My brain was having issues. It didn’t want to work. I couldn’t process anything. The last time I had seen Cassie, she was maybe a size four, at be...t. She had always been a beanpole. I just assumed she had a great metabolism and would probably always be a skinny girl, since she could eat as much as she wanted, yet never gain a pound. I was wrong. Within the last six months, something had happened. She had to have gained at least fifty or sixty pounds, maybe more. And it looked like half of that. "As far as wizards go, you will be the very definition of a babe in the woods. You have not even lived out your first life yet!" Perhaps so, but I have lived past what should have been my first death, and that counts for something. This is not just some wood I will be in either."A dark look but no rebuttal encouraged me to assume a victory, and I set out with that assumption. The trip upriver from Trilin had given me no cause to believe my master had assumed differently. I had passed the days. No more hiding things ok," said Betty. "Promise me." I promise mom," said Reese. "I feel so sleepy from these pills." Rest your head dear," said Betty patting his thigh. "Momma will takeof everything from here."Reese now fell asleep in the chair as his mother turned up the radio,singing as she drove.Finally, Reese awoke, feeling a soft brush across his left cheek andslightly opened his eyes seeing his mother."How are you doing dear," said Betty, kissing his forehead."Good, what are you doing?". This is what the talks I had with your mom were about. I wanted to do something for you both in a way no one would ever find out how, why, or who did it.”“Thanks, Priscilla. You really didn’t have to do this, but I’m not going to fuss too much. I love you as a friend, and after yesterday and last night, I love you even more,” Bonnie told her and I saw them reach out and hold hands as we walked.“Rick, who is it that’s opening a checking account in your name, if you don’t mind me asking,” Bonnie.