‘Admiring your reflection in the stream?’ I turned to the rat and laughed. ‘I was just thinking. Although, yeah..’ I turned back to my reflec...ion. ‘.. I’m spending some time getting used to my face as well. I suppose I’m not that bad looking. It could be worse I guess.’ ‘Lucky you,’ he murmured, gazing at his own reflection. ‘There’s something about your face that’s familiar to me,’ he said, ‘… but I can’t say the same for my own. Waking up and discovering that you’re a rat is a bemusing. I didn’t come at this hour not to get lunch again. But I’ve got a two-thirty, and this time I need to make it.”“OK.” Jason was tidying the area; with Kitik now stronger and almost fully recovered they’d resumed the midday shows, and a small crowd was already trickling in. “Jason!” she called. He walked over. “Jerry, you remember Jason. Babe, do you mind handling the nooner on your own? I’ve got company for lunch.”“Sure, Mag. Pleasure to see you again, Jerry.” Jason reached out to shake hands,. The skirt was a brownleather mini with fringe, the blouse was mustard yellow silk with bigbillowy sleeves. I got them on and returned to the kitchen."Well, that's pretty nice and the skirt is just long enough," my momobserved."Actually, I think you need more chest for that blouse," pointed outJoann. "You can't see that there is anything there, it just kind of hangsthere." Well, this is what I have to work with," I pointed out."No, I don't think so. I'll be right back," Joann spoke as she left. ." No dear," mom said slowly... "what I think I want is for you to meetme for dinner, at that place we like on Tenth? Wear the black dress.I'll bet it looks good on you. I'll expect you at...six?" But mom! I can't..." Six, and wear the black dress" she said, then without waiting, sheleft! Just like that!My very first thought was how did mom know? My second, why did she wantme to show up in my black dress, then, how did she know that I had ablack dress!? I knew my mother well enough to know that.