I don't know why Sally was worried. Her own gift,subscriptions to several teen magazines, was warmly received. Darlalooked at the rather large package... looked at me and smiled. She undidthe bow first and meticulously removed the wrapping paper. Everyonegasped. Had I done something wrong? "Oh John it's beautiful!" Darla exclaimed. I didn't care what anyone elsethought of my offering. As long as Darla liked it, that was all thatmattered. The crowd "oohed" and "ahhed" as Darla carefully. “Now come along. We don’t want to be late.”“Late for what?”“Your treatment.”Flickering electric lights lit the way. The hallway walls had been painted a bluish-white and the floors tiled to match. Despite her slippers, she could feel the chill on the soled of her feet. The same chill that rose goosebumps all over her exposed skin. With each step it seemed to seep through her thin cotton dress and even into her flesh, raising goosebumps all over her body and making her shiver.“I am very cold,”. . well, a number of things. Well, that ... kinda made a baby. Isn’t that right, Summer?” Stacey told me, even as I felt arms slip around my waist.“Daddy ... I’m so glad that the rest of us became yours without needing the Kiss ... Grandma was evidently not in a mood to waste time with red tape or formalities. She made anyone in town not already subservient to you become so. Which was why she said that we were all yours before you could kiss the rest of us. I’m glad of that because it let me. Still giggling, he took a step towards Madam Martinique and asked, "Mindif I answer that question?"The head mistress smiled at him as she slipped the riding crop into thelong sleeve wrapped tightly around her forearm. There was a no-nonsensetone to her voice that was firm without being harsh. "You're welcome toshare your insights, Tod. I trust you've been here long enough toexplain things in a concise and mature fashion."Tod's giggles faded at the word "mature", but there was still a.