She looked at the top of his head, then at the plain white wall opposite. “Oh, that’s difficult. Let me think. Yes, I think I was running towards ...y Dad who was tickling my favourite bear which was in my pushchair, but I fell and knocked the pushchair over and cut my head. I remember my Mum screamed and picked me up, and I cried and cried, but my Dad kissed me on the forehead and I stopped.”“Interesting, Cristal,” Marlau muttered, not looking up.“And your bear?”“My bear... oh yes, my bear. He. Goyse has told me a little about you. I feel as if I knew you before I saw you.”“So, you’ve been giving away all my secrets, aye,” Sally replied while giving me a wink. “A girl can’t hide a damn thing these days,” she said as she patted her belly. She then looked Julie up and down saying, “Gees, they are getting younger and better looking all the time, Goyse. A girl doesn’t stand a hope with competition like this one.”“You’ve got quite a head start on me from what I’m told. I need something in. I had been quite legitimately in fear of my life and hadn’t wanted anyone else to be victimized by them either, until they could be apprehended. Brenda studied my face carefully and reserved her judgment until some lab tests could be done on Cynthia’s poisoning efforts, but she seemed to believe every word I had said and, when she left the house about an hour later with all of my trash bags, we were nearly old friends. *********** I heard nothing more from anyone for about a week or so, and I. Now Lisa and I go together and every year, we come back with cases of Maple syrup." Helen chimed in, "You have to join us this fall. The fall colors are quite a sight to behold." We sat and enjoyed our breakfast while we watched the mid-morning fishing boats leave the bay. I knew several of the boat captains and I was starting to plan a fabulous dinner of fish, and fresh corn on the cob. Once breakfast was completed, I gathered the dishes and brought them inside. I started washing the dishes.