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From: Daphne Xu <daphneXU@PSEUDOnym.mixTUREminIATURE.netMUNIST>
Subject: {ASSM} "A Bikini Beach Summer" (19/21) {Daphne Xu}   (tg,magic,mc,off-screen sex,teens,young)
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Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 03:10:04 -0400
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    A Bikini Beach Summer
    by Daphne Xu

    Part 19

Thanks to ElrodW, Bikini Beach's creator, for invaluable comments
on this story.  The Bikini Beach universe and its principal
characters are copyright 2001 by him.

Any comments about Bikini Beach, how it works, what it does, by
characters other than Anya or Grandmother are potentially
non-canonical and wrong.  As this story is told from a particular
point of view by the protagonist, this includes comments by the
narrator.  The protagonist, and thus the narrative, are what the
protagonist believes or interprets from what he is experiencing.
Thus some of the mechanics of BB are biased by the protagonist's
view and experiences.  Furthermore, because of the particular
viewpoint of the story, those errors often won't be corrected. 
When the errors are corrected, the correction will often be
disbelieved and rejected.

        Thursday, July 24

I awoke the next morning, both elated and scared.  We were
returning to Bikini Beach!  What would I find there with the
girls?  I had no idea. Were Alice and Becky still mad at Jen and
Vanessa?  Were Jen and Vanessa still mad at Alice and Becky? 
Were they all still mad at Carol?

I got up just as Pa left for work.  Ruth and Ma were already up,
and apparently Ma and Pa had already listened to the Mental Work
and the Lesson.  Ma wasn't requiring Ruth and me to listen
anymore, so I didn't.

We didn't expect Mrs. King to come pick us up, and she didn't at
the usual time.  Ma decided that she wanted to go as well. 
"Luke's help vacuuming the house saved me some time, and I could
use the rest."

I took that girl's one-piece swimsuit with me, as I didn't want
to wear a bikini there -- even if I had clothes to change to
before coming home.  Pa was nice enough to rescind is prohibition
on Bikini Beach; I didn't want to go against Pa's dislike for
bikinis.  Also, I found the idea of getting into an argument in a
bikini embarrassing, more so than in a one- piece.  I hoped we
wouldn't argue, but it might happen.

We arrived at Bikini Beach and got into the line for the booths.
Ma and Ruth stayed with Daisy and me, even though they already
had passes and could go directly to the turnstiles.  I tried to
tell them that I could buy the passes for Daisy and myself, but
Ma wouldn't hear of it.  Ruth wanted to stay with Daisy.

When we reached the booth, before Ma could speak, I quickly
asked, "Miss, could we have Anya sell us our passes, please?"

Anya, a couple rows down, replied, "I'll be there as soon as I
finish with this customer.  I'll trade with you, Marta."  It took
a minute, and then Anya came over here.  "Hello, Luke.  Nice to
see you again. Mrs. Cuttington and Ruth, I'm very sorry that we
first met under unpleasant circumstances.  I sincerely hope that
you find this situation satisfactory."

"I'm happy to see you, too, Anya," I said.  "We would like a one-
day pass for myself, and one for Daisy here.  Same as last
Saturday.  I don't think there are any memories to be restored,
though.  I would like to explain a couple things:

"Last Sunday, before we came here to meet you, Pa prohibited
further visits to Bikini Beach, because of what it might do to
our minds.  Pa allowed me to come today because, well, I don't
want to talk about it.  Likewise, until today, Daisy's parents
never allowed Daisy to visit Bikini Beach. You met her father,
Mr. Matsumoto, Sunday."

I noticed Anya's reaction of recognition.

"Pa and Mr. Matsumoto are both trusting you, Grandmother, and
Bikini Beach to treat us right and do nothing to affect our
minds.  I'm trusting you, too.  I'll accept the same thing you
mentioned last Saturday," I added to avoid bringing up the issue.
 "It's okay to change my bedroom and my other things for the
day."

"We'll keep that trust," said Anya.  "There's something else,
though, a danger for you.  If you transform too often, you'll get
transformation shock.  If you continue coming to Bikini Beach as
you've been coming before, you really should get longer
memberships.  I'd recommend two weeks as a minimum.  They're
cheaper than the number of single-day memberships you would buy."

"If Pa continues to allow me to visit Bikini Beach, I'll consider
it. Vanessa mentioned transformation shock, saying that's why she
was always getting two-week memberships until last week.  I had
no idea then, the danger I was in.  Ma probably knew nothing
about it too.  But now, only a day-pass please."

Anya rang it up, and gave one for me and one for Daisy.

As we walked toward the changing rooms, Ma said, "I'm proud of
you, Luke. You've come a long way from the shy boy you were when
you first came here."

"The conference made the difference.  I came a long way since
last Thursday and Saturday, when I was in a panic over being
transformed and possibly forgetting and falsely remembering
things.  Ma, you weren't happy about forgetting things,
yourself."

"No, I wasn't," she agreed.

I decided against bringing up her own orders that I not remember
my own transformation or anyone else's.  I decided not to mention
"poetic justice."  Instead, we were about to pass the men's
changing room, so I said, "Here's the men's changing room -- a
lame pun.  I'll see you later on the other side.  If you
recognize me."

I showered and put on the girl's one-piece swimsuit, which had
shrunk to fit my new size.  Again, the narrow strip covering my
crotch felt almost as if I were perpetually masturbating, and I
tried to push it as much away as I could.  Think about something
else -- definitely not that my legs were completely bare.  I
noticed that my shirt and pants had again turned into one of
those innocent, wholesome, yet hot dresses, this time one with
two shades of red.  Short sleeves, tight elastic about my waist,
and extending down just above the knees.  I sighed, wishing that
they could have remained jeans and tee-shirt, even if they had to
shrink to fit my new self.

Again, it took me a little while to work up the nerve, and calm
down the stimulation, to go out into the park.  I was also scared
about what I might encounter with the girls.

Ma was outside waiting with -- surprise!  Vanessa, Carol, Alice,
and Jen! The four girls seemed rather somber, not excitedly
talking with each other. Vanessa and Jen had arms around each
other, of course.  Carol quickly came forward and hugged me. 
"I'm so glad you came!"  We stood embraced, even as Ma spoke up.

Ma said, "You took quite a while inside, Lucy.  We were getting
concerned."

"Um," I blushed, not knowing what to say.  I simply couldn't tell
her about the narrow strip of material stimulating my vacant
crotch.  "I had to work through certain things."

"You know, Lucy, you can talk to me about anything.  I've told
you before."

"Ma, please.  I'm Luke in here.  There are some things I just
can't talk to you -- or Pa -- about."  I blushed again.  Standing
in front of Ma in a girl's swimsuit, embracing Carol in a bikini,
my head against her breasts, was hard enough.

"Well, if you can't talk to me, maybe you can talk to your
girlfriends. They'll help."  My girlfriends, yeah.

They all came up.  "Let us have a turn, Carol," said Jen.  Carol
backed away as Jen hugged me, followed by Alice.

"Are you okay," I whispered in Alice's ear.

"Yeah, mostly," she whispered back.

Then Vanessa came.  As she hugged me, she bent down to whisper in
my ear, "Carol told you what happened, I assume.  Please, let's
not say anything at all about the topic.  Things are really
fragile among us right now."

"Okay," I whispered back.  "Is Becky coming?"

"I hope so," Vanessa answered, and we pulled apart.

"There she is!" I said out loud.  Becky was coming toward us,
also looking rather somber and unsure.  This was the most serious
I'd ever seen her. Normally, she'd be running to jump in on us. 
"Becky!" I shouted.

I decided that courage was critical, and ran to her and hugged
her.  "You came!"

We played and swam together -- and went to gymnastics together
late in the morning.  Things were almost like before.  Once in a
while, I wondered how things were for Daisy.  Then I decided she
was having the time of her life.

We met back up with our families at the Tiki Hut for lunch: Ma,
Ruth, and Daisy; Mrs. King and Helen; and Nancy and Cindy.  After
lunch, I wanted another nice brother-sister -- or in this case
sister-sister -- hour or two with Ruth.

It turned out more than just Ruth and me.  Daisy joined us, and
she wanted Helen and another girl named Greta as well.  We went
around and enjoyed ourselves for the next hour or so.

By accident, we caught up with the rest of my girlfriends at the
Lagoon -- and they were all arguing and shouting at each other. 
I briefly caught Alice shouting, "Murderer's lover!" at Jen.

"Guys," I said.  Nobody heard me, so I shouted, "Guys!"  I was
still ignored, so finally I took a deep breath, tried to produce
a Luke voice, and shouted louder than I'd ever shouted before. 
"SHUT the FUCK up, ALL of you!"

Everyone around us froze.  Out the corner of my eye, I saw Daisy
looking at me in shock.

"It sounds like you're quarreling about the forbidden subject," I
said. "Now, let's put it aside.  Group hug, everyone."  This was
the first time I ever attempted any kind of leadership with the
girls.

"I'm not going to hug any friend of my cousin's murderer!"
exclaimed Alice.

Everyone shouted again at each other, and at me.  I couldn't make
out most of the words.  Somewhere I heard this exchange: "Tim was
innocent!"  "My cousin was innocent, too!"  So much for my
attempted leadership.  But I couldn't just let it go.

"Grandmother!" I shouted, just to get their attention.  The prior
shut-up command wouldn't work again, I knew; it depended on
surprise. "Grandmother!" I shouted even louder.

My command didn't penetrate their quarreling, but it did have an
unexpected effect.  "Silence!" came a thunderous command,
accompanied by thunder and lightning -- even though not a cloud
was in the sky.

Everyone shut up, including me.  Grandmother herself appeared,
from where I couldn't tell.  As far as I knew, she didn't flash
into appearance in a puff of smoke.  I simply looked around, and
there she was.

"Young ladies," Grandmother approached us.  "I am aware of the
subject of your quarrel.  Young Anderson's release on bail while
they conduct DNA testing was my doing."

"Grandmother, you of all people!?  Jill was my cousin and my best
friend!" Alice burst into tears and ran off.

"How could you, Grandmother?"  Becky ran off after Alice.

"Hah.  Good riddance.  We don't need them anyway," said Vanessa
roughly, and then burst into tears, collapsed, and rolled
face-down.  Jen went to comfort her.  Carol and I followed.  I
was also in tears.

"I know you didn't mean that," I said.

"Grandmother?" said Jen shyly.  "Couldn't you have, perhaps, made
Alice accept that Tim was innocent?"

Grandmother sighed.  "That would have been wrong.  Mr. Matsumoto
was so right..."

"Who?" asked Jen.

"Never mind.  Someone who has complaints about my work and my
methods," answered Grandmother.  "I so wish I had told the story
first, before stating the end.  I visited Tim in jail Sunday
afternoon and determined that, yes, Tim really was innocent of
the crime, and he was having a horrible time in jail.  I got him
released on bail Monday, letting the DNA testing progress on its
own to establish his innocence.

"The worst part of it is that he wasn't even a suspect AND they
had the real murderer in custody, before we transformed the
original suspect, also innocent, and shifted reality around."

"That was me," said Ruth.

"I'll let Ruth and Lucy tell their story if they wish," said
Grandmother, "while I return to work."

"Grandmother, is there any way we can persuade Becky and Alice?"
I asked.

"I don't think so.  I have much more sympathy for Alice than I
did for Mrs. Winstead, because Jill was Alice's cousin.  And
Becky has unfortunately let her fear and distress for Alice blind
her.  You might have more success when the DNA results come, or
when Becky reverts to Bruce.  I'm so very sorry.  Sorry about
everything... especially for you, Ruth.  I realize I never
apologized last Sunday.  I'm sorry."

"That's okay, Grandmother," Ruth answered.  "Your acts were
apology enough."

"Well, I guess I'd better get back to work," Grandmother said.

I'd glanced over at Ruth for a moment, and when I looked back,
Grandmother was gone.

"Um, where did Grandmother go?" asked Jen.

"She took a short cut back to the offices," answered Vanessa. 
"That's all I can guess."

"So what do we do about Becky and Alice?" asked Carol.

"We wait," said Vanessa.  "Patience.  DNA testing will establish
Tim's innocence, and then we can get back to them."

"While DNA testing will prove his innocence, I'm not sure it will
get through to them," said Ruth.  "I have my own experience with
Ma and Mrs. Winstead, who had me changed to this little girl you
see here AFTER I was exonerated by DNA testing."

We stayed together, including Ruth, Daisy, Helen, and Greta.  We
had to check in with Ma and Mrs. King at one point, to let them
know they were still with us.  Even though we went through the
motions, we weren't very happy.  The slides and water rides were
no longer fun.  The best parts were when we lounged and relaxed,
with Jen sitting on Vanessa's lap, Carol and me next to each
other with Ruth and Daisy on our laps, and Greta and Helen on
each other's lap.

We finally went home early.  Daisy, Ruth, and I had to go find Ma
and tell her that we wanted to go home.  Jen, Helen, and Greta
went with Vanessa, of course.  Carol had to run off to tell Nancy
that she'd be going home with us.  "Please wait for me; I'll try
to find you at the women's changing room."

"Lucy's friends somehow stumbled onto the forbidden topic, and
Alice and Becky ran off," Ruth told Ma when we found her.  "We
arrived in the middle of their quarrel, and Lucy and Grandmother
both tried to settle things. Not even Grandmother could persuade
Becky and Alice.  We want to go home."

Again, I returned to the men's changing room to change.  I looked
at myself in the mirror in that dress.  I looked utterly
innocent, wholesome, even childlike.  Yet Luke in me was already
getting a crush on myself in the mirror.  "Luke," I told my inner
self.  "You already have Carol and Daisy. And Ruth.  And Vanessa,
Jen, Alice, and Becky.  That's seven, the Biblical magic number."
 Alice and Becky, I hoped.  Oh how I hoped.  I decided to tell
myself that only Good is real, and that friendship can never be
lost.

I did my best to keep optimistic about it.  I realized that my
nerves about Ma seeing me in this pretty dress -- even though she
saw me in a swimsuit; even though she saw me as Lucy many times
before -- were minor.  Likewise, my nerves at Pa seeing that
`very pretty young teenage girl' in a pretty dress again were
insignificant.

I met Ma, Ruth, Daisy, and Carol and her friends outside the
women's changing room.  Fortunately, nobody reacted to me and my
dress.

Pa was still at work when we got home.  Ruth and Daisy got a
bunch of their friends to come over, and Carol and I joined them
for a game of kickball in the front yard.  I thought of changing
into knee-length shorts and tee-shirt, but decided that it was
probably too close to dinner, and as Lucy I would have to change
back.  I admit to feeling a perverse excitement when the wind
occasionally blew my dress up and distracted the boys in the
group from their play -- especially the opposing team, causing
them to strike and go out needlessly.

One of the boys called out, "I see England; I see France.  I see
Lucy's underpants!"  Enjoy the view, little boy, I told myself. 
You won't have much opportunity.

Eventually, Pa's car drove up and into the garage, which meant it
was almost dinner time.  We broke up, and everyone returned home.

It was with trepidation that I followed Ruth, Daisy, and Carol
into the house to meet Pa.  Well, at least I had their support. 
This would be the first time Pa would meet me as Lucy,
remembering both Lucy and Luke from before.

We entered the same time as Pa entered from the garage.  "Hi,
girls," Pa greeted us.  He then did a double-take, blushed, and
said, "Oh right. That's you, Luke."

"And Ruth is Peter, you know," Daisy added.

"Strangely enough," Pa sat down with a sigh.  "That's easier to
take, than Luke as Lucy.  I really can't say why."

I sat in one of the chairs, and Carol planted herself on the
armrest next to me.

"Perhaps because I've been purely Ruth for a month now -- that's
all?  Just a month?"  said Ruth.  "Seems so much longer.  Or
maybe it's just that Luke is that `very pretty young teenage
girl'?"

I couldn't help chuckling at that.

"That's part of it, definitely.  Seeing Lucy sitting there
comfortably in a nice dress, with her legs crossed demurely, and
knowing and remembering that that's Luke in there..."  Pa trailed
off, and I blushed at the image I realized I made.  I'd crossed
my legs without even thinking about it. "Before, it was either
always Luke, or Lucy was always my daughter.  Now, it's
different.  I really want to push aside the attraction, and have
a good talk with Luke as Lucy.  This might be a rare
opportunity."  He paused, and then turned to Ruth and said as an
afterthought.  "I really haven't yet availed myself of the
opportunity to talk to Ruth as Peter.  It appears that Ruth is
here to stay, and Peter will most unfortunately become a
vanishing memory."

I turned at a sob from Daisy; she was holding onto Ruth now.  "I
agree, it's sad," I said.

"Please, everyone, don't cry over me!" said Ruth.  "Lucy's more
interesting to talk about, anyway."  I joined everyone's
chuckles, even though for me they were chuckles of embarrassment.
 "Today is the first I saw of her since my memories were restored
Sunday."

"We already had one very pretty girl visiting, either as Lucy's
friend or Luke's ... friend," Pa said.  Now, Carol was clearly
embarrassed.  "Not just pretty; friendly and helpful, too."

"I certainly agree about Carol; Luke got a wonderful girlfriend,"
said Ruth.  "I speak both as Ruth, and back to Peter's
perspective.  Heck, if I were Peter and Luke or Lucy had brought
Carol home..." she trailed off. "Getting to really know her would
have made the temptation all the worse."

"Now seeing two pretty girls, it gets almost unbearable,
especially knowing that one of them is my son Luke."

"I probably shouldn't play armchair psychologist," Carol said,
shifting her position on the arm of the chair.  "But I get the
impression, Mr. Cuttington, that your famous dislike of girls in
bikinis comes from being surrounded by pretty girls, completely
untouchable, feeling utterly powerless, and having to force hard
to keep your mind out of forbidden territory.  Like being
surrounded by a humongous feast that you mustn't even sample.

"That's probably very close to the truth," said Ma, who I only
just noticed standing next to the entry to the kitchen.  "A
number of times, many years ago, I had to physically grab his
head and turn it toward me, when we out together."  By now, Pa
was blushing again.  "Dan, I hope you realize that none of
society's problems today have anything to do with girls and young
ladies in skimpy dress.  We have other things to worry about,
besides Ruth and Lucy possibly wearing bikinis."

Our talk, which continued over dinner, got rather intimate and
rather embarrassing for all of us -- especially Pa and me.  I
think Daisy got a bit of an education in subjects a bit too
mature for her age.  Ruth being Peter, of course already had full
exposure to more explicit subjects -- I recalled Ruth seriously
nauseating me with her knowledge of "Forbidden Flowers."  I was
actually afraid, the way the talk became confessional and
emotional, that someone might actually bring up that book. 
Fortunately, nobody did.

We even admitted that, no matter which form I was in, Carol was
my girlfriend in *that* sense.  "I never knew I had any bisexual
tendencies," said Carol.  "But I'm definitely lesbian for Lucy."

We all agreed to allow Pa to look and enjoy the girls more
openly, "As long as it doesn't get overtly lecherous," said Ma. 
I asked the same about me -- looking at girls or guys, according
to my form.  Ma said, "That depends very much on Carol's desires.
 Don't betray Carol in any way."

"I am okay with it somewhat," said Carol.  "After all, he is a
teenage boy..."  She didn't continue.

Thanks to the conversation, I temporarily forgot the issue with
Alice and Becky, Tim being released, being innocent, and
eventually proven innocent. After dinner, when we separated from
Ma and Pa, I expressed my guilt at having forgotten.

Ruth assuaged my guilt.  "Lucy, we can't do anything about it
now.  Vanessa was right; we have to wait.  When Tim is proven
innocent, or better when the actual killer is caught, then we can
deal with Alice and Becky."  She hugged me while saying it.

         Friday, July 25

I woke up as Luke Friday morning, distressed again over the
girls' quarrel. I tried to take Vanessa's advice, and Ruth's
advice from last night, to heart.  We could only wait.  I also
blushed at the memory of the heart-to-heart conversation we had
over dinner, with Pa seeing me as Lucy and remembering
everything.

I noticed that unlike earlier times, but like last Sunday, there
was no pretense that I as a boy had done anything at Bikini Beach
-- in particular, gymnastics.  I wasn't sore or anything from all
the moves that were effortless for Lucy but darn near impossible
for Luke.  The little tanning I got yesterday didn't carry over.

Friday was a usual day, although more somber.  Daisy, Ruth, and I
went to the library and met Carol.  Ruth had piano lessons with
Mrs. Prudence and I had clarinet lessons with Mr. Oregon -- thank
goodness, he had no memory or idea of my crush on him as Lucy. 
Memory of that crush was almost as embarrassing as the memory of
Hot Bikini-Clad Clarinet Babe.  Then I had TKD and Ruth had
ballet.  I sort-of wished I could do ballet as well, but I knew
full well that my body wasn't up to it.

Again, that afternoon, we played a full six innings of kickball
with Ruth and Daisy's friends, including that boy who'd voiced
Lucy's inadvertent panty displays.  In fact, I overheard him
asking Ruth about that girl Lucy.

"She's unavailable," said Ruth.  She refused to say anything
else, and none of us chose to enlighten him further.

It was pretty much a given that we wouldn't go to Bikini Beach on
Saturday. Carol said she'd definitely come over, and mentioned
the possibility of sleeping over that night.  That notion left me
excited; it seemed so forbidden.  She even called home to ask,
when Ma and Pa were out of hearing.  Her parents' no was totally
expected, at least on my part.

"I'm sure they would have allowed it for Lucy," she said.

"I'm not so sure, if they knew that Lucy was in fact Luke inside,
and remembered everything," I replied.  "In any case, Ma and Pa
would probably not allow it either."

So Carol returned home, and promised to return the next day.

        Saturday, July 26

The next morning, I called Vanessa's home, and spoke with Mrs.
King. "Carol and I aren't going to Bikini Beach today.  I was
wondering if Vanessa and Jen might like to come visit, or do
something with us."

"Vanessa and Jen are already out, doing their own thing," Mrs.
King replied.  "I'm sorry; they left only fifteen minutes ago.  I
think they would have joined you, if you'd called in time."

"Thanks," I sighed.  "What about Helen?  Would she like to come
visit, perhaps with Greta?  Ruth and Daisy would like to see them
again."

"That's a nice invitation.  But they're going to Bikini Beach
again.  They didn't have the bad experience with their friends,
the way your group did."

Oh, well.  It was pretty much Carol, Ruth, Daisy, and me that
day.  I did get some clarinet and piano practice in before Carol
arrived.  And we did play some with Ruth and Daisy's young
friends that afternoon.

         Sunday, July 27

Sunday was not a routine Sunday School and Church day.  It only
began routinely with the boring hour of Sunday School.  I noticed
that Beth, in Ruth's class, didn't look very well.

After Sunday School, when Beth's grandpa arrived, Ruth dragged me
over to him.  "I need your support.  You don't have to actually
say anything," said Ruth.  "I also need you as a witness."

"Sir," Ruth began, when we caught up with the Grandpa.

"Yes?" he answered.  "Sorry, I don't know your names."

"I am Ruth Cuttington, Beth's classmate in Sunday School, and
this is my big brother Luke.  Beth is seriously ill.  She's been
getting worse the past weeks."

"The practitioner is hard at work on Beth's case," replied Beth's
Grandpa. "And we have been reading and studying `Science and
Health.'  Beth is in God's hands."

"Either verify that Christian Science healing is working, or put
her back on the medicine.  I suspect it is--" at that point, I
didn't pick up any of the words.  Ruth (or Peter in Ruth) was
using vocabulary hopelessly beyond me.  But I did catch the end:
"... a virtual death sentence."

"Young lady," said Grandpa.  "It's only material sense that tells
you that Beth is getting worse.  Deny it.  Materia Medica
theories have no basis in reality.  In fact, your observation,
your worry, may be what's contributing to any lack of success of
the Christian Science work.  It's a form of mental malpractice."

Just then, Ma spoke.  I hadn't noticed her approach.  "Ruth, you
know you are not supposed to question or challenge your elders. 
Especially not the elderly."

"And look what that got me, Ma.  This is deadly serious; Beth's
life is in danger."

"Mrs. Cuttington," said Grandpa.  "Ruth's presence in Sunday
School, with her preoccupation over Beth's sickness, may be
what's holding back Beth's improvement.  I ask that she not be
brought to Sunday School or Church until Beth's healing is fully
accomplished."

"Okay, Ruth.  We're going home."  Ma took Ruth by the hand and
returned to her car.  I followed, hoping to go home as well. 
Unfortunately, Ma said, "No, Luke.  You stay and attend church. 
I won't ask you to pray for Beth, as it's wrong to pray for
someone specifically without her request.  But pray that Ruth see
the light and understand the Truth of Christian Science."

I just said, "Okay," knowing perfectly well I wouldn't.  After
all, it didn't seem as though CS had anything to do with our
restoration of memories of Peter and the correct memories of
myself as Luke or Lucy.  Of course, it was possible that God
worked in convoluted ways, but how could I know that He did?  I
was getting almost as skeptical about CS as Peter was."

Ma didn't return.  It was just Pa and I at church today.  I tried
to avoid dozing off.  I noticed that Pa was dozing off some times
as well, though.

After Church, since Ma had the car, we decided to walk home.  I
would have suggested taking the bus, if I had my bus-card, but
unfortunately it was at home.  While we walked, I told Pa about
Beth and Ruth talking with Beth's Grandpa.

"So that was why Ma took Ruth home so abruptly," said Pa.  "I'm
of two minds.  On the one hand, focusing on the material aspect
can obstruct a healing.  On the other hand, the spirit of
Christian Science is Love and Compassion, concern for the
unfortunate.  Ruth was demonstrating those qualities for Beth. 
And accusing a nine-year-old girl of mental malpractice..." Pa
trailed off.

"Well, she is seventeen-year-old Peter inside," I said.  "And I
couldn't understand what she said.  It was Peter talking then."

"Yes, but there's no way Beth's Grandpa could have known that. 
Mrs. P-- said that girls Ruth's age are much too young for
instruction in mental malpractice and animal magnetism.  So
accusing Ruth of malpractice is almost malicious in itself.  I
just don't know."

We didn't say much more, the rest of the way home.  We were both
lost in our own thoughts -- or at least I was.

At home, Ma had readied Sunday Dinner.  Ruth ate with us, but
then Ma sent her back to her room.  I went with her, and she
handed me a letter.  "Beth gave me her home address.  But her
parents went on a summer-long cruise. That's why she's spending
the summer with her Grandpa.  I'm really concerned this won't get
to them in time.  But mail it anyway.  It needs a stamp," she
added unnecessarily.

Pa caught both of us as we spoke.  "Ruth, did she say anything
about where the cruise was going?  What cruise line?  Anything we
might find out?"

"Unfortunately not.  Just that it was a cruise around the world,"
answered Ruth.

"I see that her home address is in New York City.  This may help.
 Luke and I can search for information on the cruises.  I don't
want Ma to find out what we're up to just yet, so stay in your
room for now.  Okay?"

"Sure, Pa," answered Ruth.

Pa and I went back downstairs.  I stamped the letter.  "Get that
letter out," said Pa.  "Better deposit it in the mailbox down the
street, rather than our own box.  I don't really expect Ma to
interfere with the letter, but we do want to make sure it gets
mailed."

There was a street-side mailbox a couple blocks down the street.
I walked the distance, deposited the letter, and then returned. 
Pa was in his office, but then came out.

"I was on the computer, and I found information about the cruises
from New York City.  I think I managed to narrow it down to one
cruise that left a little less than a month ago.  At some point,
I should let you in the office and learn about computers and the
internet."  Oh, my!  He'd actually do that?  "Anyway, I got a
contact number for the cruise.  Hopefully, we can reach Beth's
parents, and get a message to them.  Let's call from the office."

Wow!  I was actually being allowed into his office!  We had
Beth's parents' names from the letter address.  Pa dialed.  He
eventually reached a live person, and spoke.  "Hello, I have a
message for Mr. and Mrs. Rochester, who may be passengers on this
cruise.  All I know for sure is that they went on a cruise around
the world, and they probably departed from New York City.  It
concerns their daughter, Beth, nine years old, who is staying
with her Grandpa."

Someone spoke on the other end, and then Pa answered, "I am
Daniel Cuttington, a member of the church her Grandpa attends. 
Beth herself has been coming to Sunday School while she's here."

More talk from the other end.

"Okay, here's the message.  Her Grandpa gave a testimonial a few
weeks ago, telling us that he has taken Beth off her daily
medicine.  The idea is to use Christian Science to heal her.  My
children have reported that Beth appears to be seriously sick
now."

"Ruth thinks that it's something fatal," I said.  "I couldn't
understand Ruth's words."  Pa repeated our concern that it might
be fatal.

There was more talk from the other end.  Pa gave them our address
and phone number, and I heard more talk, apparently promising to
get the message to the parents if possible.

"Thank you very much.  I most sincerely hope it gets to the
parents.  Have a good day.  Good bye."  Pa hung up the phone.

"Well, Luke, hopefully, the message will get to them today.  I
think we've done all we can do right now.  Except pray and know
that we do the right thing."

We left the office, and Pa went back upstairs to Ruth's room.  Pa
and Ruth returned downstairs, Ruth having changed out of her
Sunday dress into tee-shirt and shorts.

"Both of you, go out and play, or do something outside.  This is
going to be strictly between your Ma and me.  I'm countermanding
Ma's order sending you to your room, Ruth."

"I have to change clothes, first," I said.

"Go ahead.  I'll wait," said Pa.

I went upstairs to change into tee-shirt and shorts.

When I got back down, Ruth asked, "Pa, may we go to the library?"

"Yes you may," said Pa.  "Be home by five."

"That shouldn't be a problem," I said, as we went outside.  I
took her hand, as we headed off toward the library.

On the way, Ruth said, "Daisy found the book Carol was reading,
`Forbidden Flowers.'"

"Oh?"  I blushed, remembering Ruth and "Forbidden Flowers" from
way back when.

"Yeah.  She found it quite, um, interesting.  We read some of it
together. I really hope we haven't seriously corrupted her."

"Could she actually be hurt by it?  Endangered?"  I asked.

"Doubtful.  But we like to think of nine-year-old girls as
innocent.  lEven when they're not.  You got really sick that time
a month ago, when we met over `Forbidden Flowers'."

"That was Peter speaking, I realize that now," I said.  "Although
I never knew that Peter read it.  I think I would have been
guilty and embarrassed had Peter caught me reading it as well.  I
was definitely more fearful of Peter catching me, than Ruth, way
back then.  On the other hand," I was changing the subject. 
"That can't be Peter in you holding my hand like this."

Ruth giggled.  "No, it's not.  Some thinking has still changed in
me as Ruth.  And it's Ruth that sees you as a combination of
lovable and loving big brother and hot handsome guy.  And Peter
in me is seeing you in a new light, very different from before."

When we got to the library, I wondered if we were going to go for
`Forbidden Flowers' again.  But nobody mentioned it, and I
decided to go for the young-adult science fiction section
instead.  I found a book called, "So You Want to be a Wizard."

"That's a good book," said Ruth.  "Although, if I recall
correctly, the author has no concept of what an equation is.  I
seriously cringed at certain scenes of wizardry."

We stayed until the library closed, and then went home, getting
home well before Pa's deadline of five.  Ma was still preparing a
light Sunday supper snack, and had nothing to say about Ruth
being out of her room.  Daisy was there as well.

We were in the middle of eating when the phone rang.

"That's got to be the cruise," I said.  "I hope they got the
message to Beth's parents."

"I hope so, too," said Pa, as he answered the phone.  "It's for
you, Luke. A girl, Vanessa.  Something sounds very wrong."

Oh?  "She's one of my Bikini Beach friends."  What was going on?
I wondered as I got up to take the call.

"Hi, Vanessa.  What's up?"

"Luke?"  Vanessa was crying.  "Tim's been murdered."

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