down, and waited.

Barbara beamed at us.  "I'm not done yet!  Jess!  Left hand up."

Jess pressed on a lever until Barbara stopped her.  "Stop.  Left hand
down."

Jess pressed a different lever with her foot, and Barbara's hand
slowly lowered.

When it was all the way down, Barbara smiled.  "Stop.  Release Max."

Jess grabbed a handle, pulled, and the clamps on Max's harness opened.

"Thanks, guys.  Take a break!"

Max hit the dog door first, with Jess right behind him.

Barbara giggled.  "They'll be back as soon as they're done.  Whatcha
think, Becky?  Am I gonna win the contest?"

Becky walked around the cart and studied it.  "Be hard to beat you, I
think.  Still have three months, and Hank hasn't said anything about
what he's trying to do."

Barbara frowned slightly.  "Yeah.  Doris said she saw him and his
parents looking for treadmills at the thrift store, a few weeks ago."

Hester showed up, looked the situation over, and smiled.  "I hope
those rods fold out of the way somehow, so I can get you in one of the
treatment rooms."

"They latch into clamps on the back of my seat.  If they were here,
Jess and Max could do it."

I chuckled.  "In the meantime, I'll do it.  Whoever did that, they put
a lot of thought into the design."

Barbara blushed.  "I just told dad what I wanted to do.  I didn't know
until yesterday that he'd gone to the college and asked them to make
it a class project."

* * *

Just before the deadline, Hank announced he was ready, and he needed
Barbara there to help him.

Naturally, everyone was curious, and most of the day care kids and
their parents decided to show up, because he was the last one to get
his project done, and so far, Barbara's cart was the clear winner.

But, when Hank was involved, all bets were off.

When they showed up, Beth was wearing a set of leg braces on her front
legs, and headgear that had jaws that matched the movement of her own.
There was also a backpack on her.  Hank was carrying a box.

When they got to where everyone was waiting, he sighed and looked at
Barbara.  "We did the best we could, ok?  My idea worked, sort of, but
we couldn't afford to do it right, so this isn't going to do
everything that I wanted it to do."

"What's that got to do with me?"

He opened the box and lifted out a framework.  "This.  You need to put
it on so it can move your arms and hands."

"It's like a set of braces?"

"Yeah."

"Ok."

He settled it on her shoulders, aligned everything so the joints on it
matched hers, then he slipped each of her hands in a jaw arrangement.
Once everything was done, he dug out a cable and plugged one end into
a socket on Beth's framework, and the other end into a socket on what
Barbara was wearing.

Then he grinned.  "Tell Beth to use your right hand to give you a
drink from your glass."

"What do I say?"

"Her name, then 'right hand' and 'I need a drink'.  She won't do
anything unless you say her name first."

"Beth.  Right hand.  I need a drink."

Barbara's right hand moved on its own, her hand wrapped around the
glass in the cup holder, then it moved to her mouth and tipped until
some of the water flowed out before it straightened back up and
paused.

Barbara hadn't been ready, so most of the water spilled down her chin,
and people laughed, except for Hank, who sighed.  "She's used to me
being ready for her.  You  have to tell her to put it back or you can
tell her you want some more by saying 'sip'."

"Beth.  Sip."

The glass tipped briefly, and when she was done, Barbara smiled.
"Beth.  Put it back."

When it was back, Hank was grinning.  "That's not all she can do."

"Oh?"

"Tell her to use your left hand to pet Jess after she's close enough."

"Pet?!"

He blushed.  "Yeah.  She can use your fingers and thumb to nibble,
too.  Once she figured it out, she started using my hand to pet
herself when I was too tired to keep doing it.  That's what I was
talking about when I said it could be better, if we'd been able to
afford something that let her move each of your fingers."

"What else can she help me do?"

"Only one more thing.  She looks goofy when she does it, because she
has to be on her back so she can use both legs and move her head and
jaws at the same time."

"What is it?"

"Something she loves to make me do when I'm wearing the arms.  A hug
with a lot of pressure, just like a real one."

Barbara looked at her parents.  "Mom?"

Her mother looked at Hank.  "Any risk of one of us getting hurt?"

"No, Ma'am.  I used motors that are less powerful than normal muscles.
Kid strength.  Dad insisted on that."

"Good."

She got in front of her daughter and leaned in close, then Barbara
whispered:  "Beth!  Hug my mom!"

It was a slow process, but eventually her arms were around her mother,
and it was obvious they were squeezing gently.

Both of them cried while the rest of the crowd cheered, and Hank
blushed again, then looked at Becky.  "It's all hers.  I don't need
it.  And...  I think she should win because what she came up with will
be easier to get other dogs to do."

Becky nodded.  "We'll have to talk about getting other dogs to do it.
Maybe I can figure out ways, or at least maybe we can figure out how
to find other dogs like Beth."

"Ok."

Then Becky grinned.  "Ok, Doris caught you looking at treadmills. What
was that all about?"

He sighed.  "I wanted to get Beth to be able to do stuff while she was
moving, but she can't.  She can grab stuff and hold it, but she can't
move the arms, because she's using her legs to walk."

"Did you try letting her use her head and neck to control one of the
arms?"

"Yeah.  But she forgets, and when she wants to check something out,
the arm moves, too.  Besides, you can't give a good hug with only one
arm, right?"

Becky laughed.  "True!"

* * *

That evening, after everyone but the night staff had gone home, we
closed the gates to the house and settled for what we hoped would be
an undisturbed evening.

After we ate, Hester and I settled on the couch with Jackie and Hera
between us while Becky settled on the floor so she could groom Sandi
and Samson.

Eventually Becky sighed and looked at us.  "They're going to try
teaching Jess and Max how to use Hank's harness, but I don't know if
they can."

Hester nodded.  "If they can't, what about other dogs?"

"Maybe.  Beth was already doing the best she could to use her paws
like hands.  Jess and Max do that sometimes, but not in the same way."

Then Becky sighed.  "Sandi and Samson, don't either.  I was kinda
hoping there was a way to modify it and give them hands but...  I
talked to Hank and we figured out some ideas, but if I do get Sandi or
Samson to use it, it's going to take a long time, probably."

Then she looked down for a long time and whispered her next words.  "I
kinda stuck my neck way, way out, too."

Hester touched my arm to keep me silent, and spoke gently.  "One of
your 'crazy ideas'?"

"Not really.  It was Hank's original one, and I told him I'd talk to
you about it."

"Go ahead.  We're listening."

"Remember when you both said I could have up to fifty thousand dollars
for my dog chair?"

Hester smiled.  "I do.  So far, you've used less than five hundred
dollars."

"Yeah, well, I kinda said that I'd do my best to talk you into letting
Hank use the rest of it to see if he can get his original idea to
work.  He's got the basic design done, but there's some real expensive
stuff that needs to be custom made."

"What was his original idea?"

"He wanted to make one of those fancy skeletons so Barbara could wear
it, and he wants to find a way to make special generators that charge
a battery while the dogs are walking, so she doesn't have to worry
about running out of power somewhere."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah.  He thinks he can make it so she can make it move and lock in
place when she stops, so she doesn't wear herself out just making it
move.  He says that there are companies that make them for adults, but
they're all experimental, or dedicated to special work.  He hasn't
been able to find anyone who is trying to make them for kids."

Hester looked at me, and I nodded.  "Let's do it.  Cynthia has the
touch when it comes to getting the big money, so let's turn her loose
with the video of what happened today, to see if she can find someone
to add money, if we run out."

Then I grinned at Becky.  "Since you started this, you can talk to
Hank and his parents about him starting his own business, with this as
his first project.  We'll supply the start up funding, of fifty
thousand.  If that runs out, he should know by then, if he can
actually do it or not, right?"

"Uhh...  Yeah.  What if he and I make it a partnership with each
other?  I asked him if it would be possible to design something that
would be moved by a dog while she rode in it, and he said that as
along as it didn't have to have two legs, it would be easy.  Sort of a
reverse heel, with it heeling to the dog, is how I described what I
wanted."

Hester and I both laughed, and after she recovered, Hester spoke
easily.  "Trying to get the funding doubled?"

"No.  We've got this game we play sometimes, where we try to stump
each other with crazy ideas.  I'm trying to think of an unusual
movement we can teach a dog to do on command, so he can go back to
designing something that will let a dog use their head and neck to
move a person's arm and hand."

I decided to speak up.  "Next time you talk to Hank, find out if he's
taking any shop classes, and if he's not, he should, so he can at
least do a lot of his prototyping himself.  We've been having
volunteers do stuff for us when they have time, but maybe it's time we
found the space to put in a small machine shop.  I'll check around and
see if we can find someone to be an instructor and supervisor."

"Ok, dad.  What if he uses part of the money to set up his own shop at
home, for the business, if he wants to do it?"

"Within reason.  The two of you can do a proposal that lists
everything he wants. Tell him to dream big, because he can always
start with the basics and expand as his business grows."

"You mean like five and ten year plans, just like for a real business
proposal if he was going to try and get a loan?"

"Exactly.  Pretend I'm a real nasty and picky loan officer who acts
like I'm spending my own money, and I'm the type of person who picks
up pennies all the time because I'm stingy."

"Huh!  You pick up pennies anyway.  Maybe I should teach Hera how to
do it for you, so you don't mess up your back someday!"

I laughed.  "Better not.  She doesn't need all that crud in her mouth,
sometimes."

"I'll have Hank...  Yes!  That's it!  A dog powered reacher they can
wear...  Oh, crap.  Won't work.  No way to anchor it so they can reach
to the side."

I laughed, then sobered.  "What about something that they could stick
their nose in, to extend their reach?  Maybe they could carry it in a
holster, and you could train them to put it on when you wanted them to
pick something up for you."

"I'll make some notes, and see what Hank thinks, next time I see him."

She yawned, looked at the clock, and sighed.  "I better get my
homework done before I go to bed.  See you folks tomorrow morning,
ok?"

I motioned her over for a quick hug.  "I might be gone by the time you
get up.  The dogs and I will take our usual walk, and while we're
doing that, I'll look the place over to see where we have room for a
small machine shop.  Be sure you ask Hank what he thinks the minimum
size should be, for now.  We can always expand it later, if we have
to.  Then, I have some other business to take care of that will
probably take all morning."

"Ok, dad.  See when you get back, if I miss you."

Then she went over and hugged Hester.  "See you in the morning, mom.
G'night."

"Good night, to you, Dear.  See you in the morning."

After she left, we waited a few more minutes, then I looked at Hester
and smiled.  "Has Rebecca shown any interest in birth control?"

She laughed.  "Not yet.  I've already left the paperwork with Cynthia.
I don't think either of them knows where they are headed, right now.
Hank is more likely to ask her, though."

"Any read on how he's going to react when he finds out she's an active
zoo?"

"He already figured it out, but hasn't told her he did.  Doesn't care.
He likes her because she treats him like she does everyone else,
instead of someone special."

It was my turn to laugh.  "Bet he's working on a genius type approach,
then.  What about him?  Does he have any thoughts about his own
sexuality?"

"Het, non zoo. and still a virgin.  Admitted he explored Beth, a
little, but that was it."

"Hmmph.  I'll let them sort it out on their own.  You?"

"The usual.  I won't play matchmaker, because they're doing fine on
their own.  We can allow ourselves the usual support stuff, and if
they come to us with questions, we answer.  If they decide to make it
happen in her room, then we can be the all knowing parents for them."

I chuckled.  "I should be able to do that indifferent dismissal my
father used on me, when I announced I was going to have a girl over so
we could explore."

* * *

A week later, Rebecca was silent through dinner, and she was still
unusually quiet when we settled on the couch.  It was obvious her mind
was elsewhere, so I decided to see if she'd open up.

"Been quiet all evening.  Is it sharable?"

"I guess.  Mom knows.  That's why she decided to work late."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  How'd she know?"

"Know what?"

"That I was getting ready to let Hank fuck me.  Cynthia was holding
the prescription for me, when I asked mom to put me on birth control,
last week.  All mom did was tell me she was busy, and to go talk to
Cynthia, when I asked.  Been taking them ever since."

"Good.  So when's the day?  And is he bringing condoms, or do you want
to use some of mine?"

"You figured it out, too?"

"We were teens, too.  Just because we don't, doesn't mean we didn't.
Know the signs, plus anticipating the inevitable.  If not Hank, it
would have been someone else, fairly soon.  Right?"

"Maybe.  But I gotta be honest.  Anyone else, it would be fucking. I'm
used to making love, usually."

I smiled.  "And you expect that from Hank?"

"You hinting it might not be?"

"Good guess, if he's a virgin.  Just remember how it was with Samson
at first, and show Hank the same patience.  He's quick at learning at
everything else.  No reason he shouldn't pick up making love, just as
quickly."

"Tonight.  He should be on his way over to spend the night, by now."

"And you're nervous, right?"

"Yes.  What if I do something wrong?"

"What do you do when you make a mistake with one of the dogs?"

"Apologise and figure out a way to fix it, if it really was a mistake.
You saying fucking a guy is just like training a dog?"

"Yep, except it will be easier for the two of you to sort out
problems, as long as you both want to."

"Umm...  Weird.  I wasn't this nervous and scared before my first time
with a dog when I was hiding from my old parents.  We...  Just did it,
ya know?  And yeah, it was fucking, sorta, but we already had a
connection before and..."

"You'll do fine, Dear."

"I hope so.  Hank's special, ya know?"

I chuckled.  "I figured that out a long time ago, and it wasn't
because he's a lot smarter than anyone else."

"Yeah?"

"Yep.  Women don't play games with guys unless they're special,
right?"

"Have we been that obvious?"

"Sometimes.  But don't worry about it.  Bitches in heat are like that,
aren't they?"

"You!"

I grinned when she stared at me.  "You get to tease me about Jackie
and Hera.  Now it's my turn.  We're used to you leaving your door
open, but you'd better talk it over with Hank and find out if he wants
the dogs around, right?"

"I didn't think about them.  You think he might not want them in the
room?"

"I don't know, but to be fair about it, it's something you should
discuss ahead of time."

"I didn't think about that.  Could have made a big mistake?"

"Little one, probably, since he has Beth and I assume he's used to her
being in his bedroom."

"Yeah.  He is.  But Sandi and Samsom are probably going to want to
join in or something..."

She sighed.  "I guess I'd better tell him.  Hope he's ok with it.  I
think I can lock them out once in awhile, but I know I can't stop
completely.  Not even for him."

"I'll be here, somewhere, in case you need me, and of course Hester
will be home soon, too, if you don't feel comfortable talking to me.
There's something else you'd better be thinking about, too."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  What are you going to do if Samson or Sandi get jealous, or
protective, and don't want Hank fucking you in your room, or anywhere
else?  What if you get noisy during your orgasm, but they think he's
hurting you?"

She blushed.  "I didn't think about that.  I hate to do it, but I
guess I'd better muzzle them, huh?"

"Probably be a good idea, until they get used to him.  You might have
to let him help so they get done first, if he's ok with you being a
zoo."

"Yeah...  Otherwise I really will have to lock them out, won't I? This
is getting complicated...

"Ok.  Thanks.  I'm going to go outside and meet him at the gate when
he gets here.  We gotta talk about some things before I bring him in."

"No problem.  Getting late, so if you leave the compound, take at
least one of the dogs, ok?"

"Yeah.  Sure.  I think, though...  Uhhh...  You be ok if we spend some
time at Ginger's grave while we talk?  I got some serious stuff to
tell him and it just seems right I do it there, if you're ok with it."

I sighed deeply.  "I'm ok with it.  It's a good place for that sort of
stuff.  If you have to, tell him what you know about me.  Maybe that
will help him understand what Samson and Sandi mean to you, and how
special *he* is, to you."

She studied me, then smiled.  "I should have seen that one coming. How
long have you known we've been talking about getting married,
someday?"

"Since the night you asked about the business partnership."

"Huh!  Somebody had to be sneakier than Cindy, in order to get her to
do it on command.  Was you, wasn't it?"

I laughed.  "Until you showed up, I've been the *only* trainer we had.
Lots of handlers, and a few folks who helped, but nobody was good
enough to trust with something that serious.  So, yes, I was the one
who found ways to get her to be the sneak she was, before you took
over and made her even better."

She came over and hugged me.  "Thanks, dad."

Then she left, and I smiled tenderly while I petted Jackie and Hera,
then I sobered a little and turned on the TV to see what the rest of
the world was doing.

* * *

Hester came home while the news was still on, had dinner, then settled
on the couch and smiled.  "Any reason the gate sentry is on duty,
instead of pacing inside?"

I chortled.  "She wants to intercept Hank, and take him to Ginger's
grave while she tells him she's an active zoo, before they go to her
room and make love.  She's also going to find out if he's ok with the
dogs being there."

She laughed.  "Then they'll probably come inside as soon as he gives
her the gift he created for her, with Cynthia's enthusiastic help, and
some time using the fetal scanner."

My eyebrows went up quite a bit, then I lowered them.  "And you have
no intention of telling me more, do you?"

"Nope!"

About an hour later the alarm went off, and sure enough, a few minutes
later the door slammed open and Becky shouted at us.  "You guys knew!"

I raised my voice slightly.  "We're in the living room.  Knew what?"

She stormed in to stand in front of us and glare at me while she held
a shopping bag in one hand, and Hank's hand in the other.

Finally she stuck the hand that held the bag in my face.  "Take a
look."

I took the bag, opened it, did my best to remain sober, then held it
so Hester could see what was inside.

She nodded, managed to stay sober, and then looked a Becky.  "Are you
sure a gross of condoms will be enough?"

Both of them blushed and before either could say anything, I looked at
Hank.  "Those are very realistic looking dog pricks.  I've seen
pictures of them, but was never able to find out where to buy them.
Are they ones with the inflatable knot?"

His blush got darker.  "Uhhh...  Yes."

"Appreciate the link, later.  Always wanted one so I could get Jackie
and Hera comfortable with the knot, before I let a dog tie with them."

Becky interrupted.  "Daddy!  Mom!  You *knew* he knew, and is ok about
me being a zoo!  He said he wants to *help*!"

Hester lost it in a fit of giggles, so I took over.  "Of course we
did, and what are the two of you doing standing here, talking, instead
of going to your room, and doing?"

"Gimme the bag!"

I held it out, she snatched it from me, then turned and drug Hank
along.  "C'mon!  You can help me think of a good way to get even with
them, after I take care of *you*!"

A few minutes later, Sandi and Samson came in, headed for her room,
and her door slammed shut a few seconds later.  When the dogs didn't
come back, Hester and I grinned at each other, and I spoke mildly.  "I
guess he's ok with the dogs being there during his first time."

She laughed.  "He told me he wanted them there, because he knows
anyone Becky is serious about is going to have to live with a package
deal. He's looking forward to it, even though he admits he's not
interested in doing more than fondling a bitch, and he definitely
doesn't want to try letting a dog fuck him."

Then she giggled.  "Did you have time to notice the two dildos were
connected?"

"No.  Sounds...  Interesting, since it must have been his idea."

"Yep, and it was the reason he got Cynthia's help so easily.  He
needed to calibrate them so a person could use the exposed one to tell
how big the knot of the inserted one is.  He's already agreed to make
us a few sets, so the curious can use them to stretch themselves
before they do it with the real thing."

I laughed.  "And he managed to hide it all from Becky.  I bet she's
ecstatic, and furious, at the same time."

"Probably.  He's let me see that part of his personality a few times,
but it's still a shock every time I see him in that mood.  It was his
own idea, as a way of making sure she really did know he wanted her to
stay zoo, and not stop because of him."

I sighed.  "She told me, before she went outside, that she wouldn't be
able to give it up, even for him."

Hester sighed.  "That's good, that she knows herself so well, but at
the same time, I hope she's figured out that her sexuality can change
over time."

"Have you discussed that with her, yet?"

She sighed again.  "Only by telling her it's normal to explore, and
change the things you like and don't like.  I don't want to place her
balance at risk this soon.  She's doing well, and with Hank in her
life, I know she hasn't closed out men.  That's the best I can ask
for, right now."

I nodded.  "Has she told you that she and Hank are already talking
about the idea of getting married, someday?"

"No, she hasn't.  I think it's too soon right now, and the two of them
are smart enough to realize they should wait for at least a couple
years, or until they graduate from school, I hope."

I smiled.  "She didn't say they were planning anything, just talking
about the possibility, is the impression I had.  I didn't press for
more details, since she had a lot of other, more important things on
her mind."

Hester smiled.  "Well, after that gift he brought, I think the
marriage is inevitable, even if it's a few years in the future."

I laughed.  "Clearest case of acceptance we're likely to see."

I suddenly yawned, and I smiled wryly.  "Love to gloat some more, but
I'd better get to my own bed.  Let me know anything important in the
morning?"

"Of course!"

"Thanks."

I stood, stretched, then looked at Jackie and Hera.  "You girls look
comfortable.  Stay or come."

Then I headed for the bathroom, and a shower.

They beat me into the shower stall, because I had to strip first.

I showered the three of us, then went to bed and cuddled with Jackie
and Hera before I went to sleep.

* * *

Sometime in the night, a dog's excited barking, insane sounding
feminine giggles and what must have been equally insane whoops of
laughter from Hank, woke me up.  Hera launched to go see what was
going on, but Jackie raised her head, sneezed, then lowered her head
and went back to sleep.

The noise died down to the point I couldn't hear anything, and shortly
after that, Hera returned and resettled, so I decided to go back to
sleep and find out more in the morning.

Light tapping on the doorway woke me up, and after I rolled to see who
it was, both dogs launched and headed outside, I assumed.

I chuckled.  "Ok, Hester.  You look about as insane as all that
laughter and stuff sounded last night.  I think you know what
happened."

She laughed and leaned on the jamb.  "Oh, yes.  I do know..."

She lost it, and I had time to get up and sit on the edge of the bed
before she recovered.  "You're acting like a teenager with a good
secret, Hester."

She whooped, managed to get herself under control, and shook her head.
"Hank's sense of humor, is what happened last night.  He didn't just
join the two dildos together.  He added some other stuff to them, and
then, they both got a surprise."

"I remember thinking her giggles and his laughter could best be called
'insane', before I went back to sleep."

"Don't blame you.  First, I'm happy to report that Samson and Sandi
didn't have any problems with Hank fucking Rebecca, while they were in
the room.  They were only frustrated because they couldn't get full
use of their noses, because they had muzzles on.  But, that wasn't
what woke us up."

"Oh?"

"No.  Hank modified the dildos so they each have small bladders in
them, and they can be made to 'orgasm' when a woman's orgasm squeezes
the knot.  That young man is as twistedly creative as you are, Giles."

"Ok, I think.  You haven't explained the barking and laughter."

"I'll get there.  They had the insane idea of putting one dildo in
Rebecca, the other in Sandi, inflating them, and then he managed to
get Rebecca to orgasm.  The insanity started when her orgasm caused
*both* dildos to ejaculate, and that set Sandi off.  Near as we can
figure, she must have felt like she was tied with a real dog, and she
decided to do what Jackie does, when the sex has been special for
her."

I chuckled.  "And *that* is what explains them going off like a couple
of insane people, right?"

"Yes.  And now...  Hank wants her to teach him how to masturbate
Samsom and Sandi, because he's obsessed with the idea of making a
special dildo that can be used to artificially inseminate bitches, or
get them used to a dog's knot, before the first time they get bred.
He's even thinking about something that could be put on a dog's penis
so it could collect his semen and pump it into the bitch."

She laughed again.  "Those two!  They were made for each other.  Their
idea of pillow talk is coming up with even more insane ideas, like sex
toys for dogs and bitches, then actually designing them!"

"How'd you find out about all this?"

"I was still awake after they calmed down and decided to apologize for
the noise.  When they checked on you, you were asleep.  Jackie and
Hera alerted and let them know they weren't going to be allowed in, so
they left and found me still awake.  They babbled at me for about an
hour, before they went and got themselves a snack.  Then they went
back to her room, presumably for more sex and...  Experimenting."

I couldn't stop my grin.  "You do realize that all of this just made
that day planner of hers meaningless for the foreseeable future, don't
you?"

Hester smiled.  "Except for the classes only she can run, and school,
I've decided she's doing so well, she deserves her first paid
vacation, and that's what I told her, after they slowed down enough to
let me say something."

I laughed.  "Good!  She probably earned it a long time ago."

I stood and stretched.  "Now, if you don't mind, I need to go get
something to eat.  Have you eaten yet?"

She smiled.  "I had my morning coffee, but nothing else.  Surprise
me."

"Omlette?"

"That will be fine.  Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She settled at the table while I got busy with our breakfast.

Eventually I had everything done, so I served her, fixed my own plate,
then settled on the opposite side of the table and started eating.

After the edge was off my hunger, and I'd taken the time to share some
of my food with Jackie and Hera, I refocused on Hester.  "I'm glad
things worked out last night.  I had this nightmare that Samson or
Sandi wouldn't tolerate Hank when he tried to fuck Becky."

She nodded after she swallowed her food.  "They mentioned that when I
asked about the muzzles.  Never thought about the dogs having a say in
what was going to happen, and I should have, after the way Jackie and
Hera made it clear there were limits I'd have to honor."

"I almost didn't think of it.  I know they're going to want to get rid
of the muzzles, but I think they should stay on during sexual
activities, for awhile."

"We think alike.  I made the same suggestion, firmly, last night when
she was so euphoric she wanted to get rid of them.  She complained
that I was being too protective, but she agreed to keep using them for
a month, and if there weren't any incidents, she'd take them off.

"She was more agreeable when I pointed out she should treat it the
same as she would any other training situation when she was working
them in unfamiliar conditions."

I chuckled.  "Wish I'd thought to express it that way."

Hester smiled.  "Just part of my job, to figure out how to reach my
patient, who also happens to be my daughter."

"Good point.  Speaking of daughters, have we heard anything from Magda
recently?"

"Not a thing.  Cynthia thinks we're due for another visitation in a
couple weeks."

"Oh?  Sounds like she's spotted a pattern of some sort."

Hester grinned briefly, then sobered.  "She has, and I'm not surprised
you didn't spot it.  She thinks Dianne's visits are loosely linked to
Magda's menstrual cycle.  She hasn't decided if it coincides with her
menses, or with her period of maximum fertility."

I chuckled briefly, then sobered and sighed.  "I hate to find myself
in agreement with Tom, but I think he was right when he called Magda a
whore who'd spread for anything with a prick.  My guess is that we see
Dianne when she's got an especially lucrative job opportunity, and
then she gives herself time to recover before she picks Dianne up."

Hester sighed.  "We'll do the best we can, Giles, and hope for the
best.  Dianne hasn't been neglected or abused, as far as I can
determine.  CPS has her on their list, but since there's no evidence,
there's no reason for them to move her up.  Too many other kids in far
worse conditions."

"I know.  Cynthia is going crazy, trying to arrange time for all the
kids we've agreed to see."

Hester shook her head as she laughed quietly.  "And it's worse, now
that word is out about Rebecca and her games.  I think we could put a
thousand Love Dogs in the field, if we had them.  I've had to try and
explain to people that what she does takes more than training, it
needs a special enthusiasm and creativity, before the rest can
happen."

She sighed.  "And few of the callers are willing to accept that an
adult will never be able to do what she does, because the kids need it
to be another kid, for it all to work."

It was my turn to sigh again.  "What about adding a special class, to
create 'kid trainers'?"

"Too risky.  Rebecca's sense of responsibility to the dogs is so
ingrained she thinks of them before she thinks about danger to the
kids.  We could control it here, but once they are on their own, their
enthusiasm is likely to cause problems.

"I didn't say anything to Rebecca, but I did take time to talk to the
parents so they'd keep things under control at home  Fortunately,
Rebecca has earned the respect of even the rowdiest, and when she says
'no', or warns them, they listen and follow her advice."

"Good!  Let's hope she decides to turn down all the absurd pay offers
she's going to start getting."

Hester smiled.  "If she decides to leave us, we'll have to encourage
her."

"I know.  Not going to be easy if it happens."

"Never is, for a father to let his daughter go out and make her own
way, if he's a good one."

"You think I am?"

She waved a hand to indicate the compound.  "Doesn't matter, what I
think.  You've been a father figure for hundreds of people over the
years, and people have started begging to let their kids come here
when we have an opening.  Your dream worked.  Is working, on a scale I
never dreamed was possible."

I smiled a little whimsically.  "If I'm the father figure, does that
make you the mother to all these people?"

She laughed.  "For the kids, sometimes, when I'm not being 'that old
tyrant', or worse.  Big sister, aunt, grandmother...  Whatever I have
to be to help."

I nodded, and suddenly got serious.  "You're older than I am, Hester,
so I can't be a father figure to you, right?  How do you see me, these
days?"

She looked down at her suddenly clenched hands and was silent a long
time.  Finally, without looking up, she whispered her answer.

"The man I knew you'd become, once you decided to let yourself live.
The man I fell in love with the night you convinced me your crazy
dream might work, and let me live my own.  In spite of the limitations
your past imposes, Giles, I've never seen you as anything other than
my husband."

It was my turn too look away for a long time, in silence, then I
sighed.  "Someday, Hester, we're going to find away to let me think of
you as my wife, and I won't try to curl into a catatonic ball of
fear."

She sighed.  "Sorry.  I've been around your honesty too long, and I
forgot to moderate my response.  You going to be ok, or should I take
away this conversation?"

I shuddered, but didn't otherwise hesitate.  "It's still too soon.
Take it away.  Please."

* * *

When I was aware of the world again, Jackie and Hera were flanking me,
and studying Hester intently.

I sighed.  "Something pretty serious?"

"Yes.  Turned out you weren't ready for something."

"Ok.  Thanks.   Well, I'm alive, so I'm not a total failure for you,
yet.  Right?"

She smiled sadly.  "I keep learning from my mistakes.  Maybe, someday,
I'll find the right solution for you, if you don't find it first."

"Right.  In the meantime, I guess we'd better go back to work."
-----------

End chapter three

-- 
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