Don’t ya just love the watch.” Not a question ... just a ton of sarcasm.“No, I don’t ... but you didn’t get it at 12. Tyche is more of a dau...hter to me than you were ... Brat!” I said, “I think I’ll give it to her.”“Are we having a mother daughter spat?” Seven said.“I think so,” I said.“‘lo mom,” Seven said.“‘lo baby,” I held out my arms. She came to ‘em like she did when it stormed.Seven hates lightning. Sometimes I think she thinks the real Powers that Be are going to get fed up ... and do. "When's the test?" When we tell Helen we're ready for it," Ann replied.There was quiet for a moment, then, "When did you start smoking?"Arlene smirked, then paused to pull on the cigarette. Again blowing the smoke toward the ceiling, she finally said, dragging out the word, "Weelll... officially, a few months ago, but I've been stealing cigarettes from Mom since I was twelve." I never knew that," Susan said, crossing her legs at the knee, uncomfortable in hearing what Arlene said. Susan. Rather nice ones, in fact. Did she choose them herself?’ ‘Angela, I sent her out with most of the Christmas bonus that your husband gave me and she came back with a wardrobe that works. If you go and look carefully at what she bought, you’ll be amazed. For God’s sake don’t let Frau Kurtz start threatening to confiscate them or anything. If you leave her alone to grow up she’ll be fine, but if you press her too hard right now you’ll have problems like you’ve never seen before, and I’ll walk out.. “And we will indeed be having that little talk.”I saw her before Claire did.“Becca,” I said. “Glad you could make it. I know you had work today. How are you?” I hadn’t seen her for a few days, our schedules didn’t mesh. I knew she’d been by of course, taking her shift as we were all beginning to refer to our times with my wife.“Good Dad. I’m good and happy to be here. How is she,” said Becca, nodding toward the sleeping woman in the room across from us.“She’s good,” I said. “The doctors have.