They seemed nice kids. They looked so ... earnest ... as though it dawned on them that they needed a dad, and he was the leading candidate. John didn'... know anything about their lives before yesterday. He didn't know much about being a dad. Which made him remember that he was about to become a father to the children of six women, plus the two on both sides of him, when they came of age.Amy especially was working on being seductive, and coy, for John. Janice wasn't as sure about her feelings,. After an initial hesitation I made up my mind for the girl?s clothing. Afeeling of happiness and well-being came over me. After dressing AuntJessie began to arrange my long hair into a girl?s style with a ponytail.When I look into the mirror, I saw a pretty little girl before me."You look just like Nicole. The similarity is really amazing. You look asthough you were modeled after her."Then she showed me a few of Nici?s pictures. She was right, Nici?s photoswere a mirror image of me. Probably. I swallow again, mind made up. It has to be now. Lord knows I can't afford a second night in the hotel to try again tomorrow. Paper rounds aren't that lucrative.With a shaking hand I pop the cap off the plastic bottle. The finality of the noise releases a sudden flash of all the things I'll be leaving behind. Classmates. A good report card. Miss Kavanagh's smile. Blinky the fish.Shit.Blinky.I scrabble for my phone and open messenger. I want to type "Please feed Blinky and look after him" to my. Bernadette felt as if her spirit was flowing into the depths of Sherri. Bernadette reached to pull Sherri closer to her.Bernadette felt Sherri's arms holding her tight, around her waist as Sherri wrapped around her neck. Bernadette immediately felt the warm, soothing feeling of Sherri. And as if Sherri knew Bernadette's thoughts, she heard her gentle whisper... "I will love you like this forever."' Bernadette's heart and soul was soothed beyond her being. Bernadette reached to Sherri's face.