"Oh, it's a nice shirt. But is it right for me to emphasize my profession on my children? If they want to be clowns, that's one thing, but I don't want them to think that they have to take after Mommy or Daddy. What do you think, Brenda?"

  Brenda said "Well, she's measuring for John, so I think she's sort of trying to give him a shirt that says encouragement."

  Bella nodded, and saud "Yes."

"Well... hmm. That's a good idea. I hadn't seen it from that point of view, and you're right."

  Bella nodded, and said "DadD always called playing 'clowning around'.  So, he's just getting started on it, now isn't he?"

Rodger didn't say a word at first, but looked down at his son in his chair, a intensely tender and protective love clear in his mannerisms and expression as he gently tousled John's hair with one hand.

He looked back at Bella. "He has a lot of playing to catch up on." A quiet truth, carefully stated to avoid mentioning Meg's powers where folks who didn't already know might here, but expressing something of the eternal gratitude he felt towards her for what she'd done for his youngest.

 Bella nodded, and said "Yeah, Mom can do some phenomenal things."  Her smile was a knowing one.

"And make some phenomenal enemies, which means being discrete when discussing that side of her in public," Rodger answered in a low voice.

  Bella waved a hand, and said "What she does with fresh fish is nothing short of phenomenal, and if that makes her some enemies?  They will deal."

Rodger laughed. She had him there. Hmm, he didn't remember whether Brenda had had any fish (finfish, at least) dishes from Meg's kitchen yet. He knew that he hadn't, but what he had tasted of her cooking had been marvelous.

"Touche," he responded with a grin and a twinkle in his eye when he managed to stop laughing.

  Bella grinned, and said "And that doesn't even get INTO the things she can do with a fresh chicken or turkey.  Phenomenal doesn't cover it."

"Oh, that I've certainly heard about. I missed the Christmas party, but apparently she made the turkey for it. Among other things."


(OOC:I hope I'm remembering that right.)

  Bella giggled, and said "Mom's a heck of a cook."

(OOC: yes, you are.  Fear not.)

"Uuky!" gurgled John with a delighted expression. He remembered those cookies the day they'd gone out for lunch and the bad men had done scary things. And what the therapist and his parents had been teaching him about speech, managing to make a sound kind of similar to the actual word.

"Yes, Bella's mom made cookies," Rodger agreed with his son, nodding.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Sat 30 July 2011.

  Andy had nodded to Icepick, and he kept an eye on Jack, who looked pretty nervous.

In reply to Andy Black (msg #92):

"OK...Ipod has been taken care of,' Jeff exclaimed. "Now then guys...the city is our oyster. Um....why don't we get outside and get some air, y'know? Most of the adults are sayin' that kids don't get enough exercise. Let's prove 'em wrong, huh?"

In reply to Rodger Eskin (msg #91):

  Bella grinned, and said "OH yeah, Mom's cookies are phenomenal!!"

"I know... we have a champion cookie muncher in the making thanks to them." He wasn't making a joke.

  Bella giggled, and said "Mom shared her cookie recipes with me."

As they scurried away from the crowd of onlookers, Jeff turned to Jack.

"So...Jack....y'know...it's just us guys here. C'mon man...you and Penny are pretty tight. Do you....um...do you guys see a future for yourselves at all?"

Jeff subtly put his finger over the record button on the Ipod, ready to start recording with what Jack had to say.

  Jack tilted his head, and said quietly "I don't know.  I wish there could be.  But she's been hurt, so badly.  They did such horrible things to her . . . used her.  I promised to protect her from anyone ever doing that again."

Jeff smiled as they walked along.

'Well..once all of this stuff is dealt with, then maybe you guys will have time to consider the future. we don't stay teenagers forever. I mean, I'm graduating in just a few months. Call me an optimist or whatever, but I believe you guys will have a good thing going."

  Jack half-laughed, and said softly "No, but we don't even know for sure how old Penny is.  She doesn't remember ANYTHING definite except butterflies.  I had to give her the name she has now.  I mean, the skills, the language and math and such, those are there, but she can't tell anyone HOW she learned what she does know.  She doesn't remember where she learned it.  Doesn't know who taught her, or where, what city she's from, what country, what she even LOOKS like in the mirror.  Just the butterflies.  I would do anything to protect her from whatever it was that stole away her memories.  From what robbed her of any idea who her family was, or is, or what her home was like, what color is her favorite, or if she had any treasured items from a loving grandparent.  If it would keep her completely safe, I'd willingly take the rap for murdering my own mother.  I'm innocent, but nobody else believes me yet.  Penny's so special, she needs cherished and loved, but not hurt, not forced, NEVER.  I wish I could do that, but with what those animals did to her . . . I'm not sure she could ever accept that.  I'm not sure she can ever handle having a man lay his hands on her in any way other than platonic, and it makes me ache, in my heart.  I won't push her.  I can't, not knowing what Builder and his goons did.  Not when I remember crystal clear hearing her cry like the world had shattered when they brought her back, and feeling her trembling against me as I tried to make her feel a little better."

"All things take time, bro....that's been a hard lesson I've had to learn," Jeff replied. "But I see the way you two are...there's some good feelings there...good feelings that will last a lifetime. As for the Builder thing, there are people on that right now. And I'm confident that they'll find out the truth, and you guys can live your life the way you were meant to before that jackass gotcha. Do you...do you see yourselp spending your life with Penny? I know that's an early question...but, no better time than the present right?"

  Jack half smiled, and said softly "I promised her I would protect her.  I'm all she has.  She's all I have left.  I will never abandon her.  I promised to protect her and take care of her to the very best of my abilities."

"There you go..." Jeff replied with a content smile. Seemed Jack had warm feelings but it was easier to talk about those feelings when not around Penny. It was a typical teenage thing.

"You know...once this thing with Builder is done with...maybe we could send you guys on a nice trip. Just the two of you. Only you guys won't be having to watch your back so much."