”Tate didn’t get to say much. I put her over my shoulder to get a pair of junior girl’s sweatpants on her still tween body. The t-shirt I grabbe... came to her knees. I took a dozen shots of her with her phone. Cooper, the boy, got lucky. I had found a pair of knit shorts that were his size, but the t-shirt was for a ten-year-old girl, pink and covered with flowers. He didn’t get a choice because it wouldn’t fit any of the girls, and all the rest were for little kids. Pacey and Randi, with an I,. If I am within a hundred meters of it, I’ll know it.”Eric spoke up, “What is the fourth thing the goddess needs?”Melissa shrugged, “Me, of course. Only I can track down the talismans, and only I can perform the ritual that will bring our goddess into our world.”“It sounds like you’ve known all about this long before you were initiated,” said the high priest.She nodded, her eyes starting to tear up. “I was told all this when I hit puberty, and Aphrodite spoke to me for a second time. My whole. Then I began to ask questions about animal husbandry. I learned a lot about foundation studs and I guess that Marissa read some of my research. Now I wear a singlet and a collar that has a tag that says, 'Marissa's Stud, Hands OFF!' It's sort of embarrassing, but if it helps keep people, well male sponsors really, from messing with me, I guess I can put up with it. I know I don't want to be violated again. My collar has a camera so that if anyone decides to mess with me there will be evidence.. “So, what?” Jacob questioned. “Like, community service or something?”“In a sense, yes,” Mr. Edgar replied, retrieving a silver pen with a lion engraved on it from his breast pocket. “So, what do you both say? No police. Just sign these contracts and we’ll take it from there.” He held out the pen, offering it to the two young men.Noah and Jacob looked at each other and smiled. “Deal!” they said in unison. Noah snatched the pen off Mr. Edgar and quickly began to sign and initial on all the dotted.