Trapped?It was craziness. I was already to a distinct extent a parent to most of my children. I visited Kelly and Cheryl frequently. I spent most holi...ays there. I probably spent an average of a month and a half a year there. I was tied to them; they were my family. But I guess I have the option to just disappear into oblivion if I wanted to; at any time; at any moment.I could and I couldn’t. My heart was tied to them. It was like the small business owner who enjoys the knowledge he can tell. "Leavemy bathing suit on." Now Tom," Kate said. "Don't be silly. How are you going to look in abikini if you're still wearing your bathing suit under it? It's got tocome off." But... But... You'll see me." Is that what you're worried about? Your sisters seeing your little peepee?" She laughed. "Well if that really bothers you we can take yourbathing suit off with you on your stomach like this. That way all we'llsee is your bum."Tom groaned. He didn't really have much of a choice. Give up. "Anna my darling, I don't know what's come over me." Anna could see in her mother's eyes that she was lying. "I feel tired, too tired to do the chores today. Please Anna, be a good girl and help me, before..." She broke off with a spasm of coughing.Anna had seen only one other dying person; when she was very young, her grandmother had lived with the family until she died. Anna's mother had the same look on her face, and Anna was frightened. Anna's mother recovered. "Shush, shush little. After I walked past the alter and into the darkened hallway, I doffed the raincoat and slung it over my arm. Ready at last, I took a deep breath and knocked. “Come in,” his voice called from the other side. I turned the knob and swung the door open. The office, which I had never seen before, was walled with dark cherry wood. The walls had a few religious pictures on them, along with a crucifix. There was a bookshelf filled with spiritual volumes, a desk and two side chairs. And that was all..