Not to silence her mind you, but just because Beth was so damn stubborn…and pretty. We seldom agreed about politics and most often agreed to disagre.... We wanted the same good things for our country, but approached it from different directions. Elizabeth would sit and crochet hats, scarves, mittens and blankets that she donated to the needy until dark. On those days, Margaret might join us, bringing the fixings for homemade ice cream, maple & black walnut ice cream. Many nights Beth and I would. "First indication that the alien has sensed you, you get the hell out of there, and ... obviously, warp out in a different direction from Earth. We need to keep our capabilities secret from them until we determine if they are, indeed, going to attack. Ship will be one hell of a surprise for them, and we want to make sure that she is a surprise. We want to continue to make them think that the human race is just sitting here fat, dumb and happy, oblivious to their presence a few light years. They are going to drop at the end of the drive. Don't go meet them, and if they come to the door don't let them in, and especially don't sign for anything. The driver should know better, but you never know with these clowns."Sylvia had already been told what she was to do. It involved driving out to pickup Jerrod and Sean, when I called from Tryon. Everything in Aster was as ready as it could be at the moment."Wow, you brought the class ride for me," Lydia said with a laugh after she noticed. ”“I do,” she said firmly, but I could see a twinkle in her eye.“All right, but you have to let me try again when we get home.”She didn’t answer, but instead changed the subject. “There’s only another week of school left. Are you ready for your finals?”“Yeah, I know this stuff. Besides, I could flunk the final in almost every class and still get a ‘B’.”“Well, don’t do anything that would jeopardize the scholarship.”“You know I wouldn’t do that.”She looked thoughtful and as if she didn’t hear me.