“I think it’s at least three days away. It always took Papa a long time to come back home when he had to go to town. Perhaps if I ever need to hea... west I could stop by, since it wouldn’t be as far out of my way, but for now, I’m traveling with a group that’s heading back east tomorrow.”“You’ve found some friends, then?”“Traveling companions, at least.”Yewen smiled. “My journeying years, as few and as difficult as they were, are some of my fondest memories. The mystics remind us that our world. ’ ‘Ok. Be there in a minute.’ She hung up. I picked up one of my pillows and hurled it to the other end of the room, as it would leave my arms free to carry bedding. I picked up some of the spare blankets and carried them with me to the air-mailed pillow by the couch. A shadow crossed the curtains covering the sliding glass door that served as my own private entrance and exit. I pulled the curtain back to find Danielle waiting for me with a very large duffle bag. She was indeed desperate if she. Of course, I said yes. May wasn't as happy as I was when I told her. May hadn't seen my mom since a little before her divorce. They were never best of friends but I told her to be polite and expect to become closer to mom than she had ever expected to be. During the week I picked up something at the pharmacy just for mom. It was an enema kit. I had never used one but after reading the directions it seemed simple enough. I didn't let my aunt know I had bought it. I wanted both of them to be. As we entered, the five kids sitting around the table, most of whom I knew, stared at us with a mixture of irritation and amusement. One girl looked daggers at me. At first I had no idea why, but when Anthony sat down she wrapped both her arms round one of his in a most proprietorial manner and threw me a challenging glance. I barely knew her — I thought her name was Terri something — and I was mildly amused that she apparently felt threatened by an authority figure ten years older than her.