"Rose spoke in almost a whisper. "As a once immortal mermaid Ionly knew what sailors spoke as they passed. One couldn't hearmost talk on modern cruise...ships." She went on. "But when thechemical spill took away my immortality, caused me to start agingand gain human legs out of the water, I didn't know things changedso much." "Rose! Steve!" The editor called from his office. "Reports of abank job in progress! The police have them pinned down, but thereare hostages. Get down there and find out. .”“That only happened once,” Rhonda laughed. “Teach me not to lick a car battery...”Thanks to Harry, there was a running joke at the office about Rhonda and her – totally fictitious - love of electroshock therapy.Galena returned to her cubicle and went back to work on a commercial for Dale’s Guitar Shop. Losing Thad had put the office in a bit of a bind, so the visual arts side of the office was more busy than it might otherwise have been.It would have been nice to have more time off, but the. "Come in," saidCarla, hopping out of the car and leading the way into the smallportico. She pushed the buzzer, then opened the door and stepped inside."Are you home, Mother?" she called. A tall stately woman, an olderversion of Carla herself, appeared in the archway."Carla! How nice to see you! Come right in. Mrs. James is here. We'rejust having a cup of tea." Mother, this is my friend Dayle. She is in the city for the weekend."I was almost too dumbfounded to speak, but mumbled something as. He helped the man to his feet and stammered an apology for not paying more attention.The old man dismissed Andrews ingratiating behavior with a casual wave of his hand. "No apology necessary, my young friend. Are you alright?"Andrew took an inventory of the man standing before him. Dark purple slippers, with a matching velvet lined smoking jacket. Light green pants, and a dark green ascot. On any other man, his appearance would have been ludicrous. On this man it didn't seem peculiar in the.