"Thank you, Mizz Helen, but I'm gonna need a trim soon," she said."We can get that done, baby," said Helen. Then she turned to me. "So, Dan, the schoo... calls me since I'm her guardian. They want to see me about some tests she took a couple of weeks ago." Good? Bad?" I questioned."Oh, don't get your drawers in a wad. They said they're very much pleasantly surprised." Well good, then..." Yeah, and they want a parent-teacher conference to talk about it. I told them that I wanted to bring you 'cuz. After her morning constitutional, she cleaned Phillip and gave him some weak coffee that was barely warm. For obvious reasons, she dared not give him hot coffee. He seemed to appreciate it anyway. Maybe he’s getting better, she told herself wistfully. She had no idea how long it would be before he could walk. She had to face the possibility that it would be months before he could walk, so she had stopped drinking coffee several days ago and was saving it for Phillip.Phillip loved coffee, as. "The drive-in." I muttered."The drive-in huh? She smiled. "No wonder your so upset. It just so happens that I know a girl who might go out with you tonight." You do?" I asked."Yep, she's a little older than you, but I think you might enjoy her company." Mom said."Who is she?" I said excitedly."Me, silly boy, now what time does our movie start?" She asked."Mom, you don't have to feel sorry for me." I said."Don't you tell me what I can or can't feel young man. I asked you a question." She said. He sat us down in an office.“Captain Joe and First Mate Dave? Isn’t that over-officered for a two man craft?”Dave replied.“Yes, sir. We are replacement officers going to different liners to relieve those scheduled for re-training. Using a two man craft was considered economic because no scheduled service will be going there for months.”“OK. I’ll introduce myself. I’m Bill. My job is to protect visitors from themselves. We think there are no dangerous a****ls or diseases on this planet. We don’t.