Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Best Girl by BJohn
   Chapters 21 - 25
   Chapter 21
   EILEEN (Thursday 5/25)
   We'd liked Ben and thought he'd make a good addition to Clann Reynolds.
We'll take Talent wherever we could find it!
   I asked Kate to print up three copies of The Book (in its new format)
and get them over to the young-uns to make notebooks for Sharon.  She fired
up the printer and sent them off.
   We had a late-afternoon appointment at Jackie's for our weekly touchup
so we headed over -- teleported to a quiet alley right next door.
   They were happy to see us, especially Bridget.  She got passed around to
everyone and gave even better than she got.  Goo flowed like a flood.
   Jackie was overflowing with spirit-energy; she'd been "hearing" people
the last several days and was feeling a bit weird.  She was expanded a
couple feet out of her body and every time she got close to someone, she'd
start picking up their thoughts and emotions.  A telempath she was; now to
get her fully operational.
   Almost as soon as we got in the shop, Sean asked her, "Do you have time
for a short chat after you close up shop and send the ladies home?"
   Of course she did; Sean knew that before he asked.  She told him, "Sure
do.  I've got some stuff going on I need to talk with someone about."
   We got our usual excellent service.  Sean got targeted with plenty of
cleavage shots; a couple girls weren't at all averse to giving Kate and me
the same.  Betcha I know what they were interested in.
   Though her service didn't suffer at all, Jackie was a bit pre-occupied
with what was happening with her.  She was just as attentive and willing as
ever.
   Jackie kicked the other girls out after we were done; it was closing
time anyway.  She told them, "See you tomorrow.  I've got some stuff to go
over with Sean and the Hat Ladies."
   After locking the front door she took us into one of the back rooms; her
office wasn't big enough to handle us all.  She got right down to it,
"Sean, ladies, you're the only ones I can think of who might have some idea
what's happening with me."
   We assured her we'd listen at least then do our best to help.  She laid
out all she'd been experiencing with the "voices," feeling sensations and
picking up and sending emotions.  "Most of this week I've known what the
clients have wanted before they even say a word."
   We looked around at each other like we weren't sure what to say.  Margie
got elected to do the deed.  _"Sounds as if you've become a telempath like
we are.  Pretty simple, actually, after you know what's going on."_
   I'll admit we'd been a bit nasty, but it took off from there.  Jaysus,
we were almost getting to be old hands at it!  After 45 minutes or so, the
young-uns had agreed to take her on as a student (they got a little kick
out of seeming to be reluctant about taking on someone so "old.").  They
scheduled a training session that evening after Jackie got home.
   Sean invited her to join us and several of the other telempaths at the
Tavern Friday night.  She tried to dig out who some of the "others" were,
but we grinned and told her, "You'll find out."
   This time we all lined up and gave her some snogging.  She was a little
startled when Kate grabbed her ass but snuggled up after a half second. 
She didn't even twitch when I checked it out -- she reciprocated.
   Margie was her biggest surprise; she laid a lip-lock on her that would
have burned her bra off -- if she'd been wearing one.  Margie told her,
_"Now you're mine, sweet thing.  Sean gets you after me."_
   It only took five seconds of seeing the rest of us trying not to laugh
until she caught on.  She promptly turned Margie over and swatted her
bottom lightly a few times.  "That's for turning me on and not doing
anything about it, old lady!"
   ------
   When we got back to OTL, we gave the place the usual once-over before we
settled in.  Sean asked us, "Since when do we have cactus plants in the
cars?"
   Kate confessed, "I did it this morning.  When we did Mesa and left the
Volvo at the airport, we left a physical-universe VPN to power a shield.  I
figured since we had a body shield and sound barrier around the house based
on plant life, we could do the same with the cars when we were out and
about.
   "All we need is something alive, right?  Since it acts only as a place
to put a node, firewall and shield, you don't need much.  A cactus is tough
and doesn't really need water or much other care."
   Hell, sounded great to us.  We talked seriously about giving her another
Soo Laid for her idea.  She tried to talk us out of it but we prevailed. 
One Soo Laid on Kate's account!
   Sean told Margie, "Sweetie, since you've been slacking off all day, I'll
give you the task of setting up all these machines.  They need to be
assembled, tested, updated with patches and made ready for the young-uns
and the rest.  I'm sure you can get them all done in the next hour."
   Margie looked at him, floated around behind him and carefully kicked him
in the butt.  _"Don't mess with me, young man!  I'm getting more sharp
teeth every couple days."_
   She went to work anyway.  Twelve laptops, a couple docking stations,
monitors, keyboards, a desktop system for the server, a couple printers and
a bunch of wireless network stuff didn't seem to bother her in the least.
   I got us a little snack before Kate took off to class then went back to
work.  Sean had me organize all the Clann Cullen research along with the
web site so everyone knew what who was doing to whom and when.
   After making a couple calls and _calls_, I came up with: Teresa, Mona
and Rosheen would work on the Cullen genealogy.  One of us would get a new
laptop to Rosheen in the next day or so; she'd already ordered a DSL
connection.  She'd also research the McLennan, Sullivan (Fergus),
Gallagher, Hanlon (for Kate) along with the Cullen line.
   Mona would publish the Clann Cullen web site -- shit, she already had
the first stuff up -- plus work on the Cullen Enterprises site to keep it
current and to set up the password-protected downloads.
   The young-uns would do genealogy on the Nolan, Bardon and my lines plus
continue small-run manual assemblies.  The adults would write up the
customs they remembered and submit them to Teresa.
   Clann Cullen LA would pay the young-uns $25 an hour for their work, Mona
$35 an hour for the web site work and Rosheen $40 an hour for her work. 
For now, the other adults would do their customs and genealogy stuff out of
the goodness of their hearts.
   I tried to pay for work on my lines, but Sean overruled me.  "You're the
Ceann's mates.  Eileen, we might well have the next Ceann.  Kate, you're a
mate so belong in the line too, whether or not we have children together.
   "If you wish to donate money to the non-profit organization, I won't
stop you.  However, it's a good way for everyone to avoid the nasty IRS
people.  I'll probably do the lion's share if for no other reason than I
could use all the valid deductions possible."
   Okay.  Well, all I had to do was ensure the efforts were organized to
start with; as Treasurer, Teresa would handle all the book work for the
Clann and Kate would handle anything with Mona for the Cullen Enterprises
web site.  I had a sneaking suspicion, though, Sean would come up with
something else for me to do.
   Yeh, I did manage to work around something.  I had a _talk_ with Dermot
about researching the history on our jewelry at $15 an hour.  Bob had told
us a colorful history would make it more valuable.  Since part of the
history would be who owned it for at least several Gallagher generations,
Dermot would be working with Aile, Deidre and Mona as well as Connor, Caden
and Rosheen.  I'm sure they would find something for him to do while they
were meeting -- besides talking.  Hehehehe.
   Around 7:00, I left Margie playing with her new toys and ported over to
Louise's place; I'd volunteered to help with her wedding.
   I had several "extra" wedding dresses, but they were way too big for
her. Kathleen offered jewelry; apparently her mother had left lots to her.
She ported a bunch from her safe deposit box, we looked them over, ooed and
ahhed a lot and decided.  Louise was *very* happy for the loan.
   Since Kat and I both were in the throes ourselves, we'd already thought
of a lot of loose ends.  Yeh, we were gonna have a great time!
   We whipped up an invitation and made a quick list of invitees (Clanns
Cullen, Reynolds, Way, Fuerte along with lots of folk where they worked).
Sean's print shop should be able to handle them rapidly; they'd pass them
out by hand.
   ------
   (Friday 5/26)
   First thing in the morning, Bridget and I did our well-baby pediatrician
visit.  He looked her over good.  After he weighed her he said, "She's
getting a lot of muscle mass.  Does she move around a lot?"
   I told him, "She's discovered crawling so she rug-rats around a lot. 
She's also standing a lot.  She just needs something to stabilize her."
   "That would do it.  She's developing pretty early.  Nothing to be
concerned about; once they start doing something they tend to do a lot of
it."
   I was down to feeding Bridget once a day; my breasts were a bit
uncomfortable every once in a while, but the supplements had helped. 
Margie told me Patricia and George were working on his weaning -- so far,
so good.
   He gave me a couple tips on completing the weaning and we were off. 
After I'd told Sean and Kate the results, Margie got lots of hugs, kisses
and well-dones.  Best daughter!
   ------
   SEAN
   We'd gotten a couple returns and address corrections on the wedding
invitations so I updated the member database.  After we got the new
computers installed, I figured I'd turn the database maintenance over to
Maura -- she was decent on a computer and was the Clann's Secretary.
   I _told_ her that; she didn't mind since she and Teresa were also the
RSVP contacts for the wedding.  She told me, _"They're hitting hard; we've
gotten over 200 calls already.  Most of the Clann women we talked with
wondered about why you hadn't been active.  I told them the truth about it
dropping through the cracks.  90% of them dropped some broad hints about
you catching up on some of your duties, so you'd better be taking your
vitamins."_
   Oh, well.  Life is tough sometimes.  I told her, _"You're the social
secretaries; work it out.  If I don't like it, I'll tell you."_
   I took a look at the new web site.  As I'd suspected, Mona'd put a twist
on it.  The main page had a picture of me with my bowler -- and a silly
grin.  The headline said, "Do you know this man?" At least it wasn't a mug
shot with a sign.  The rest of the site looked great -- I had a sneaking
suspicion the social secretaries would slip in a Soo Laid for Mona for her
good work.  No problemo!
   I had a five-second meeting with her and Maura about sending out a
postcard to our new Clann mailing list about the web site.  By doing it on
line, we could send out a card for about 30 cents apiece; I figured it
would take maybe an hour the first time then maybe fifteen minutes the next
time we wanted to send something.
   For the 350 or so it would cost around a hundred bucks.  Teresa already
had Clann Cullen debit cards on order from the bank so I told them to do
the deed when they came in.
   The Keavys were doing just fine.  I put them in contact with Ana
Matthews and the Drs.  Gold from the Clann Reynolds; I figured if anyone
could help them with their physical conditions, they could.
   Carmel was doing great, too.  The young-uns had trained her up and she
was bouncing around outside like a spring chicken.  I asked Kate to send
her, Vera Leonard and the Keavys a teleportation check list; she ported a
copy off to them right away.
   Hmm.  Sounded like we needed an Education Officer or something to ensure
our Core got trained and updated on new technologies as needed.  Sounded
like a great job for Eileen!  At least I'd learned to delegate.
   Marge had spent most of the evening and a lot of the night getting the
various computer systems set up.  As I'd expected, the majority of the
actual clock time was spent getting the updates from the Microsoft update
site.  She could do four or five systems at a time without bogging down the
DSL too badly.
   While Eileen and Marge were at the doctor's, Kate and I ported over to
Rosheen's with her new laptop system.  I worked her over good; she really
enjoyed it.  She got plenty flushed up and damp; Marge was right, if they
got damp, they weren't too old!
   Several thousand years of bedding "old" ladies had given me a taste for
*all* ages.  Generally, age tends to give more, em, experience and
appreciation while youth tends to be able to endure more.
   While we'd spotted only a bit of Talent in Rosheen, Kate _suggested_ we
put a node, firewall and body shield in her anyway and see what happened.
Sounded good to me -- Kate put one in on her (plus a shield around the
apartment via a couple plants) and let the power start notching up.  Seemed
to work; by the time we left, she was already feeling more lively.
   Anyway, with Kate moved out, we made her old room into a full-blown
Internet-junky office.  I made a couple "trips to the car" and brought in
all the equipment and supplies.
   I coached Kate on setting up a full setup with a docking station, large
flat-panel monitor and external keyboard/mouse.  By some miracle, the DSL
was up and operational so she was ready to rock!
   We set up a color laserjet, left an extra set of toner cartridges,
several reams of paper and other office supplies.  I told Rosheen, "If you
need *any*thing or any help, just give Maura a call.  It's all paid for."
   While she hadn't said anything, I knew she wouldn't be comfortable using
the standard straight-back kitchen chairs she had.  So, that gave us a good
excuse to take her shopping at Office Depot.
   Oops!  Kate and I had ported over, so the Volvo was still at OTL (Eileen
and Marge hadn't taken a car, of course).  Easily handled; it was in the
apartment's parking lot when we went out.
   I loved going to office and computer supply stores!  While I didn't shop
like the ladies tend to do, I still look a lot of stuff over for ideas.
   We chatted away like old friends while we found her a good chair, an
adjustable footrest, a Polycom speakerphone, a good desk lamp and lots of
other office goodies.  Rosheen had spent some 20 years in office
environments and had a good idea of what a decent office needed.
   I ensured she had a staple remover.  Ya can't be a competent bureaucrat
without a staple remover!
   I put it all on the Cullen Enterprises card; it was a donation to Clann
Cullen.
   On the way back, Kate and I treated her to a good lunch (probably
deductible) then took her grocery shopping.  Might as well get her fully
set up.
   We got everything into her apartment, set it up then left her giddy as a
schoolgirl with all her new goodies.  She'd do just fine.
   Kate did the honors and ported the Volvo (with us inside) back to OTL.
Still plenty of stuff to do there.
   Kate went back to her studies while I ported over to the Altadena Arms.
They'd put out a very nice sign in front announcing, "Open to the Public
for Lunch.  Free Parking." Sam told me they had a similar sign for dinner.
   There was plenty of parking room in the underground parking plus there
was a good-sized lot out back.  I told them to make up signs for the garage
and lot with something like, "This way to dining delight." Fast and
inexpensive.
   Mary Murray wasn't in; her shift didn't start until 4:00.  No problem, I
knew where she lived.  A quick _inspection_ showed me her OBY visit had
gone very well; she was confirmed to be very pregnant.  She and hubby were
really happy campers!  Good on 'em!
   The dining room In Charge had started clearing wall space for historical
pictures and such.  She'd managed to locate several pictures already (we'd
spotted quite a few during our night-time explorations and had _hinted_ at
her where they were).  Lookin' good.
   ------
   EILEEN
   After Margie and I got back from the doctor's we went back to work. 
Margie had about six more laptops to set up and I had plenty to do.
   Yep, I'd figured right; Sean had come up with stuff for me.  Guess I was
now the Education Officer for the Core Clann.
   Sean and I spent 20 minutes on setting up an education template with
dates, items and that sort of stuff.  He helped me set up a database in
Access (on the server, of course) then pointed me at the online help and
Form Wizard for creating forms.
   The first one took a half hour.  I tweaked, tested, bitched, moaned,
griped, deleted it and started over.  The second one took five minutes;
good enough for now.  Used to be I couldn't spell compututor progmanner;
now I were one.  Grin.
   Now that I had a form, I banged in Margie, Kate, Sean and me.  Dayum;
needed a couple more fields plus a memo field for notes.  Okay; I'd been in
the designer before so no big deal.  This run through, I understood it a
lot better and set up some default values that made sense.
   Much better.  I ran the Form Wizard once more, tweaked the results
around then banged in everyone else I knew of.  Fuck, that was 21 people
already who were outside!  I banged in Sheila, BB, Eavan McGlinchy and Lena
(our lawyer) as highly-probables plus Rosheen as a maybe.
   Margie was done with her systems by then and helped me out.  She
introduced me to queries and reports -- how many and who were trained on
probes.  Same for shields, external shielding and other stuff.  Who hadn't
started the teleportation check list.  Who was in-progress, who was
completed plus a general status report.  All good stuff!
   We ran off a set of the general status, tweaked the format, heading and
footer and tossed it in Sean's basket.  Nice; we had a lot of trained
people with most of them probably due to finish up the teleportation check
list within the next several days.
   Sean was very pleased with both of us and showed it with a nice
snog-session which left us very damp with nice tittie hard-ons.  He didn't
want Kate to feel left out so he molested her, too.
   Dayum!  The social secretaries had set up an honoring that night so we
figured Sean needed a warm-up.  A forty-minute checkout in our bedroom with
a home run apiece convinced us he still remembered what to do.
   ------
   We got a quick shower to last us the evening then Sean put us back to
work.  Slave driver!
   Sean told me what he'd found at the Arms; good stuff.  I called and
placed the Yellow Pages ads plus ads in the local paper.  After calling
Sean's print shop, I emailed over the copy so they could design fliers and
merchant coupons.
   Oh, yeh.  I scouted out the discount coupon book distributors that got
sent to newcomers to the area and got a spot in it, too.  So far, so good.
   While Margie ran system backups, I had a quick _chat_ with Maura and
Teresa to ensure I had the N&B data correct.  They'd talked with the
elementary school councilor the other day and the young-uns had gotten the
go-ahead to set up a Brain Trust there.
   They'd already gotten in touch with George, Megan, Don, Art and PVC and
had set up a Saturday meeting to get the set up.  Teresa said, _"From what
I remember of the Clann Reynolds folk, there might be a little more than
talking going on; they're all a bunch of horny kids.  Not that we weren't
at that age, mind you."_
   The young-uns already had a half-dozen interested students at the
school; some had Talent, too, so they were enhancing them.  Nice.  Very
nice.
   After Margie finished her backups, she popped over to meet with Ana and
the Drs.  Gold to go over the kata/physical training routines.  Apparently,
they'd come up with some interesting stuff.
   Mail came in.  Sean had gotten 8 of the 10K back he'd put down at the
hospital.  He told me, "Good.  Every bit helps." I tried to tell him I'd
pay the 2K, but he gave me his Ceann's "don't give me no shit" look and
said, "Just put it in the household account."
   All righty.  I popped over to the bank for the deposit then back again.
I spent more time in the bank line than anywhere else.
   ------
   SEAN
   Tavern night.  Apparently black was the night's color.  All the ladies
had LBDs, even Jackie and Shane.  Someone must have been talking with them
because they were gloriously bra-less, perky and wobbly along with the
others.  Maybe I'll find out sometime how they do that.  Don't really care,
the end results were grand.
   Everyone knew Jackie; we all went to her place for hair and nails.  Yes,
us guys get nails done too on occasion.  Since she was now outside,
everyone gave her welcome spirit-hugs and _kisses_; they were a lot hotter
than the physical display.  The young-uns had trained her up with most
everything they knew; the rest was practice.
   When she went to the bathroom, we got a unanimous agreement to invite
her to the Clann and Core.  She was really good people.
   After she got back, I told everyone, "We'll have a party at Olive Tree
Lane on Monday.  My treat; if you want something special, bring it along."
   Teresa looked right at Jackie and Sharon and told them, "Apparel is very
optional.  The back yard's completely enclosed; only for the squirrels in
the park behind it can see in, and they don't seem to mind."
   Jackie pinked up a little but smiled and nodded.  Sharon smiled widely
and wiggled her eyebrows.  I told her, "Ask Celia and Jack along.  They're
part of us, too."
   Since everyone there was enhanced, we _talked_ about the people we had
on our future list.  They thought Rosheen was a good bet, and it would be
interesting to see what happened with her.
   Maura and Teresa were interested in Lena; they'd worked quite a lot with
her over the past several years.  Maura volunteered to take over her
enhancing; the young-uns were more than willing to train her, especially
since she'd always treated them as adults.
   Dinner was great, of course.  After a brief settling-down time, we
trooped to the stage.  We left Jackie and Sharon to hold the table.  Not
that anyone would think of taking it; the waiters were pretty alert.
   Dayum, we were getting pretty good at song and dance routines.  Working
the young-uns in made quite a show.
   We did quite a few variations on the hat tossings.  Bridget got in to
it, too.  Her toss wasn't very good; Kate had to hike up her skirt and
catch it on her toe.  The audience didn't seem to mind at all; I think her
tiny green panties had something to do with it.
   That gave us an idea.  We started tossing the hats back and forth with
our feet.  If we missed, Bridget raced over on her hands and knees, picked
it up and popped it on the nearest foot.  A couple times she tossed it
herself a few feet.  The audience really liked her.
   Then again, they liked the fact the ladies legs were in the air a lot.
Seems all the females were wearing small green panties!  Between wobbly
boobs threatening to escape dresses and panty flashes, there was a fair
amount of sweating going on among the adults in the audience -- the kids
either didn't notice or didn't care, and no one got upset.
   Patrick told me later they sold over 300 drinks (including sodas) after
we got on stage.  Not shabby at all!
   We wrapped things up and danced off the stage to loud applause.  We'd
better start thinking up some fresh gigs to keep them coming in.  I told
the Core to think about it, and we'd talk on Monday.
   We gave final hugs and pecks around then took off for home.  Marge,
Eileen, Kate and I ducked around the corner of the Tavern and ported back
to OTL.  Sure beats driving, even if it was only for fifteen minutes.
   We got quick showers and settled down in the den.  Eileen disappeared
towards the front; I heard her open the front door and tell someone to come
it.  It was Sharon!  Hmm, betcha I know what they're up to.
   She came into the den smiling so hard I thought her face would break. 
Eileen was carrying a small overnight bag, so I made a wild guess Sharon
had been invited for the night.
   I ensured she felt *very* welcome.  I think she felt that way, too. 
When I gave her a decent snog, I could smell wet woman and felt a hot set
of nipples against me.
   Kate pointed her to the guest room and shower.  After I heard the water
start running, I tried to play dumb, "Nice to have her here.  We gonna talk
about Shane's Shop?"
   Three redheads glared at me.  Eileen said grimly, "If that's all you
want to do with her, *you* get to kick her out and watch her cry."
   I let my mouth drop open and tried to look gobsmacked.  I couldn't hold
it more than a couple seconds before I had to laugh.  All three pillows hit
me and they attacked me!
   Fortunately I wasn't very ticklish though they tried hard.  I heard Kate
say, "Help us, Sharon!  He's been getting pretty sassy lately."
   I felt a new pair of hands join in.  They slid right up my legs and
latched on to a protruding portion of my anatomy -- which immediately
started protruding more.  I squeaked, "That's not a handle!"
   Didn't seem to stop them.  I retaliated with hugs, kisses and gropings
of my own.  Seems Sharon hadn't tied her robe too tightly so I devoted a
couple minutes to checking out what was underneath -- with lots of
cooperation.
   We wound down after a bit -- wusses!  Settling down with Sharon beside
me, we checked out some Irish whiskey and talked shop for a little.
   Sharon told us, "Jack and Cecelia checked out the Burbank shop; they got
right in.  It's right on First Street underneath a set of new condos
they're just finishing up.  They're still building the shops, so they got
to get their layout in easily enough.
   "There's a storage room in back with a standard bathroom, pretty much
like mine.  Apparently it's just a little larger in front and should get a
lot of foot traffic.  The construction won't be done for a month or so --
we've decided that would be just right."
   Jack and Cecelia were looking for four new people; two to train as
replacements in Shane's Shop and two for their new one.  They were already
planning on being open 7 days a week because of the established traffic. 
With a month to train, they should all be up to speed.
   Three new copies of The Book had magically appeared by the register
earlier today.  Sharon said, "It looks really good.  We noticed right away
it was really easy to read.  And with that new study check list, we won't
have a bit of trouble.  Are you gonna do the detail manuals, too?"
   We filled her in on our plans on the reformatting and distribution.  I
told her, "As soon as these ladies cut me some slack time, I'll finish up
my review.  I'm ensuring it'll handle organizations of any size so I have
to do some rewording here and there."
   She allowed as how that would be all right.  She'd spotted the new part
on franchising but hadn't had a chance to go over it yet.  "We haven't
decided exactly how we're going to work it yet.  Depending on what the new
part says, we might go with a franchise or a partial ownership for me.  We
shall see."
   Her brother was fine.  She'd not spotted much Talent in him as yet. 
Marge told her, _"The Clann Reynolds has had some success enhancing
mundanes.  They've found several who they'd thought would never be able to
be one of us and just pumped the power to them.  Sometimes they do and
sometimes they don't.  Just give it a shot; we've got one with a small bit
and we're trying it with her."_
   Sharon had been widowed in the Nam war; no children.  She'd tried out
several relationships since then, but none had gotten too far.
   Her brother was married with a couple children out of the nest.  Eileen
told her, "Make sure you check out the rest of his family, too.  Clann
Reynolds found a lot of times the entire family had Talent; seems when
spirits with a certain amount of power pick up a new body, it tends to pick
a family with roughly the same ability level."
   Sharon thought it was a very good idea.  "Won't hurt.  I'll check out
our folks, too.  We've got a few cousins scattered around, so this thing
could spread quite a ways."
   She'd been eyeing Eileen's and Kate's naughty bits they'd been flashing
at her every once in a while.  She really enjoyed Marge's cuties and had
been having interesting thoughts about checking them out sometime.  This
will be an interesting night.
   We had a final round of Irish whiskey -- Marge's gums had been "hurting"
all night so she got some pain killer, too -- then I pulled Sharon into the
honoring room.
   She was eager, nicely padded and quite enthusiastic.  She tasted
wonderful on both ends.  We got in several decent base hits then we hit one
out of the park.  Home run!
   We dosed off and did some exploring.  One of her nephews had some Talent
so I had her set up a node in him and start pumping him up.  We found a
cousin and did the same with her.  The rest of the family...  well, we
can't win them all.
   Eileen, Kate and Marge slipped in and ravished her thoroughly.  She
loved it and gave as good as she got.  She loved the feed back from the
Marge-titties!  We all dozed off for a while then we honored her again for
another hour ending with a grand slam.
   While floating around the back side of the Moon, we introduced her to
_blending_ and compatibility checking.  With her, we all had a nice warm
glow; her incompatibility was she wanted a long-term two-person
relationship.  I told her, _"Keep looking.  We'll look too.  I'm sure we
can find a nice Irish boy for you -- if there is such a thing as a 'nice'
Irish boy."_
   Of course, Eileen, Kate and Marge were quick to inform her *I* wasn't
nice.  Seems they thought breakfast in bed every day was a prime
requirement.
   ------
   EILEEN (Saturday 5/27)
   Sharon was nice and snuggly as well as being good people.  In the
morning, Sean fed us several breakfasts apiece -- in the dining room, not
in bed.
   We chatted a while over the remains.  Sean presented her with a shamrock
pin while I gave her an "Irish by Injection" pin.  Margie remarked, _"You
only get one pin even if you were injected five times.  Them's the rules."_
Good thing or we'd go broke buying them.
   We ensured she was hooked in to us with a power node then programmed her
in to the OTL firewall and body shields.  After providing her with three
teleportation check lists, we kicked her cute butt out the door.
   I watched her wobble bowlegged to her car.  She'd be okay; the rocking
chair was still at the shop.
   Mario popped in right at 9:30.  Sean told him, "Marge is all yours. 
She's the system administrator for the whole ball of wax."
   They got to work.  Apparently Exchange had been activated on time
because they went to work happily clicking, typing and chatting away.
   Kate pulled down the QuickBooks files the companies had sent her.  She'd
modified her request to get half of them this weekend and the rest next
weekend.  She went happily to work.
   Sean told me, "I'm going after a gas barbeque for the back yard.  Wanna
come?"
   "Yep.  I've gotta make sure you get the right color."
   We kicked back in the living room for a few minutes while we let our
spirits do the walking through the Yellow Pages.  In about fifteen minutes,
we found what we (I) wanted and ported right over.
   Big sucker.  Stainless steel, side burners, an extra flat grill, all
that good stuff.  Sean added another bag of the artificial charcoal
(spreads the heat).  "Usually it's too thin and it wears out anyway."
   Anyway, we got it on a flat cart, pushed it around the corner then
ported it and us back to OTL.  Sean started setting it up, and I went back
in the house to get some other work done.
   Since the Clann Reynolds folks were coming in the afternoon, I started
the steaks marinating and ensured the other stuff like salads were still in
good shape.  Party!
   Sheila stopped by right on time at 10:00.  We spent an hour going over
possible investments including something for Margie.  She agreed an UGMA
was just fine for her, "You can put $10,000 a year into it with no
problems. I don't have a form for it with me right now, but it'll only take
a few minutes once I have it."
   I told her, "Come back tomorrow around this time and we'll finish it up.
We've got some other things to go over, too."
   Anyway, everyone started popping in at 11:00, right to the back yard
where the party was.  I took Sheila out and introduced her around to Mario,
Bob, Sherry and Kathleen.  She actually knew Mario; he was one of her
clients.  Good.
   Yeh, my power pump was working just fine.  We'd managed to _talk_ with
each other several times already even if she hadn't been aware of it. 
Tomorrow will tell the tale.
   We invited her to stay for some food, but she begged off.  "I've got
three more appointments this afternoon.  Fortunately I'm free most of the
day tomorrow."
   She headed out and left "us chickens" together.  Kathleen, Sherry and
Bob promptly peeled down to the buff.  Sherry told us, "It's a bit cool but
Kat found you can just pump in a little infrared so you can be as toasty as
you wish."
   Sounded good to us.  Kate, Sean and I peeled down, too.  Mario and
Margie were still going at it in the den; they'd join us whenever.
   Yeh, pumping in a bit of infrared worked fine.  Hmm, seems even having
the ladies' nipples warm didn't stop them from perking right up.  Bob and
Sean waved at us a couple times then everyone settled down.
   Sean had set up the barbeque and had gotten a full fuel tank.  We had
the tables, etc., set up where I wanted so we were in good shape that way.
   Bob remarked, "I hope PVC and the rest of our young-uns don't corrupt
your nieces and nephews too much.  They, George and Dermot are supposedly
together working on getting the elementary school Brain Trust together."
   Kate laughed and told him, "Dermot does have some interesting, em,
things to show them.  Val and Mona are probably big enough for them; I
don't know about the rest.  Besides, if you want to talk about corrupting
influences, I'll put Margie up against the best of them.  She's got a
*dirty* mind.  Fun but dirty."
   At Kat's suggestion we took a quick _peek_.  Oh, my.  Seems there were
well over a dozen little butterfly clips on display with lots of fun stuff
going on.  Hmm.  A few of those goings-on looked very interesting.  Well,
we've got a new-girls' night tomorrow...
   We traded news with Clann Reynolds.  Sherry told us, "The JRD staff is
doing a formal study of The Book with the study check list you sent us.  We
should be done mid-week next week."
   Kathleen said, "Sean, so far the consensus of the Executive Council
seems to be to get your Org Board and Admin Scale workshops running as soon
as out study's done.  After that, we'll see.
   "At the least, most of us will study the detail manuals.  I know the
entire Exec Council has to know them pretty cold."
   Sean told her, "Good.  Marge will be doing the workshops; just let her
know when you're ready.  We've got nothing so solidly scheduled we can't
work you in.  Later on in the summer might be different.
   "As for the detail manuals, I'd hold off a few more days.  We've got a
lot of format changes we did on The Book and are doing the detail manuals
now.  I'm getting revisions in to handle large-scale operations, too, so
there will be some changes.
   "As soon as I'm done with the revisions and my webmistress figures out
how to do it, we'll have the latest releases up on the web site.  I hope it
shouldn't be more than another week.
   "That'll give you time to finish your current study, relax a couple days
then do the workshops.  I'd suggest you skim through the detail manuals
even before you start the formal study.  That way you'll have a good idea
what's in them and where to find stuff.
   "If you spot something you know needs to go in right away, do the formal
study on that part, figure out how you're going to implement it then just
do it.  You're not gonna slam in everything all at once anyway.
   "Between getting your Admin Scale in shape and having the Organizing
Board, you'll be able to decide what sequence things need to be done in. 
Step by step, you'll get it in.
   "Then as you have time, do the formal study of all the detail manuals.
In a month or so you'll have it down.  I have complete confidence in you."
   Kathleen asked, "How about getting The Book and the others down into the
companies?  Would you do workshops or seminars on them?"
   "That's up to you.  While JRD itself might be pretty stable regarding
the number of new employees, the sub-companies probably have a lot of
turnover.  You might look at training several JRD people to deliver the
initial The Book seminar to the company execs then oversee the training of
the rest.  We can talk about royalties as part of that.
   "Just doing the study alone with a couple workshops tossed in will take
longer than you'll be doing at JRD.  JRD will do it faster since the entire
JRD staff is so motivated and smart -- no blarney, just pretty much fact."
   He tipped his head a bit and said, "Looks like Mario and Marge are
thinking about coming up for air.  I'll get the grill heating." He hopped
up and did guy-things around the new barbeque.
   Sure enough, they came out a couple minutes later.  Margie was riding
his shoulders, kicking her heels (lightly) and steering with his ears. 
_"Go horsey!"_ Even 93-year-olds can act like kids.
   They spotted all the nekkid bodies and stopped.  Their clothes flew
every direction and they found spots to sit -- Margie sat in Mario's lap
with her cuties in full bloom.
   She said, _"Goody.  Now I've got an airplane to fly."_ She reached down
between her legs and grabbed the control stick.  She started making
airplane noises while doing lots of rolls and other maneuvers.  Mario
groaned, and the rest of us laughed at/with him.
   Kate managed to get out, "I *told* you she was dirty."
   Margie took pity on him before he got too wound up and came in for a
soft landing.  She settled back and let her body sleep.  _"He's a slave
driver.  He didn't let me rest a minute!"_
   Mario told us, "She'll do just fine.  Each of you has a sticky note on
your monitor with your email addresses and passwords.  Just use Outlook
like you do normally.
   "Maggie sent the Nolans and Bardons their new addresses and passwords. I
made a note of all the addresses for the JRD folk and Clann Reynolds; that
way you can get lots of jokes forwarded to you.  I'd say you're pretty much
ready to rock and roll."
   Speaking of ready, Sean told me the grill was ready.  Kate and I ported
out the stuff to the tables, tossed on steaks and pointed Sean (wearing a
"Please play with the Chef" apron) at it.
   Steaks cooked, everyone chatted, then everyone stuffed themselves.  A
good meal was had by all.  Grin.
   We talked about a lot of stuff.  The entire Clann Reynolds was working
on the new teleportation check list.  Sean remarked, "You folk who've been
doing it already should get through it fairly lively.  We beginners took
about a calendar week and probably put in 8 to 10 hours.  I'd say you can
do it in half that."
   Margie noted, _"It's mainly refinements of what you're already doing. 
Shouldn't be an issue."_
   Bob told us their part of the Skunk Works was working on the physical
training routines and the possibilities of recording and playing back. 
"They'll come up with something sometime.  Most of the training routines
are more like 'best practices' so they're ironing those out with Ana and
the Golds."
   As for the self-defense stuff, he'd heard noises about the Krav Maga,
Tai Chi and other things.  Sean told us he'd been sorting out the various
routines from the Clann history.  "Definitely for war.  Everything's geared
to it."
   Lots of other stuff.  We gals traded progress information on the
weddings, gossiped a bit about who might be doing what to whom, and where
to find good Irish men for Sarah, Sharon and Carmel.  We decided we'd wait
and see about Sheila; she might be happy the way she was.
   Sean mentioned Ben Talbert.  Kat told us she'd talked with him Friday
night.  "He seems fine.  We're having a get-together on Memorial Day; I
told him to come on down!  I warned him about the clothing optional, and he
didn't turn a hair.  Once we've turned the gang loose on him, we'll talk
more."
   After Margie showed them the water-warming trick, we piled in the
Jacuzzi.  Yum.  We covertly got Kat and Sherry in the right positions then
Sean hit the pulsating jets.
   Yowsah!  They both lifted all the way out of the water and their body
shields flared up!  They laughed, settled back down and squirmed around. 
"Nice.  Very nice.  The jets in our Jacuzzi aren't anywhere near this, em,
satisfying."
   Bob grinned.  "Maybe I should get a larger pump on it.  If you do that
enough, maybe I'll get some rest."
   Sean piped up, "I dunno if it would make any difference; these girls
still abuse me a lot." They both got severely splashed.
   Things settled down; Sean cooked a few hamburgers and hot dogs.  They
were promptly devoured.  Sherry asked Margie, "You up to this stuff yet?"
   _"No.  The body won't quite handle it yet.  I've got lots of front teeth
but no way really to chew.  I'll survive; it's just another reason to grow
the body fast."_
   A little later I brought out sinful cherry cheesecake and ice cream --
five different flavors.  Somehow the cheesecake vanished in fifteen
minutes. The ice cream didn't last much longer.  Margie ensured she got her
share; it didn't need chewing.
   We got out, rinsed off and got dressed.  Hanging around in the den,
Margie showed them the new office and web site, we talked shop a bit more
and chattered about possible futures both for us as individuals and for the
Clanns.
   They'd heard a little about Mesa.  Kate, Margie and I took them on a
quick virtual tour.  When we got back to OTL, Kat asked The Question,
"Well, we gonna do something like that here?"
   Sean grinned.  "When you folk finish The Book you'll know what we've
gotta do to check it out.  Vera Leonard will be more than happy to give you
physical tours; we'll have to get together sometime soon to discuss doing
anything here.
   "I know there's plenty of homeless in L.A.  We'll just have to see if
there's an actual demand for something similar here.
   "Cullen Enterprises is looking hard at selling the last ten businesses.
That'll free up quite a bit of time and attention.  Waystation 1 basically
took four months of my pretty-much full-time attention.  I can't afford to
be that involved again, I don't think.
   "Down the road not too long, I'm looking at getting into larger
companies.  I'll probably shamelessly use several of the JRD sub-companies
as pilots to see how well the policies *really* scale up.  If they do
reasonably well, we'll look at developing our own larger companies.
   "We'll be doing lots of seminars in the meantime.  We've got two
extremely competent ladies to deliver them to the general public and a
really smart and clever young lady to drive in the details.  We've also got
an eye on another possible staff member.  That should handle seminars and
workshops for a while."
   Bob asked, "How long does it take to set up and promote a decent-sized
seminar?"
   Sean told him, "At least a month, preferably six weeks.  We've mainly
got to get a place tied down then promote it.  Most decent-sized places
need a minimum of six weeks scheduling."
   We talked a bit more about it.  We decided to get with Madeleine
MacKenna (on a consultant basis to JRD) and pick her brain.  Different
target audiences need different promotion.
   We packed things in around 9:30.  They ported off, we did the final
cleanup and hit the bed.  Good people, good friends.
   Chapter 22
   SEAN (Sunday 5/28)
   [Intersects with Sorcerer 3 Ch.  5]
   Partying was hard work; our bodies slept the entire night.  We were all
up by 7:30, though.  The ladies managed to survive on a single breakfast
each this morning.
   We got to work.  Since we had afternoon party today and an all-day party
tomorrow, the ladies spent 90 minutes on their studies.  I thought they
were making excellent progress.
   I scanned through five of the detail manuals, making the scaling changes
on the fly.  With Ben's template and code, I converted them to the new
format as I went.  Surprisingly enough, there wasn't really a whole lot to
change.
   I'd spent quite a bit of time over the last few nights getting down the
customs I remembered.  As requested, everything was grist for the mill from
how long a woman's skirts should be (if she wore skirts) and why, how a
group of people walked through the woods or across an open field (and why:
protection of the women and defense against attack) as well as marriages,
fertility rites, "baptisms", appeals to the gods for crops, toasts, recipes
for beer, wine and bread; stuff like that.
   Maybe Teresa could make something of it all.  I could see lots of roots
to current-day customs myself.
   After saving everything, I got on a jock strap and a pair of loose
shorts, dug out my trusty ratchet (held out my hand and it was *there*) and
headed out to the back yard.
   I started running through one of the Clann battle katas.  I wasn't
trying so much to do it right yet, just ensuring I remembered what it was.
Each move had a counterpart in an actual battle.  There were movements for
offense, defense, counters and for multiple opponents.  Interestingly,
there were also moves for a group cooperating in doing the same things;
lots of teamwork.
   Yep, I remembered several katas for the women, too.  Over the Clann's
history, they hadn't been passive breeders but were an active part of the
Clann management and battle plans.
   They weren't on the front lines as such, but we'd known no matter how
good the men were, we could be overwhelmed and our women put at risk or we
could be flanked in an effort to steal the women.  The women decided if
they were going to die or become enslaved, they would take one hell of an
honor guard of their enemies along with them.
   That's probably where some of the Irishwoman's pigheaded stubbornness
and fire came from.  It was to a degree cultural; while they respected
"their" men, they didn't take shit from anyone.
   The women's katas used the same weapons as the men's, from hands-only
through shillelaghs, swords and bows as well as household tools like
brooms, cooking knives, stools, bowls and even a length of cloth --
preferably wet.
   The katas not only gave them warriors' skills but also gave them the
self-confidence of being their own persons -- as well as being obnoxious,
obstreperous and other words that begin with, "ah." Like ahdorable.
   I got a quick shower and typed in my notes and observations.  I wasn't
so much interested in the how of the katas right now but mainly the areas
covered, why and the results.  I couldn't come up with a good reason for
all that red hair, though.
   Eileen checked with Carmel.  She was doing great and was half-way
through her teleportation check list.  Her folks were doing okay. 
Apparently they had a touch of Talent so she'd been pumping them up the
last several days.
   She'd be here tomorrow; if the parents were doing well, she'd bring them
along, too.  She told Eileen they'd all gone to several nudist camps over
the years so she wasn't concerned about that.
   ------
   Sheila popped in exactly on time at 10:00.  She and Eileen must have
gotten their investment stuff done and worked on something else because the
next thing I knew she was _talking_ to me.
   _"Sean, you'd better not have been holding out on me.  It's been bad
enough you haven't fucked my socks off yet."_
   I tried to protect myself a little bit at least, _"We've only known
about all this stuff for something like five weeks now.  As for fucking
your socks off, if I'd thought I could have survived your Spanish fire I
would have worn your toenail polish off on the ceiling years ago."_
   We went back and forth a few times with the Irishwomen egging us on. 
Finally I walked into the dining room, grabbed her up and did my best to
wrap my tongue around her vocal cords.  She didn't seem to mind at all,
especially when I got a hand on her butt.
   We settled down a bit.  After introducing her to Margaret (who gave her
a snog that put her nipples up hard), we gave her a quick training session.
The young-uns had another to work on.
   After going over the Clann customs, she was more than willing to become
an adoptee.  "Guess this means I've gotta learn that Irish stuff you guys
spit out."
   Kate told her, "It'll be a lot easier than the Tagalog and Armenian
you've learned." She introduced her to the Bob Reynolds language trick.
   Sheila had a family get-together the next day, but it was later in the
afternoon.  Since that was the case, we made sure she would come to our
party in the morning tomorrow.  I had no doubt everyone else would want her
with us.
   She had her own investment and insurance business running pretty full
tilt with something like 30 people in it doing much like she was doing. 
Maybe she could find some more Talent there.
   Anyway, she took off about 11:30 after another round of hugs and kisses.
Marge warned her, _"You'd better start getting prepared; I'm gonna wear you
out some night."_ Sheila grinned at her and asked, "You and what army?"
   We had plenty of army.  She didn't know we could call on all the
reinforcements we needed -- the Clann Reynolds would come to our rescue if
needed.
   ------
   EILEEN
   Sheila's gonna be fun to have around.  She's as feisty as an Irishwoman
any day.
   We had a couple parties this afternoon as well as the big one tomorrow.
Maura and Teresa were throwing me a bachelorette party while John and
Patrick were getting together with Sean.
   The N&B young-uns were off to a birthday party for Steven, Lucia and
Mary Shinto over in Burbank.  John told us Kat would port them over and
back so none of us had to drive them.
   The entire N&B crew were almost done with their teleportation check
lists so pretty soon they'd be able to do all that themselves.
   In the meantime, Kate and I made a store run to pick up more stuff for
our party tomorrow.  We were expecting at least 30, people so I had Sean
"run out" and pick up a couple dozen more chairs and several tables for the
back yard.
   Steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken and some fish along with lots of
salad, various cakes and some cheesecake and lots of ice cream.  Soda of
various sorts, more Irish whiskey (is there any other kind?) and several
varieties of Irish beer.  If they didn't like what we had to drink they
could bring their own!
   We stuffed the refrigerators and pantry full.  While Kate worked on some
of her company books, Sean and I arranged the back yard the way I wanted.
Basically it was stick the chairs and tables out and the guests could group
them any way they wished.
   Sean had picked up several more big trash cans and a big bag of liners
so they went out in strategic locations.
   Yep, we had plenty of spare Jacuzzi towels.  The chemistry in the
Jacuzzi water seemed okay so we were ready to rock and roll.
   Kate, Margie and I "picked up" Ellen Keavy and ported over to Teresa's.
Dayum, looks like almost every Core and possible-Core woman showed up. 
Rosheen, Jackie, Sheila, Cecelia, Sharon.  Rosheen was the only
non-enhanced person there -- and she was dayum near ready to pop!
   What the hell, we made her the first order of business.  Within 40
minutes, she was outside, hooked up and having one hell of a good time
along with the rest of us.
   We girl-talked, giggled, swilled down the booze, played cards and talked
about the wedding.
   Everything was on schedule.  Maura said she'd have her da's kilt back
from the cleaners, and they'd fit Sean on Tuesday.  Patrick was going to be
Sean's best man; they'd dug out his dress kilt and made sure it was all
sparkly clean.  All my stuff was ready to go already so no sweat there.
   The nieces had their dress fittings Tuesday, too, along with new suits
for the nephews.  Maura said, "The boys don't seem to mind the suits,
especially after I told them they made them look older and might help them
score with some of the bridesmaids."
   Margie noted, _"It doesn't hurt that all the bridesmaids live either
here or next door.  Betcha there's gonna be a lot of other Clann girls
there who wouldn't mind getting frisky with handsome young men closely
related to the Ceann.  Hehehehe."_
   She popped up her cuties and nipples full blast and continued, _"I
wouldn't mind checking out a bit of the talent myself."_
   Ellen eyeballed her and said, "On the other hand, I'm right down the
street."
   We laughed for a bit.  Margie said, _"Maybe if your Brian gets wasted
enough tonight, I'll come visit."_
   Ellen's turn to laugh.  "It wouldn't matter in the least.  He'd welcome
you drunk or sober.  We like 'em young or old -- and you've got the best of
both."
   More talk.  Babies, weaning (I was completely off breast feeding. 
Dayum, hope my tits don't go too flat before the wedding; gotta have
something to fill out the dress.  Oh, well, that's what the Inner Touch is
for.), schools, Clann plans, all that neat stuff.
   Hell, since they were here, we ensured Jackie, Sheila, Rosheen and Ellen
were filled in on *all* the Clann customs.  Sheila had already accepted
membership so we formally invited Jackie and Rosheen to join the Core.
   They accepted right away.  Of course, Rosheen was Clann by blood and had
already actually known most of the customs.  This just firmed up the
interpretation.
   We discussed honoring for quite some time.  While the original basis was
to have the Ceann become emotionally attached to the Clann women, that was
really no longer valid.  With the ability to create a gestalt with any
person of Talent and the ability to _inspect_, Sean was well beyond that
already.  He'd also accepted the entire Clann Reynolds as part of his
family -- as had we.
   That didn't lesson the current honoring, though.  The basis was still
sound; showing the woman she was part of us and that she was special.  The
social secretaries introduced ourselves and told the rest about the
hierarchy we'd discussed.
   Kate told the girls who hadn't been fully honored yet, "With the Core
women automatically rising to the top of the list, you'd better stay ready.
Cecelia, just because you and Jack might end up with primary membership in
Clann Reynolds doesn't mean you can escape the Ceann's Shillelagh."
   They drenched the chairs they were sitting in.  Rosheen commented, "I
know I couldn't take a lot but I'm willing.  What a way to go."
   Ellen said, "I'll take whatever I can get."
   After Teresa pointed out the Ceann-mate usually spent the night with the
spouse (and that I'd be abstaining until I was safely pregnant), Kate said,
"Guess that means the guys will have to tolerate me."
   Yeh.  We laughed for several minutes at someone having to "tolerate" our
Kate.
   We went on.  Maura commented, "We thought about getting a male stripper
for you, Eileen, but couldn't come up with anyone who'd be better than Bob
Reynolds.  We asked, but he's part of the birthday party hosts tonight. 
Better luck next time."
   Of course the talk came around to Sean.  Jackie and Sheila weren't shy
at all about asking how he was as a lover.
   Maura and Teresa commented that he was the best.  "All the spirit stuff
was pretty new when we were with him.  Yeh, we had our husbands for years
-- and some before that -- but with the _joining_ and _blending_ abilities,
they can all create an experience that's exquisite for whatever occasion."
   I told them, "My previous lovers don't have a shadow of a chance of
stacking up against him."
   Kate said it the best, "I only had one prior experience before Sean and
that wasn't very good.  What I've observed is he cherishes each of us. 
He's not thinking about something or someone else; his attention is there,
right on you.  Since we're _joined_, the feedback is not only incredible
but he also knows what limits or desires you have at that particular time."
   Margie told them, _"None of us have ever been unwilling.  If we're
interested only in snuggling for the night or just going to sleep, that's
perfectly fine with him.  He can 'do' none, one or all -- as much, as many
or more times as we can stand.  He's more interested in our pleasure than
his, be it orgasmic ecstacy with a huge grand slam or a simple caress on
the face or a spirit-hug._
   _"Sarah wanted it quick and hard -- that's what she got.  Mary Murphy
generally liked it slow, while Maura and Teresa each had their own
preferences.  What they wanted, they got.  Of course, he delivered a
diamond each time rather than just a shiny little bobble._
   _"I'll vote for him as my best-ever.  Even with the physical limitations
my body has for now, he's the best I've ever been with."_
   I teared up -- as did the others.  I told them, "He's never
overwhelming. He always grants you your identity; who you are.  He simply
admires and loves you as much as you can stand, unless you're both out for
a grand slam or something like that.
   "He can control or be controlled; makes no difference to him.  It's a
joint effort, not just him or you.  No dominant/submissive -- he could
probably play either role if you wanted -- it comes down to a *sharing* of
love.  And he's got tons of it -- as we do for him."
   ------
   SEAN
   Quite a party.  John and Patrick were there, of course.  I ported Brian
Keavy over in his wheelchair.  Jack Hanlon showed up along with Sam and
Phil from the Altadena Arms.
   Sam and Phil were mundanes, so we kept things down.  We drank Irish
whiskey and Irish beer, played cards, let the home theater play a football
game, guy-talked and had a great time.
   John told me, "We thought of getting a stripper for you but couldn't
think we could top who you've got here at home already." Yep.  Some people
get pretty bright after a few brews.
   Sam and Phil told us the Arms was doing fine.  The dining area was
steadily increasing its traffic, and the occupancy was up a couple percent.
All good things.
   Sam said, "Of course, we've had several returning guests ask about the
guy in the silly hat."
   I couldn't let that pass so I pulled my Bridget-chewed bowler out and
popped it on.  "Now that I've got my thinking cap on, what's the bid?"
   I didn't think we were following the score too closely; no one seemed to
mind at all.
   We did watch some of the football game and later on some Lakers
basketball.  Sam and Phil were fans; the rest of us -- well, let's say we
had some idea of where the teams were from.
   We speculated on what the girls were doing.  Jack said, "Probably what
we're doing.  Getting drunk and gossiping.  Except they've probably got QVC
or the Home Shopping Channel on."
   We kept feeding Sam and Phil more whiskey and beer until they passed
out. With the few _touch_ tricks we'd learned, rest of us were able to
filter out a lot of the effects on our bodies.  We still weren't feeling
much pain.
   Now we could get down a bit.  Brian told us, "Ana Mathews and the Drs.
Gold took Ellen and me to their research lab, strapped us down and
experimented on us."
   They'd given them both a good going over.  Several injury energy bleeds
had made a lot of difference even if nothing else had been fixed.
   However, they'd kept Brian and Ellen outside so their bodies were
completely relaxed and had gone in for some touch-up surgery.
   Brian said, "Oscar said they weren't surgeons.  Shit, they didn't need
to be.  Talk about completely non-invasive!"
   The three medicos had cleaned out their heart arteries, fixed up several
weak blood vessels ("One in Ellen's brain was ready to pop for another
stroke."), repaired some damage from strokes and in general had given them
a good workover.
   "They told us to rest up real well and take lots of vitamins for several
days before we went at it again.  Already we both feel like it.  Maybe we
can lure some sweet young thang into joining us."
   We laughed pretty good.  I offered, "You might ask Margaret.  She's
definitely a sweet young thang -- plus you could talk about old times at
the same time."
   Brian grinned.  "Betcha Ellen's already thought of that.  Anyway, even
with all the stem cell research they're doing, Ellen and I have already
decided to think long and hard about it.  For us, it might be better to
start over again -- or find ourselves a couple Kathleen Donovans."
   Yeh, there were always alternatives.
   We ported Sam and Phil to their beds at their own places and put their
cars where they belonged.  We made up a raunchy cover story about how
they'd gone trolling and came up with a couple women.  On the other hand,
maybe they wouldn't ask.
   We wound down a good hour before the girls got back.  I ported Brian
back home; the rest did their thing and took off.
   I did the cleanup; toss the empties in the recycle bin, sweep the floor
of crumbs and straighten things up.  Still had a party tomorrow.
   Marge didn't come home with Kate and Eileen.  Eileen told me, "She's off
to spend the night with the Keavys; they're gonna have a good time
reminiscing about the old times."
   Told you so.
   ------
   EILEEN (Monday 5/29)
   We rolled out bright and early and got breakfast.  Margie popped back in
just in time to get her share.
   After cleaning up, we started our party preps.  Margie reset the house
shields to let pretty much anyone port in or out and set the ultraviolet
blocking up to max.  It was gonna be a very warm sunny Southern California
day!
   A quick check of the back yard showed the furniture was still in place
and the Jacuzzi was ready (after a quick warm up).  Sean set out stacks of
plates, glasses, Jacuzzi towels, cooking and eating utensils, napkins
(suitably weighted down) and all that stuff.
   The steaks were marinating just fine, the chicken was ready, all the
other goodies were prepped, and there was plenty of ice with beer and soda
on ice in a shallow tub.  Ready.
   We'd told everyone we'd start around 9:00.  These guys weren't party
slackers by any means; Kate ported the entire N&B family over ten minutes
early -- they were ready.
   They peeled off right away -- we hadn't bothered to dress -- then
greeted us.  The nieces smothered Sean immediately and pushed him onto one
of the big lounges so they could crawl all over him and rub their
very-nubile bodies around on him.  He didn't mind and gave back as good as
he got.
   Caden and Connor didn't hesitate to check out Kate's, Margie's or my
arses, either.  I think they were getting very interested in girls -- or
women.  With memories coming back, they probably had a really wide range of
interest.
   The adult greetings were a little more restrained but not by much.  We
had stiff ones of all sorts pop up for several minutes.
   Maura and Teresa offered their help, but there wasn't anything left to
do.  I let them fuss around with the yard chairs and such so they'd feel
like they were contributing.  Yeh, they moved several things a couple
inches and were happy.
   Apparently no one was feeling any effects from last night's parties. 
Good things do happen.
   The young-uns' birthday party with Clann Reynolds had gone really well.
They'd all brushed up on their slow dancing (naval engagement with slight
loss of seamen) and flirting skills.  I think they were tuning up for the
upcoming three wedding receptions.  Good on 'em!
   Since they were ready, Kate popped Rosheen and the Keavys over.  Jack,
Celia, Sharon, Jackie and Sheila drove over and were all there by 9:15. 
Everyone peeled down almost right away.
   Oh, my.  Yummy new ladies all over!  Yeh, Sheila had a *great* rack and
Jackie's arse was delectable.  Lots of tittie hard-ons everywhere.  Neither
Jackie nor Sheila were shy about showing what they had or about checking
out the available talent -- both male and female.
   The Keavys moved carefully but had their clothes off pretty quickly. 
Yeh, their bodies were old with scars from operations and "old" skin and
whatnot, but no one minded at all.  Brian perked right up with the rest of
the guys while Ellen's nipples rose to the occasion.  Maybe Margie'd warmed
them up last night!
   Carmel _told_ me, _"We'll be there in just a couple minutes.  Mom and
Dad are doing fine today and are really looking forward to meeting Bridget
-- and running around in the buff."_
   I _warned_ Margie who promptly put on her full Bridget persona and
draped herself over me.  We'd give them the full shtick.
   I was waiting when they came in.  I hadn't met them before; they'd been
too "out of it" to come to Frank and my wedding.
   Really nice people just on the surface.  Carmel introduced us; I gave
them each a good solid daughter-in-law hug and kiss.  Bridget gave them
each an almost-over-the-top performance, though.  By the time she was
through, their faces were stretched with huge smiles and the goo around
them was waist-deep.
   Maeve told me, "I see a lot of Frank in her face, but she's mostly you,
Eileen.  You've done wonderfully well with her." Can't go wrong praising
the mama!
   Carmel told us, _"They seem to have a touch of Talent.  I've been
pumping them up good since last Thursday."_
   Yep, they were doing just great; they'd expanded outside their bodies a
couple inches.  Guess we've got to do some more enhancing today.  Oh, well,
someone's gotta do it.  Grin.
   Kate took Bridget and held her while Carmel, Liam and Maeve doffed their
traveling clothes.  Decent bodies for their ages.
   We got the three of them introduced around to everyone else.  They got
nekkid hugs and snuggles from everyone.  They really liked it; apparently
they were a bit lonely like Carmel.
   Rosheen and Ellen got Maeve sitting with the adult ladies while Brian,
Jack and the other adult men pulled Liam in with them.  Bridget promptly
"assumed the position" on Liam's lap -- no airplane, though.  The young-uns
circulated around ensuring everyone had towels for sitting on and something
to drink.
   Sean announced, "We'll have a light lunch around 11:00 then a blow-out
meal around 4:00.  In between, there's plenty of other stuff to keep you
from dying of starvation or thirst."
   We talked and gossiped.  Mainly, we drew out Liam and Maeve and
encouraged them to talk about themselves as well as give us Carmel and
Frank stories.  In just a few minutes, they were totally relaxed with us.
   Liam had been a tool and die maker for 40 years before he retired. 
Maeve had been a high-school teacher in various subjects for 35 years.
   The Keavys had been entrepreneurs all their lives.  They'd built up a
good-sized company creating and manufacturing security equipment like
alarms, cameras, badge entry systems and surveillance systems.  They'd sold
it twenty-odd years ago.  Interestingly enough, Security Plus was now a JRD
company.  Small world, huh.
   I _felt_ the gears go around in Sean's head as he considered how best to
use them.  Betcha it'll be something interesting.
   We gradually started _talking_ with the McLennans until they realized
what was going on.  The young-uns promptly descended on them, dragged them
off to the den and trained them in the basics.  Happy campers!
   The young-uns had trained up Rosheen and Sheila last night after the
party; good thing the bodies didn't need to be sober to do it.  Now we had
everyone here really ones of us.
   With that out of the way, I introduced Margaret to them.  It didn't take
them long for them retrieve some of their own memories; it promptly made
"believers" out of them.
   Margie sprouted her cuties and floated around giving hugs, snuggles and
kisses.  The three McLennans hesitantly checked them out and shook their
heads in wonder.  Neat stuff.
   Anyway, we dug out the Clann customs and started getting everyone
acquainted with them.  About half-way through, Sean fired up the grill for
lunch and put on burgers, dogs and fish.
   We ate while we talked more.  The confidential customs got a good going
over, and they really enjoyed the honoring ones.  Maeve and Carmel eyed
Sean at the grill.  He had on his Please play with the Chef apron and waved
at them.  He knew what they were thinking.
   Of course Jackie and Sheila were eyeing him, too.  They'd had a chance
to get settled in a bit to their new abilities so that put them a bit
nearer to the top of the list.
   After lunch, Sheila had to take off to her family get-together.  She had
a lot of her business people coming so it was pretty much a must for her to
be there.  Before she left, we got her solemn promise to come to dinner
tomorrow at OTL.
   We took a break for a dip in the Jacuzzi.  We didn't manage to surprise
anyone this time with the water jets.  Too bad.  We soaked, snacked and
drank while we finished up some of our discussions.
   Rosheen, the McLennans, the young-uns and I trooped into the dining room
to look over the McLennan papers they'd brought.  There were lots of
pictures with notes on the back, several sets of birth, death and marriage
certificates plus the start of a tree on the McLennan side.  Good start.
   There'd been a small McLennan clann around for a while.  It had almost
died out; Carmel and Frank had been the last they knew of.  With Bridget,
the name would be around for only 20 more years or so unless we could get
Carmel fixed up and producing an heir.
   Good.  Margie ported the entire stack of stuff over to Rosheen's.  That
brought on another discussion on teleportation along with some
demonstrations.  Margie printed up another set of check lists for everyone
who needed them.  If nothing else, it would give the McLennans a lot more
mobility than they had before.
   All right.  Back outside, Liam commented he should have brought his
horseshoe set; there was a perfect spot along the back fence.  Well, since
he knew exactly where they were at their place, I just ported the entire
thing down.
   Sean took ten minutes to set up the landing boxes, push in the stakes
and issue his challenge.  The Keavys had obviously played before, so Jackie
and Sean took them on for the first round.
   We gave the young-uns -- including Margie -- heavy warnings about
_touching_ the horseshoes.  They'd had a Frisbee flying around the back
yard and over the house for the last two hours and it hadn't touched the
ground once.
   ------
   SEAN
   We played horseshoes, flirted, yakked and had a great time.  I fired up
the grill about 3:15 and got the chicken going.
   The women gossiped a lot about finding men for the single women.  I told
them, "Keep your eyes open at the wedding receptions.  In the next three
weeks there'll be quite a few single guys running around.  Remember, we
haven't met most of the rest of Clann Cullen either.
   "Maybe you should turn Rosheen loose with her phone tomorrow and start
stalking the prey.  Betcha there's lots of sons, grandsons and cousins
whose moms and nanas would like to see married.  With the single girls part
of the Clann, they're automatically 'nice Irish girls'."
   That set them off on a new tangent.  They broke out the wedding
invitation list and made notes about women for Rosheen to call.
   Connor and Caden got dressed and disappeared over the back fence to
explore the park.  Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park was only a couple short
blocks away; it went right up into the mountains so there was plenty for
them to explore.  They had their shields up tight so we weren't worried at
all about them.
   The nieces joined the women in their talk and occasionally wondered over
to me at the grill to rub their boobs on me.  Maybe they thought it made
them grow.
   I got the chicken off, the steaks, fish and other stuff on and warned
everyone of the feast to come.  Caden and Connor magically appeared over
the fence; maybe one of their new abilities was an advanced sense of smell
for food.
   They brought back a young cat.  Caden told us, "It was wondering around
yowling way up in the park.  It probably wondered off from somewhere
because it was sure glad to see us."
   Eileen promptly named it Geeser.  What other name is there for a cat in
an Irish household?  It was dirty, draggled and probably covered with fleas
and other assorted vermin.
   Kate took care of it in about five seconds.  She teleported it a couple
times and left all the vermin behind as well as the dirt.  Eileen got it
some milk and cut up some chicken.  Geeser sucked it down as if she (yeh,
another female around the house) had been taking lessons from the
young-uns.
   What the hell, just another mouth to feed.  After she settled down from
eating, the girls found an old hair brush and combed out her fur.  She
settled down in a convenient towel-covered lap and went to sleep.
   We ate.  Eileen, Kate and I especially had to keep our strength up; we
had a wedding to go through!  Plus, I had a sneaking suspicion they'd toss
a couple honorings in beforehand.
   I reminded the gossiping women, "Sarah from the Arms needs a man, too.
Kate can run through the singles there, too.  If they've been at the Arms a
while, they're already pretty good people.
   "Might as well make a list of *all* the eligible men and women while
you're at it.  Remember, Clann Reynolds' Inner Circles do matchmaking, too.
With you social secretaries around, I'll betcha won't keep your noses out
of it for long."
   I got Irished a bit for that comment but shrugged it off.  I'd gotten a
pretty thick hide from the Cullen Sisters over the years.
   Mona suggested, "Let's put an article on the web site.  Betcha we can
get every mother and grandmother to email us with a couple eligible names."
   We discussed it a few minutes.  We decided a) Mona would set up an email
account for matchmaker@ClannCullunLA.org, b) the social secretaries would
write an article and have Mona publish it and c) as soon as the debit cards
came in, Mona would send a postcard mailing to the Clann mailing list
promoting the web site.  All fine by me; delegation is the name of the
game.
   I kept the grill going as long as anyone could put anything down.  We
sat around to let things settle a little bit before we broke out the cake,
pies, cheesecake and ice cream.
   We got more into shop talk.  We tossed around quite a few ideas for gigs
at the Tavern.  I had Kate make a note to get Rosheen and the Keavys there
that Friday.
   We got pretty deep into Cullen Enterprises.  I laid out my ideas for
selling the remaining small businesses then going into one, two or more
mid-sized ones, maybe up to a couple hundred people.
   We talked about doing a Waystation 2; I gave everyone a quick virtual
tour of Mesa.  I put off doing more on a Waystation in this area for a
little bit.
   I told them, "The JRD staff is studying The Book.  They'll probably want
a couple workshops in the next several weeks, so I've put Marge to work on
that.  They might well be interested in being a major Waystation sponsor,
but they need the background policies on establishing a new company first.
   "When you Cullen Enterprises ladies get done with the detail manuals,
I'll want you to start setting up seminars.  If we're gonna work our own
larger businesses, we should promote to the same public.  Subject to
change, we'll probably concentrate on selling the companies and doing
seminars over the summer.  Make a talk with one of the JRD execs; we might
want to use their promotional company instead of doing it all ourselves.
   "You Nolans and Bardons should review The Book and manuals, too.  We
might talk about starting another Tavern somewhere else.  Sharon might be
piloting a franchise; it might be the way to go.  Plenty to talk about,
plenty to plan and plenty to coordinate.  It doesn't all have to be done in
the next week, but we need to have an overall plan among us so we're not
stepping on each other's toes."
   ------
   We had more general talk, pet Geeser a lot (she ate two more big
helpings of chicken, fish and cut-up steak), soaked in the Jacuzzi and made
lazy in between.
   The McLennans started to head out pretty early; Liam and Maeve were
pretty tired by then and Carmel had an hour's drive to get them back to
Calabasas -- in the Memorial Day coming-home traffic.  Before I could
mention it, someone came up with the Bright Idea of teleporting them back
rather than driving.  Eileen did the honors this time, car and all of
course.  After Liam and Maeve were in their house, Eileen ported Carmel and
her car back to her place.  Saved everyone a lot of time and aggravation.
   The rest drifted off.  Kate ported Rosheen and the Keavys back home
while the others who'd driven over drove back.  Hmm, Jackie stayed after
everyone else had left.  Betcha the social secretaries had something in
mind.
   That left the OTL household and Jackie.  After a quick cleanup (not much
to do, actually), we got into Jackie's business.  Since I still owned the
salon, we talked with her about selling it.
   She was very interested in buying it.  Kate trotted out her template of
points to get in and we went over it.  Not a lot to do, actually; Jackie'd
done pretty well.  She told us, "With Sean's business model, I'm gonna
restudy The Book, do the new detail manuals and maybe take a look at
franchising.  There's plenty of hair and nail salons around, but most of
them don't seem to last long."
   She wanted to get into the position I was in where she wasn't doing the
day-to-day operations and the physical work herself.  I told her, "Great
idea.  It's one thing to do something because you really love the work
itself.  It's another to do it because you've gotta make a living and
that's all you know.  You're smart enough to be able to set the shop up
right so it can run without you but still make income from it.  That's a
major step in becoming financially independent.  It's in The Book and in
the detail manual number 8."
   We were still out in the back yard.  Marge settled down on Jackie's
shoulder and let her body nap.  Every once in a while, she'd wake up a bit
and rub her Marge-titties over Jackie's nipples which responded by popping
up.  Nasty girl!  Jackie had to change the towel she was sitting on twice.
   Kate printed her off a new The Book and ported it off to her apartment.
Jackie could just replace the paper in her current notebook.  I told her
when I'd gotten the detail manuals revised, she'd be able to get them off
the Cullen Enterprises web site.
   We went over all the points which still needed to be gotten into place
and made a plan to get them there.  Eileen, Kate and Marge were involved in
this since we still had the other companies to get up to speed and I wasn't
about to do it all myself.
   Kate said, "From what I see in the salon's books, it's in good shape
financially and is making good money.  As you start setting it up to back
out of the daily operations, you can start promoting the franchises.  Maybe
we can put a listing on the Clann Cullen web site about job and business
opportunities, too.  There's plenty of people around who can handle only a
J O B, but there are others who're looking for a business."
   Eileen mentioned, "And since none of the Cullen Enterprise companies are
in the same field, there'll be no competition among them, just cooperation.
When or if someone starts franchising, it's not conflicting."
   Marge piped up, _"Then when you get the teleportation down, you can bop
around any time to the fifteen or so franchises you've established."_
   Jackie hadn't thought that big yet.  I told everyone, "Always dream big.
If you don't reach for the stars, you'll never grasp the Moon."
   We discussed collateral businesses Jackie could get into such as
wholesale beauty supplies, a cosmetology school (some competition from the
local community colleges) or a salon for cosmetology interns (interning is
a licensing requirement).
   Kate asked, "How about Beauty Arts on Wheels?  There's lots of elderly
or disabled people who just can't get out to a salon or who have a
difficult time -- like the Keavys and the elder McLennans.  Even a
'housewife' who'd have to get a sitter for the kids.  It could be a one or
two-man band; one in a home office to schedule appointments, order supplies
and such and the other to dash around with a portable kit and do the work."
   Hmm.  The other ladies immediately agreed it was worth looking into. 
Marge suggested, _"Survey the people around here from the wake.  I can
think of at least twenty right around here who might be interested just
because it's difficult to get out.  Maybe you could charge a slight
premium. Cost it out; there's no storefront overhead so the fixed expenses
would be a lot less to start with."_
   We'd supplied Jackie with a notepad a couple hours ago.  She'd already
filled five sheets with notes and ideas.
   ------
   We decided to call it a night.  Eileen, Kate and Marge went for a shower
in the main bathroom.  I picked up Jackie and carried her to the honoring
room shower.  I told her, "Sorry, I'm pre-empting Marge's first dibs, if
that's all right."
   It was more than all right with her.  She dripped on me all the way.
   Jackie was a delightful lover.  Months of standing, bending and working
at the salon had gotten her in excellent physical condition so I didn't
have to hold back much.
   Her butt was truly delicious.  It was round, firm and sensitive; she
came twice just from a little play.  The front was even tastier than the
back.
   The rest of her body was also delightful.  Eager to do most anything,
she was "up and coming" for several hours until a grand slam punched us out
to the Moon.
   The other ladies joined us there.  We introduced her to _blending_ and
other spirit-play.  Our _blendings_ with her gave a nicely-warm glow and
our QQV was just fine.  Yeh, she was definitely interested in a
relationship of her own; she went right onto the match list.
   We let her body rest for an hour then Marge gave her a thorough workout.
Jackie loved it; she told us, "I've experimented a bit with girls before.
I'm not really that much bi but with the right women -- yow!"
   Eileen and Kate joined us later and we gave her a mini Soo Laid just so
she would get the idea.  Right.  As if we needed an excuse.
   We let her sleep the rest of the night until 7:00.  She got a
pre-breakfast wakeup call and a shower then we let her escape to the
kitchen for breakfast.
   Everyone had two breakfasts; Jackie got three.  She loved the shamrock
and Irish by Injection pins.  She told us, "The girls are gonna ask about
them, for sure.  I think I'll just look dreamy and not say anything."
   Marge noted, _"They'll see your well-laid look and probably be a bit
envious.  Hehehehe."_
   She did manage to walk to her car on her own.  A bit wobbly but she did
it.
   Chapter 23
   SEAN (Tuesday 5/30)
   Back to work.  We'd had two days of fun over the weekend with more to
come down the line.
   The ladies dug into their studies.  Eileen and Marge were on the
next-to-last detail manual; it was the largest one at over two inches
thick, but they were making plenty of headway.  Kate was on detail manual
four; I was happy with her progress.
   While they were "gainfully employed," I finished up the last of the
detail manual updates and reformatting.  I created all the PDFs and started
them printing for our office copies.  I shipped off the PDFs to Mona so she
could put them on the Cullen Enterprises web site.  I requested she create
unique User IDs and passwords for each of my companies (and the Tavern) and
if possible, keep a database of who downloaded what.
   I was nice and sent her a list of companies with my recommended User
IDs. I also asked her to create a single multiple-download ID for my
seminar attendees.  My guarantee to them had been they'd get all updates
for five years.
   I whipped up a draft mass email for my seminar attendees for whom I had
a business email address.  Dayum, there were something like six thousand!
I'd been a busy boy, I guess.  Looks like it was something to turn over to
my able executives.
   Anyway, as soon as Mona had things set up, I'd send it out so they could
get the updates.  She'd mentioned yesterday she needed another couple days
to set up the security; it was all new stuff to her.
   When the ladies were done with their studies, they went to work on the
business stuff.  Marge pointed me to the Admin Scale and Org Board workshop
material she'd set up and requested a review.  No sweat.
   I got through them pretty quickly.  She'd done a really good job
considering her experience.  I added more leading questions in several
areas, routed it back to her and told her to send off emails to JRD saying
the materials were ready and so was she.
   Marge sent off the emails then "borrowed" George and Dermot to go set up
the laptops and new network stuff at N&B.  She'd already set up an
administrator's WSUS (Windows Software Update Service) to keep the Cullen
Enterprises systems at OTL up to date so she'd put in the same thing in the
new network.
   We couldn't see any reason to have our two networks connected yet but
told her to think about ways to get a connection if we needed it.  Maybe if
we needed to transfer a bunch of files back and forth.
   ------
   EILEEN
   After our studies, Kate and I hit the Cullen Enterprises work.  I
updated the training database for Rosheen and the rest then added Liam and
Maeve.  A quick check with them said they'd loved the party, the young-uns
had trained them up pretty good last night, and they'd started the study
check sheet.  Maeve told me, _"We've got nothing else needing to be done
and all year to do it in.  We'll just have to get back in the groove of
being students again."_
   At Sean's request, I asked Liam, Maeve, Carmel, the Keavys and Rosheen
to the Tavern for this Friday.  I told the McLennans, _"If you're not done
with your teleportation check sheet by then, let one of us know and we'll
'come get you.' No reason to drive, is there?"_
   Kate and I popped over to the Arms to check out the dining room.  It was
lookin' good.  It was lunchtime and the place was about a third full.  The
In Charge told us, "It's really come up.  We normally have maybe 10 or 15
people for lunch; since we started the promotions, it's already tripled."
   We looked over her stat graphs for bodies in the shop and income. 
There'd been step jumps a day or so after Sean had gotten the signs up then
another when the local newspaper ads had hit.  Lookin' good!
   Kate and I popped back to OTL.  I checked with the printers; they'd have
the merchant fliers/coupons ready tomorrow so I scheduled in some time to
run them around.
   Kate went back to work on her accounting; she was doing some magic
accounting analysis as well as updating her required-points templates. 
Better her than me; I'd slept through the two required accounting courses
in college.
   Maybe I'd better arrange for her to give me (and maybe Margie) a quick
course in basic accounting.  I knew there were things like debits and
credits but wouldn't know the difference if they bit me in the arse.
   Kate and I took a break and took Geeser to the vet for a check up and
shots.  Our "free cat" cost us $233 to start.  The vet told us, "She's a
Ragdoll.  They make wonderful pets.  In about four years, she'll be up to
ten or fifteen pounds.  Most Ragdoll owners don't let them outside because
they're so peaceful they won't even defend themselves."
   What the heck.  We could use some peace and quiet at OTL.  On the way
back, we picked up lots of cat food, a litter box and lots of litter.  Just
in case, Margie had made up and posted some fliers around the neighborhood
earlier -- an owner might pop up.
   Sean, Kate and I had a little conference on the seminars.  Sean went
over the set up, delivery and follow up check lists he'd developed.  He
told us, "I pretty much single-handed it.  Once I got on site, I'd hire a
couple locals for body routing, setting up and tearing down the room and
some security guards.  I handled all the pre-registration myself.
   "The logistics get pretty hairy once you get above a hundred or so. 
Kate, how about you get a referral from Siobhan to their sales company? 
Maybe they can handle this sort of stuff.  I'd like to do big seminars,
over 500 at a time."
   She got on it and in five minutes was talking with Fillmore Sales
Relations in Sherman Oaks.  Yeh, they handled conferences; there was an
entire subdivision specializing in them.  Kate set up a meeting with them
for mid-morning tomorrow.
   Along about 2:30, we popped over to Maura's for the fittings.  The
seamstress, Nora McMillan, (Clann, of course) was there with all her tools
ready to go.
   The young-uns weren't home from school yet so Sean got the first place
in the spotlight.  Nora told him, "Off with your clothes, lad!  None of
your 21st-century duds for this occasion."
   He took her at his word.  We'd given him plenty of practice in stripping
everything off in a hurry, so in about 10 seconds he was nude and standing
on the small stage.  Nora looked him over and commented, "Not too bad. 
Guess all that decadent living hasn't hurt you too much.  From the looks of
that shillelagh, we're gonna have a lot of happy Clann women!"
   The young-uns came trooping in right about then.  The nephews noted
there was a naked Ceann in the house and wandered off to do homework.  The
nieces gathered around, stared and pretended to be slightly shocked.  Aile
and Deidre whispered and giggled with Mona while Sean leered at them
pleasantly.
   Nora handed him a pair of underwear which looked a lot like boxer
shorts. She cackled, "Now we know what an Irishman wears under his kilts.
We don't wanna show off the goodies to all the ladies until it's their
time. Hehehehe."
   As Sean put them on, the nieces groaned loudly in mock disappointment.
   Nora put the kilt on him.  The skirt (it might have an Irish name but
who cares) was pretty full and came just above the knees.  It was a
gorgeous tartan with lots of golds and greens.  It looked great.
   Nora got the shirt on him then had him put on the shoes and stockings.
To Kate's and my eyes, everything looked like a good fit.  Nora wasn't
quite satisfied, though.  She put a couple pins in the skirt waist and the
sides of the shirt.
   The shirt was collar-less in a wonderful shade of gold which matched the
color in the kilt exactly.  Nora said, "We cheat with the shirts.  They're
all modern materials with the traditional cut.  The kilt skirt and
accessories are the hand-me-down heirlooms."
   Sean said the shoes fit fine; they had the style and the buckles I'd
always associated with kilts.  I'd say Nora knew what she was doing.
   Sean stripped everything off (the nieces applauded) and put on a normal
dress shirt.  Nora wrapped another kilt around him and made a few
adjustments.  She told us, "This is the same tartan but in a wool/synthetic
fabric.  The dress one's pure wool; that's another reason we put on the big
underwear.
   "This is what you'll wear at the reception so you don't screw up the
formal set.  Everyone gets a 'daily' kilt for the reception and other times
so you don't have to worry about them.  Here's a pair of green snuggies to
wear under it so you don't poke the ladies quite so much."
   Sean got out of the spotlight and into his standard clothes.  The nieces
surrounded him and snuggled up while I got my turn on the stage.
   We'd done a preliminary fitting of Mom's wedding dress last week; this
was the final.  I stripped down (the nephews came trotting in right about
then) and waved my boobs and bush at everyone while Nora slipped the dress
over me.
   I loved it!  It felt great; not too tight.  Nora had taken in and let
out here and there; everyone was satisfied when we looked in the mirror. 
She told us, "I didn't cut any material.  It can still be adjusted if your
daughter wears it."
   I got it off while Kate had her turn.  We'd found Nana's mother's dress
fit her pretty well so were using it.
   She looked like a standing wet dream.  It was nicely snug and her
nipples poked it out just right.  Sexy as hell!  The nephews were looking
quite appreciative while the nieces didn't mind looking at all.
   In our talks with the Clann's JP (Justice of the Peace), she'd told us,
"I can legally marry only Sean and Eileen.  That doesn't mean Kate or
anyone else can't exchange vows at the same time; it's just won't have a
legal standing."
   Nora didn't have any more adjustments for Kate so she stripped down
again.  Nora fit me with a daily kilt; it didn't need any adjustments. 
Kate's was fine, too, so we brides were done deals for this round.
   While Kate and I got dressed in our normal clothes, Connor and Caden got
their new suits on.  Nora pulled, adjusted, looked real hard then decided
they were just fine the way they were.  They got a set of daily kilts which
seemed to have plenty of room for growth; they got some boxer underwear
with shamrocks all over.
   The nieces got their turns.  Mona stripped right down and waved
everything at us.  Yummy young lady!  Her dress got several small
adjustments, she tried on her daily kilt then she stepped off.
   Aile was looking ripe.  Her small nipples were up hard and pointing
right at Sean.  Nora ignored the sweet smell of her arousal though her
nostrils flared a few times.
   Aile's, Deidre's and Margie's dresses had been made from scratch and had
styles similar to my dress.  Nora had left plenty of room for expansion in
Aile's and Deidre's so they could use them for several years.
   Deidre had the same "challenge" of keeping her cool as Aile had.  Maura
told me, _"They're both pretty ready; probably in a couple weeks.  They've
probably done everything but intercourse.  The fact Mona loved her time so
much is just helping them right along.  Connor and Caden?  Well, they're
really interested.  I don't think they can ejaculate yet but their hormones
are running and their equipment stands up just fine -- as you can see."_
   When Mona, Aile and Deidre were done with their initial fittings (they
got kilt skirts, too), they just ran around nekkid and kept subtly teasing
Sean.  Nora noticed but didn't blink an eye; she was an old Clann hand
herself.
   Margie, George and Dermot had been setting up the computers in a
different part of the house.  Good thing; Nora would probably have
questioned bodies flying around the air with computers, cables and other
stuff doing their own dances.
   Dermot came in carrying Margie in her Bridget persona.  Of course, she
had no compunctions about getting nude to fit her dress.  It was really
beautiful; Nora told us, "I couldn't make many provisions for growing;
infants grow too fast.  So, while it's still my best work, you'll probably
have to put it away for someone else to use later."
   Bridget could stand up now for several minutes with only a helping hand
for stability.  She had a smile a mile wide.  She knew she looked great. 
Best daughter!
   While we were waiting for Nora's assistants to complete the last round
of changes, we talked with her about her work.  She and her two assistants
(a daughter and a niece) worked out of her house.  She had a big bedroom
dedicated to dressmaking and tailoring.  She could do both men and women of
all ages plus her own design work.  Definitely an entrepreneur.
   Kate asked her, "Do you have your policies and procedures written up?"
No.  She'd been running pretty much as an ad-hoc organization.  Kate
immediate told her about Sean's seminars and that we'd be giving them in
the area in the near future.
   Nora was pretty much convinced right away, especially when she heard a)
it was Sean's work and b) he had thirty-some current successful businesses
running under them.  I got her address, phone and email right away.  We'd
already gotten one sale and hadn't started promoting!
   The second round after the alterations went quickly.  There were only
two minor adjustments to a couple kilts then we were done.  Nora told us
John and Patrick were already set to go.  Nora and her girls packed up and
took off.
   We talked about other things happening.  Mona told us, "We've already
found a dozen people at school for the Brain Trust.  Three have Talent and
we're pumping them up.  I'd say by the time school's out, we'll be
established for next year and be ready to go.  The counselors already gave
us a couple 'problem children' to work over.  They've told us they might
send us more over the summer if they run into them."
   Other stuff: Maura said, "Teresa and I popped out Lena Severin yesterday
afternoon.  She's happier than an Irishman with a friend who always pays
the tab.  The young-uns got her trained up last night; we should invite her
to Tavern night to meet everyone else."
   Sean promptly told her to issue the invitation, "She's good folk.  I
don't think anyone in the Core will have any issues at all with her.  She
can handle her assistant."
   As Clann Education Officer I brought up something.  "The young-uns have
done all our training just because they're real nice people.  How about we
pay them something like fifty bucks a shot for each person they train --
retroactively."
   Since we had a Core quorum, we got a unanimous vote of approval.  Sean
told Teresa to make it happen.  "You could classify it as education on the
Clann customs.  That way, it'll at least appear to be legitimate as a Clann
expense.  I don't think an IRS auditor would buy 'training a free spirit'
as a valid activity."
   ------
   SEAN
   Margie showed us the new network setup.  _"George and Dermot did all the
work.  I just floated around and heckled them."_ Yeh, right.
   They'd set up a server to handle files for both houses.  George had run
a conduit and cable underground between the houses so they were all
hardwired together.  There were two wireless access points in each house
which covered the entire place, including most of the back yards. 
Everything was encrypted, of course, and looked like it would do just fine.
   Margie showed the N&Bs how to get to the files on the computers they had
been using.  "_It's time to retire them so move the files off to the new
server; we can use the old systems for Waystation donations.  I set up a
personal directory for each of you on the new server plus directories for
Cullen Enterprises, Cullen Hotels and Clann Cullen._
   _"Go ahead and move your files.  I'd advise keeping even your personal
stuff at least backed up to the server; that way I can catch it all in my
weekly backup._
   _"Each of your laptops is marked specifically for you.  Here's a list of
your logon IDs, passwords and email addresses.  Use them.  The personal
server directories are secured with that ID and password; the group
directories are secured with all our IDs and passwords.  I've got an
override and so does Maura so we can get to everything._
   _"It's all secured so you can take the laptops with you to school or
anyplace else as needed.  It won't stop a determined hacker, but it'll keep
out the ordinary thief or Nosey Parker._
   _"I've set up a VPN between here and OTL so we can do any file exchanges
we need as fast as the Internet connections can handle them.  Exchange
handles the group calendars so we should be up to speed with pretty much
state of the art."_
   She'd put the web site authoring program on Mona's laptop and on the
server.  Mona told us, "I'll have the matchmaking article up tonight. 
Rosheen told me she has it written.  Margie, could you forward the
matchmaker email account to Rosheen?  She told me it would keep her out of
mischief."
   Somehow I doubted it would.  Margie showed Mona how to do it from the
Clann Cullen web site control panel.  _"The site email accounts are handled
on the site's add, change and delete.  Cullen Enterprises and Cullen Hotels
do it the same way.  By the way, Sean, do you have a site for the Altadena
Arms?"_
   Em, no.  Being the nice guy I am, I assigned that task to Mona and the
four minority stockholders.  Mona would make a subnet under
CullenHotels.com for the Arms.  They'd write up articles, take or find
pictures and do the hard work.  Mona would get several domain names
(AltadenaArms.com, AltadenaArms.biz, and forward the links to the subweb.
Gotta have something to keep them out of mischief.
   Eileen asked, "Do we have an Admin Scale and Org Board for Clann Cullen?
I assume you've already got them for Cullen Hotels and Cullen Enterprises."
   Ma Cullen didn't raise three dumb kids.  Cullen Hotels and Cullen
Enterprises had them but not Clann Cullen.  I told her, "Make a note for us
to review the Cullen Enterprises ones and the stockholders to go over the
Cullen Hotels.  They might need updates.  You're right; we need to set them
up for Clann Cullen ASAP."
   Marge, Kate and I immediately voted Eileen a Soo Laid to be paid within
10 days.
   Marge showed us all how to schedule a meeting on Exchange.  We had
"resources" available for OTL, the Nolan house, the Bardon House, the
Tavern in general and a couple private Tavern rooms.  We scheduled an Admin
Scale Workshop at 1:00 AM Thursday and the Org Board one for 1:00 AM
Friday; both at OTL.  Marie showed us how she'd made a group list of the
Core members (so far, the only ones on Exchange) and how to use it.
   _"Each person will get an email.  You can accept or decline as it fits
your schedule.  Note your personal calendar is shared only to see if you're
available.  Any of you can request a similar meeting.  Keep stuff on the
calendar or we'll be stepping on each other's toes all the time._
   _"You young-uns keep yours up to date, too.  You're part of the Core and
we need your input and votes.  If you're gonna have an after-school meeting
or a something like going to Knots Berry Farm, put it in and keep it up to
date.  That way, there's a lot fewer 'are you available that day's running
around."_
   ------
   EILEEN
   With those things out of the way, we popped back to OTL.  Since Kate had
class, we were having an early dinner at 5:00 with Sheila and BB -- we had
plans later for Sheila.
   Kate, Margie and I did the dinner preps.  Sean kept claiming he knew
nothing about dinner cooking.  We had the sneaking suspicion he was
slagging us because he sure didn't seem to have any difficulty with
breakfasts.
   Hmm, maybe a cookbook as a wedding present?  No excuses then.  On the
other hand, maybe a bit down the line we could afford a part-time cook? 
Something to talk about.  Maybe it could even be another business model.
   During a break I made a note for us to review the Admin Scales and Org
Boards for Cullen Enterprises and Cullen Hotels.  Hmm.  Margie'd showed us
how so I made up an email group for Cullen Enterprises and one for Cullen
Hotels.  I scheduled the Cullen Enterprises for next Tuesday and the Cullen
Hotels for next Wednesday.  No great hurry since they already had them. 
Exchange worked just fine.
   Dinner was ready right on time.  Sheila appeared then a minute later BB
knocked on the door.  We introduced BB to Sheila and gave them both big
welcome hugs.
   BB was ready to pop, too.  She was extended out a couple feet from her
body, and we'd made sure she _felt_ us when we were giving her our hugs. 
We made that almost the first order of business after we'd given them the
OTL tour.
   We sat down for dinner; Sean did most of the serving.  Finally found
something he could do for dinner!  We talked, of course, then gradually
slide into _talking_.  We'd clued in Sheila so she was a willing
accomplice.
   BB caught on pretty quick; after all, she was named, "Bright." All
downhill from there; we had her out and about and partially trained in a
half hour.  The young-uns would take it from there that night.
   BB loved Margaret and Nana and didn't mind her cuties at all; in fact,
she checked them out pretty good.  We were done with dinner by then so we
adjourned to the den/office while Sean and Margie handled the cleanup. 
Geeser promptly gave her approval to the new person by sprawling over her
lap and purring.
   We showed her a set of the new manuals to give her some mass on part of
what Sean had done the last six years.  After glancing over the study check
list, she told us, "If I'd had this tech when I went through school and
college, I could have been the Valedictorian.  I had to fight hard to get
Bs; it was mainly the study."
   She eyeballed The Book pretty good.  We had to tackle her and tear it
from her hands.  Grin.  After one look at the Table of Contents and a
couple articles, she wanted to start studying right then.
   We managed to settle down.  Kate told her about Sean's thirty-odd
businesses and their 100% success rate so far.  Sean chimed in, "I've got a
list of about sixty or seventy other businesses who're successfully using
it on their own -- like Shane's Shop.  They're all from the seminars; I'd
say that's a good 10% who actually went ahead and started something after
the seminar and sent me a card, letter or email to let me know how they
were doing.
   "When I send out the email about the updated version, I'll ask them to
let me know if they're using it.  Guess we'll whip up a survey; if there
aren't at least 20% who at least made an effort, I wanna know why.  Maybe
we need to punch up the start-up aspect a little more in the seminar so
they won't think it's too hard."
   After telling her about the Tavern and Waystation 1, along with our
summer seminar plans, BB asked hesitantly, "Since you're expanding, would
there be a place for me in Cullen Enterprises, by chance?"
   Sean laughed and told her, "Pretty much exactly what we were gonna ask
you.  Just from talking with you on the plane, we were thinking seriously
of offering you a position whether or not you became one of us.  With your
Talent, there wasn't much likelihood of that not happening.  So, here's an
offer."
   He pretty much gave her the same offer in the same way we'd done it with
Kate; start low and work up.  At a thousand a week (after taxes), Sheila
reached over and nodded her head for her.
   Sheila told her, "Hell, girl, if I wasn't an entrepreneur myself, I'd
jump on it.  I deal with middle-class people all the time.  The median
income in LA County was $37K in 2000.  Granted, there's been some wage
increases since then but you'd be starting out at damn near twice that --
while you're training.  I don't know a lot about Cullen Enterprises, but
I'll betcha there's gonna be an increase when you -- and these ladies --
finish their training."
   We hadn't even mentioned anything to Sheila, and she was recruiting for
us.  BB looked thoughtful and said, "I'll have to give notice at Cal Tech.
I wouldn't feel comfortable just bailing out."
   Sean told her, "How about you think it over, check out what Cal Tech
needs then come to dinner with us at the Tavern on Friday night.  You
should be able to decide by then, and in either case it will get you
introduced to the rest of the Core."
   She agreed.  We filled her in on what Clann Cullen and the Core were. 
She told us, "I'm not Irish, though.  I guess I'm mainly German and
Vietnamese.  My grand-dad is long-line Swiss-German and grandma is pure
Viet."
   Margie told her, _"Not to worry.  We'll have you speaking Irish, cussing
like an Irishman and as stubborn as Snapper here within a couple days.  I
guess we'll find if you can tolerate Irish whiskey or beer.  If you can't,
the offer's off."_ Long laugh from us all.
   Sheila held up her Corona and told her, "They do cut some slack on
occasion.  I don't think I have a drop of Celt in me.  On the other hand,
Spain isn't that far from Ireland and the Irish seem to spread themselves
around quite a bit.
   "Besides, as I recall, the Celts actually came from what's now northern
Italy and Switzerland.  That'd put you as part-Celtic -- and that's not too
bad.
   "These guys have already taught me the best way to learn a language. 
I'm a newbie myself since Sunday; on Monday morning, they taught me their
language trick and by the time I left around noon, I'd learned how to ask
for another beer, hit on a guy and cuss a bit.  All in Irish."
   I assured her the young-uns would fill her in on the Clann customs.  I
knew Mona would love to explain and share the experience of a couple of the
more, em, esoteric ones.
   BB left around 8:30 with a promise we'd touch base on Thursday and
planned to see her on Friday.  After she'd gone, we talked for another half
hour or so about how she'd fit in with our plans.
   Sean told Sheila, "I know you're not planning on becoming part of Cullen
Enterprises as such, but as far as I'm concerned, we'll be recommending
your group to every one of our clients, companies and seminar attendees as
the go-to guys for financial needs."
   Sheila almost got her ears tangled behind her head.  Her group worked
off referrals and getting into even one medium-sized company would get them
really set.
   We changed the subject to her.  The social secretaries knew why she was
here.  Even as dense as Sean was at times, I bet he knew, too.
   Margie plastered her body on Sheila's front and asked, _"You up for an
orgy tonight?  It's been a couple days since I've had any."_
   Sheila laughed, checked out her bottom thoroughly and said, "How about
at least a year for me?  I've been so damn busy working all the leads
Sean's fed me I barely have time to sleep, much less any night-time
entertainment."
   ------
   SEAN
   I think BB will be a great addition to CE.  I had a good idea already of
how I was gonna increase the ladies' salaries when they'd gotten trained.
We shall see; it's her decision now.
   Sheila and Rosheen had twinned up on the study and teleportation check
lists Monday evening.  They'd been able to get together for an hour today
and had gotten almost through the study list.  Good on 'em.
   I snuggled up along side Sheila, draped an arm around her and played
with Marge's butt a little when I wasn't stroking Sheila's hair, face or
other part in reach.  Not specifically sexually but with care and
attention. Geeser showed his approval by draping herself over her lap and
resting her head on Marge's leg.
   Sheila sighed, snuggled back, molested Marge a bit and put a lot of
sweet-woman smell in the air.  The five of us discussed her business, how
her love life had been (she was looking for a man who'd fit into her
business) and her family.
   She was the eldest of four.  The youngest was still in his mid-teens. 
She'd made enough from her business to support herself fully a couple years
ago and had moved out into her own place.  She supplied half the family
support -- because she could.
   She wanted to make it big in her area.  Since their business came from
referrals, I suggested she get me some introductory copy.  I'd include it
in a letter which we'd mail to all our businesses.  I'd supply her team
with a letter of introduction and in a few weeks a couple of her team could
stop by the store.
   Since I had the list of seminar attendees, we could pick out the ones
from around here and send them a letter.  I'd put a real good word in for
her with a request to give her a call.  I'd put that in with my
announcement of the revised manuals and an offer of a discount to re-attend
an upcoming seminar.  In fact, I'd make the same announcement to my
companies.
   We could _feel_ the gears rolling around as she figured who she'd send
out and what the statistical results ordinarily were.  They'd be over
sixteen times as good as if she'd walked into the business cold.
   With thirty stores, they had their work cut out for them.  She
figuratively creamed her drawers -- which matched their literal state by
now.
   Enough talk already.  I got up, slung her over my shoulder and walked
off to the honoring room.
   The ladies had been right; she had a great rack.  High and firm with
responsive nipples and sensitive everywhere.  I tried out the Sorcerer's
Grip Bob had taught me for a good twenty minutes to a great success.
   She wasn't loud, but she had fingernails; good thing I heal quickly! 
She was passionate, hot and really eager.  We didn't rub her toenail polish
off on the ceiling; it was too high, but we did buff it up real good while
she was on her hands and knees making like a distant siren.
   She was strong and tough so we took a nice two-hour Journey with lots of
base hits, home runs and a final grand slam which popped us into the
Asteroid Belt.
   Well, they were a bit fun to explore for a while.  Plenty of metallic
ore just floating around.  Note to self: how to extract, refine and deliver
to Earth.
   She dragged me back for more.  Marge dropped in and gave her quite a
workout on her own.  Eileen and Kate joined us after a bit and we gave her
a full-blown Soo Laid ending 45 minutes later with a great grand slam.
   We introduced her to _blending_ and looked at QQV.  With her, we had a
very nice warm glow and wonderful rainbows.  Our QQV was just fine, too. 
While we didn't actually conflict, her career path was already set and she
was well on her way.
   We explored Hawaii for a while, dove down the mouth of Mauna Loa all the
way to the bottom (10 miles down) and explored the blowtorch magma below
the islands.  Hot stuff!  Grin.
   She wanted more.  Well, why not?  Fast, slow, medium, loving, weasels on
Viagra, all five at once, various duets, and several combinations. 
Hopefully we helped make up for a year's deprivation.
   ------
   (Wednesday 5/31)
   Waking up with five nekkid females (one very furry and vibrating) on top
of you is the way to go.  I did a slow teleport from underneath the pile to
let them sleep as long as they wished.
   I went to the kitchen and did breakfast preps.  I guestimated several
breakfasts apiece; Sheila'd been *very* demanding.  Moan.  Complain.  Grin.
   Geeser was right there checking out developments in the food area.  I
fed her and flowed her good cat, smart cat and admiration feelings.  She
purred so loudly the floor and cabinet doors vibrated.
   I got my shower.  The sound must have woken the others up because they
all staggered into the bathroom and crowded into the shower with me.  Now
the shower's pretty good-sized but hadn't really been built with four
good-sized adult bodies and a baby body in mind.  We ganged up on Sheila
and ensured she was squeaky-clean all over.
   She told us, "I'm sore and I love it.  Margie, I guess your army wore me
out."
   Margie told her, _"You ain't seen nothin' yet.  Wait 'till we get Aile,
Deidre and Mona on you, too.  Then there's Maura and Teresa who've been
eyeballing you for several years."_
   Sheila moaned in mock agony but crinkled up and wet herself down again.
Well, we couldn't leave her in agony so we worked her over until her legs
collapsed.
   We dried her off, dragged her off to the kitchen and put her on a chair
with a seat belt so she wouldn't slide off.  Geeser showed her appreciation
of the lingering odor by trying to snuggle her head between her legs.
   Yeh, they had several breakfasts apiece.  I contented myself with two.
   Sheila staggered off home around 8:30.  Her legs were working just
enough she could drive her car.
   The ladies hit their studies while I did the breakfast clean up.  I
checked over my emails and forwarded most of it to my able executives.  I
figured if BB came aboard, we'd have enough people to handle what I wanted.
   I set up visits for the companies.  I decided to send Kate and
Eileen/Marge out alone this time to check out the points in Kate's template
lists.  They could always _ask_ me questions on the fly.
   I called Lena Severin and swapped lawyer jokes for a couple minutes.  I
told her, "Now you're outside, we'll have a flying shark to chase the
flying fish, right?"
   She thought that was fun.  She told me, "I'm gonna work on Jean now;
she's pretty hot to trot already.  Now, you don't usually call me just to
tell shark jokes; whatcha got?"
   I went over a couple things I wanted to do with Cullen Enterprises and
Cullen Hotels.  She told me, "Just do it.  To change officers, just hold an
officers meeting, do an election and write up the minutes.  Send me a copy
and I'll file the changed officers with the state.  No big deal."
   Sounded good to me.  I'd figured that's what would be needed, but it
never hurts to check with the experts.
   I invited her and Jean to the Tavern Friday night.  We'd have a lot of
people to look over but why not?
   ------
   At 9:45, we gathered our stuff for our meeting with Fillmore Sales
Relations in Sherman Oaks.  I did the honors and ported us to the hallway
right outside the reception door.
   We met with Duane and Rita of the Conference Hosting Group.  With
Kathleen's introduction, they treated us royally.
   I laid out how I currently did seminars and showed them The Book and a
couple of the detail manuals I'd brought along.  They looked them over then
we discussed how they could help us.
   For a flat fixed fee then variable expenses for the venue and promotion
and a percentage of the income, they'd do the promotion, fee gathering and
refunds, supply helpers at the meeting -- number depending on how many
attendees -- and supply security from EverAlert.  We went over example
numbers for 500, 1,000 and 1,500 attendees.  Kate went into her accountant
mode and verified their assumptions.
   Looked really good to us.  I'd been running around a 50% profit margin
while single-handing it.  Working with Fillmore would give us more expenses
but would still give CE around a 30% margin.  I ensured they could handle
discount coupons or codes for special people like returnees.
   We had a two-second _conference_; it was a go.  Yeh, the margin was
lower but the absolute return was tremendously higher and we didn't have to
do the grunt work.  Basically, all we had to do was show up with the
materials and do the presentation; they'd handle everything else.
   I told them, "Good.  Write up the contract."
   We went over a proposed schedule.  Duane and Rita estimated they could
get 1,500 people set up for the second week in July, six weeks from now. 
Duane said, "That's about the minimum time.  We'll need at least that to do
a decent promotion, and you'll probably need that much to get your
materials printed up.  Now, Rita has a few suggestions on your materials."
   Rita highly recommended we do a custom-printed notebook and dividers for
The Book.  "You give it out as part of the seminar and from what you've
told us, it's the most-frequently referenced.  You'll want it to be a
promotion piece just by itself."
   Made sense.  She suggested they could do the design work and get bids on
the printing.  Okay by me.
   We discussed having a CD with the detail manuals.  I told her about
having them available on our web site.  She told us, "That's probably fine.
You might run into download limits from your hosting service.  The 12
manuals is a 20 megabyte download; 1,500 downloads is about 30 gigs.  Most
hosting services don't let that much happen."
   She recommended we check with our host on download limits and up it
considerably plus get at least a thousand CDs made up.  Sell them at $15 or
$20 bucks a shot.  "Lots of people would rather have the CD if it's right
there rather than downloading.  Once you've got a master made up, you can
get lots of a thousand or more at a relatively decent rate with a pretty
short turnaround time." Again she offered the design and setup service. 
Okay again.
   Duane suggested we do custom binders for the detail manuals and make up
a thousand sets.  "While it's more economical for you to have the client do
their own printing, again a lot of people would love to have them pre-made,
especially with the custom binder.  That'll give you another profit item."
   The same people they'd supply to handle the registration and fees at the
door would handle the sales during the breaks and after the seminar.  Yeh,
we'd sell extra copies of The Book, too.  For a larger company with several
executives, each might want their own copy even if they hadn't gone to the
seminar.  Duane recommended an additional 500 for the first event.
   They'd handle the money-back guarantee I wanted.  Within 7 days of
attending the seminar (or the same day as the seminar), if a person turned
in their copy of The Book in reusable condition we'd refund their fee with
proof of payment.
   We figured we couldn't loose.  They'd get the bids for the CD and manual
printing to us by late next week, and they'd start now finding a place and
time for the first event.  Rita told us, "Once we start promoting, we'll
get a real good idea of the response and could consider starting the next
one.  If you're not averse to travel, we can go around the entire country
-- or world if you wish -- for years."
   Duane told us to come back in a half hour, and they'd have the contract
printed up.  We bagged it outside and the ladies window-shopped while we
talked.
   I told them, "The seminar itself takes about 12 hours between the set up
and tear down.  On my 'normal' attendance of around 100, I spend at least
36 hours doing the promotion, registering, getting the printing done and
all that stuff.  Even if we worked full time at it, I don't think the three
of us could handle 1,500 registrations plus promote plus handle finding and
securing the venue."
   Marge said, _"I agree.  I've gone to a lot of conferences over the
years. I've been a speaker, promoter, assistant and pretty much everything
else.  I'd say on a 1,500-person conference I'd spend a good 30 to 100
hours on setting up the venue, getting it staffed and following up on the
support stuff like refreshments, sound system, power, projectors, screens,
name tags and all that stuff.
   "That was just me alone and doesn't count the people doing the promotion
and registration.  I think we can't beat this deal with a stick.  Let's see
if we can get conditional targets in the contract."_
   Eileen and Kate agreed.  They'd spent hours themselves while involved in
one event while in school.  Kate said, "And once we get it rolling, we
might be promoting a half-dozen at a time."
   We got back in.  Rita passed out a contract copy to Eileen, Kate and me.
Marge read through Eileen's eyes.
   Pretty straightforward.  They'd actually put in conditional targets such
as finding a printer and CD maker, a suitable venue and the minimum number
of registrants within two weeks of the event.  We agreed to go for it.
   I cut them a check for $50,000 and signed two of the copies.  We kept
one and they kept the other.  We exchanged cards -- we gave them some for
Marge, too -- and agreed on the next contact time.
   Lunch time.  I spotted a nice place and treated my ladies -- on the
company of course.  We ported back home and went back to work.
   We made up some preliminary promotional copy from stuff I'd done before.
It had the CE history, the company successes and a list of the previous
seminars plus some success stories.  We decided it would do for now; Eileen
emailed it and the CE logo off to Rita and Duane along for them to chew on.
   ------
   EILEEN
   Yow.  Even with most of the grunt work taken care of, we were gonna be
busy.  Sean told us, "As you ladies finish the detail manuals, we'll start
working on the seminar presentations.  There's lots to practice."
   I asked him, "How we gonna work this?  Are we alternating seminars or
what?"
   He said, "I see each of us being the speaker about the same amount of
time.  For now, I'll do the introduction, and we'll keep track of who does
what.  We'll all get good enough each of us can handle any of the parts. 
Once that's done, we'll probably cycle through the sections, changing on
each seminar.  That way, none of us will be doing the same thing all the
time.
   "I guess if this gets big enough, we can split up and do a couple
seminars at the same time.  If BB comes aboard, that'll give us two public
people to do two seminars at the same time.  I'd say that's doable."
   Kate and I thought that would work out.  We'll see what happens with BB.
I know there's lots of people terrified of public speaking, but neither
Kate nor I seemed to be that way.  I sure knew Sean had no issues with it.
   I checked phone messages.  The printer had the Arms coupons done so I
popped over and picked them up.  Pretty neat.  Full color on semi-gloss. 
They offered a 5% discount at any time.  There was a spot for the
merchant/business to stamp in their information; the Arms would give them a
5% commission.  Everyone would win.
   Almost as soon as I got back, Teresa _knocked_.  She told us, _"While
*you* guys were getting laid last night, *we* were working.  We've all
finished the teleportation check list!"_
   We gave them a _cheer_!  Margie told them, _"I'll whip you up some
certificates.  That's a major step!"_
   Margie started _touching_ away at her computer while I updated the
training database.  Looks like we'll be getting more completions rolling in
Real Soon Now.
   Margie showed us a certificate.  It was ornate, flowery and looked like
a real cert.  The description was something like, "Matriculated in the
science and application of theoretical and applied philosophy of minimal
time-displacement of physical boundaries." Real good double talk.  It
didn't say teleportation so they could put them on public display and say
anything they wished about it.
   Marge whipped one up for all of us.  I signed Sean's, Kate's, the N&Bs
and mine.  None for Margie?  She told us, _"Nope.  It would be really
weird."_
   I ported the N&B certs over to them and let them know they were there.
Lots of happy campers.
   I checked around.  Carmel thought she'd be done tomorrow and most of the
rest by mid-week next week.  Oh, yeah, Mona had ported two to Lena so she
and Jean could work on them.  Sharon Shane told me, _"Celia, Jack and I
would be done this weekend, but there's some sort of silly 'thing' we've
gotta go to on Saturday." Grin._
   Kate spent an hour reviewing for her exam tomorrow while Sean and I did
some business research.  At 3:00, it was time for the wedding rehearsal at
the park.
   At five minutes to, the N&Bs started popping in.  They were grinning to
beat the band.
   The JP showed up right on time and we walked up to the park.  Maura told
me, "Everything's set.  Permit's fine, EverAlert will be here, and we've
got the set up and take down all handled."
   We walked through everything.  We'd conned Brian into giving us away if
he was physically up to it.  He told us, _"Hey, I've got plenty of support.
A couple touches here and there will handle most everything."_
   The logistics worked just fine.  We decided Patrick would hold Margie so
our dresses wouldn't get wrinkled.  Besides, he was a strong one!
   It was a done deal in a half hour.  We were ready!
   Chapter 24
   SEAN (Thursday 6/1)
   We did the Clann Cullen Admin Scale workshop at 1:00 AM.  The entire
Core was "right there" in the office while their bodies slept peacefully
away at home.  Everyone had gotten the Exchange email and said they'd be
there.  That worked.
   I had Marge run the entire show.  She used the projector with her
PowerPoint setup and asked all the right questions at the right time. 
While the young-uns apparently hadn't studied The Book, they were familiar
with a lot of the terms from their parents discussing it over the years.
   Marge ensured everyone knew what the terms meant; she went over that
first.  All righty!  Up and down the scale we went, filling in, modifying,
and aligning everything.
   Purpose at the very top was, "Promote the welfare and survival of Clann
Cullen and each Clann member." Valuable Final Product (exchangeable for
goods/services/money) at the bottom was, "Satisfied Clann members doing
well in life."
   Our daughter did right good.  It took maybe an hour to fill everything
in to the Core's satisfaction.  Everything aligned.  Now we had a standard
to judge our activities against.
   Teresa had kept the Scale up to date on her laptop as we discussed it.
She printed off a copy for everyone to review.  As Ceann, I made the only
decision needed, "Okay.  Let it set for a couple days and keep looking it
over.  If there's no changes anyone wishes, Mona will publish it to the
site.  Maybe on Monday or Tuesday?  I have a feeling we'll have other
things on our minds this weekend."
   It was agreeable.  Aile made a motion to adjourn, Kate seconded and it
passed unanimously.  Teresa said she'd write up the meeting minutes and
file them away until the next meeting.  Oops, I guess we should decide when
it was; as an organization, the officers at least should have regular
meetings.  Okay, Thursday the 15th seemed fair.  Marge scheduled it and we
were happy campers.
   Since we were already "up," we went exploring the rest of the night. 
The North Pole was a bit cooler than Southern California but had lots of
different scenery.
   We got up right on time.  Geeser was ready for breakfast; either she was
very hungry from all the sleeping she'd been doing or she was a growing
kitten.  An _inspection_ told me it was a little of both.  She "knew" when
I went to the kitchen at this time of the day there would probably be food
forthcoming.  She got her wish and sucked it down as if it would disappear
before she ate it.
   As the ladies came out, I served them.  Only one breakfast each this
morning; Marge'd had mercy on us last night.
   Geeser lay across Kate's feet under the table and dozed; eating must
have been a terrible strain on her.  As we chowed down, Kate and Eileen
filled us in on what they'd found out at the vet's.
   Marge said, _"Well, if they shouldn't really go outside, maybe Kate
should program the house shield to keep her in even if the door's open. 
While you're at it, sweetie, how about you set it up so we can leave doors
or unscreened windows open and not let any critters in.  Ya know, stuff
like snakes, mice, rats, coyotes, flies and other assorted wildlife young
boys seem to like but us young girls don't seem to care for."_
   She and Kate talked about it for a minute then Kate did the deed.  Kate
told us, "Theoretically, Geeser should feel a slowly increasing resistance
as she gets near the opening.  Even if she runs at it, it'll be like
running into a pillow.
   "Since we're talking big critters here -- big as in above the no-see-um
size, they should be able to get out but not in.  Humans won't feel a
thing, but other critters will come to a dead stop.  Hmm.  Yeh, I put the
same thing around the back yard periphery.  I've not noticed any bugs or
stuff out there, but it should do the trick.  I let bees and butterflies in
and out to pollinate stuff.
   "If some human carries Geeser out, there's no resistance.  There's no
resistance to her coming back in, either.  That way we can take her in the
back yard for a nap; I don't think she'll be interested in the Jacuzzi.
   "In an emergency like a fire or if she *really* needs out, it'll let her
through; we don't want her trapped."
   Marge told us, _"We labeled it Geeser's Daemon in honor of Maxwell's
Daemon."_
   Geeser was really concerned about the restraints we'd placed on her
liberties.  She purred loudly for a couple minutes then went to sleep.
   The ladies hit their studies while I made up the statistics printouts
for their business visits today.  I was gonna stay home and vegetate along
with Geeser.
   They popped off around 10:00.  Armed with stats and the points
templates, they'll do just fine.  I agreed to meet them around 4:30 at
Beauty Arts (Jackie's place) for a pre-wedding trim.
   I sacked out the body on the den sofa and Geeser sacked out on top of
me. I did a house inspection, yard (gardening) inspection and eyeballed the
cars.  All was fine.
   So, I caught up more of my email and spent the rest of the day
researching business trends.  While Fillmore might be able to keep us busy,
I was already planning to have other people trained to deliver the
seminars. I had my own Brain Trust right here; why should we have to be on
the front lines all the time?
   I also thought about a decent vacation with my lovely ladies pretty
soon. I really hadn't taken one myself -- ever.  Granted, I'd slacked off
for a spell every once in a while but no real, concerted play time for a
decent period.
   ------
   EILEEN
   CE had ten businesses to sell.  I'd scheduled three visits today and two
for Friday.  Kate was doing two today and three tomorrow.  She'd scheduled
her five to be the ones she'd done the accounts for last weekend.  Hope she
wasn't planning on doing more this weekend!
   I wouldn't say the visits were old hat, but the plus-point and out-point
inspection just rolled along.  Funny how that happens when you've got a
solid policy background.
   I kept updating the templates.  CE had a couple signs to touch up, a
couple landlords to harass about the roofs, drains, building paint or other
such stuff and internal business points to ensure got in.
   Sean had told us, "If it runs less than $10K, just authorize it.  We'll
more than make it back in the long run."
   I dropped off the Altadena Arms merchant coupons at each one.  No
resistance; 5% commission just for displaying it was quite acceptable.
   Of the three businesses I hit, two of the management teams were
interested in buying it themselves; Jackie's Beauty Arts was one.  We'd
already discussed it with her so this was simply an onsite inspection.
   The other manager just knew she wasn't an entrepreneur and wasn't
interested.  She was doing just fine as an employee; none of her people
were interested, either.
   That happens.  Before I'd met Sean, my objection to being an
entrepreneur was I really didn't know what to do.  Didn't matter I had a
business degree; they're designed to make good employees, not
self-motivated business people.
   Marge hung right in there.  While I was talking with the staff, she'd do
a thorough inspection of the premises, goods, the till and a pretty deep
probe of the staff.  She'd tip me off about something; I'd wander over and
casually point it out.  She made it look like magic.  Of course, it was.
   Kate had already laid claim to Marge for her three visits tomorrow. 
Fair enough.  Marge definitely cut down the time.
   I didn't really have to authorize much.  Most of it was increasing or
reviewing the promotional campaigns or getting some of the equipment
repaired or replaced so it was both aesthetic and functional.  Other points
didn't really cost out of pocket, like getting all the staff trained.
   After the first two visits, Marge and I had a late, leisurely lunch. 
She was pretty careful not to be too much of a sloppy baby.  In fact, she
was probably better than I was.
   Just as we left the last visit, BB _talked_ with us.  She told us, _"I'm
definitely interested in joining the Clann.  I've still got two small
things to check out with Cal Tech before I decide on your job offer."_
   Margie was nasty.  _"Mona went over the Clann customs, right?  Wonder if
part of your decision had anything to do with the, em, fringe benefits?"_
   If a spirit could blush, BB did.  _"Well, the consensual honoring custom
did get my attention.  Who does all the arranging for that?"_
   I told her, _"The social secretaries are Maura, Teresa, Margie, Kate and
me.  You'll meet Maura and Teresa Friday if you're still coming to the
Tavern."_
   She told us, _"I'll be there, no doubt about that."_
   Margie cackled, _"Remember, even social secretaries can be swayed with
promises of sexual favors.  Hehehehe."_
   BB managed to get back at her.  _"You really are a dirty old lady,
arn'tcha?  You must really like all the young stuff floating around the
house."_
   They traded wisecracks back and forth as we ported over to Jackie's. 
Hmm, speaking of young stuff...
   The five of us got there within a couple seconds of each other.  The
girls were happy to see us and dispensed some nice welcomes.  Bridget got
her pass-around and made the goo level rise.
   Jackie was lookin' good.  She'd "healed up" just fine.  The rest of the
girls _felt_ really good.  Jackie told us, _"I've been pumping them all up.
Alice there has a spot of Talent so far as I can tell.  The rest...  we'll
see."_
   We got our "usual" assortment of cleavage displays, our hair trimmed and
our nails done.  Jackie told us, "Alice and I will be over Saturday morning
to do the final hair, nails and makeup.  Then we'll watch everyone drool
over you three, nudge them, tell them *we* did it then give out our cards.
We're gonna be *really* tacky."
   She got three good glares.  She and Sean laughed for a good minute. 
Finally, we did too; she'd had us going for a bit.  Kate said, _"Jackie,
for that, you're gonna get a real good spanking."_
   Margie said, _"A long spanking."_
   My turn.  _"A long, slow spanking with lots of rubbing it in."_
   She got exactly what we were thinking.  After Sean added, _"And I'll
supervise,"_ she flushed down into her blouse.'
   _"Yeh.  Schedule me any time."_
   Okay.  After a final business conference in Jackie's office we ported
off to a local restaurant for dinner.  Kate had one business interested in
buying.  Sean bragged on us about how well we'd done today.  He told us,
"Good on ya'all.  Go ahead and follow up on them next week.  The technique
for buying and selling is in The Book; I use it myself just as it's
written."
   We discussed Friday's visits and what we expected from them.  Sean told
us, "The managers on four of them are pretty hot.  I expect those four to
be interested in buying.  Now, how do we promote the ones that aren't
interested in buying?"
   Hell, that was in The Book too.  Fillmore probably wouldn't be
interested; real small potatoes.  Kate finally suggested, "How about we
continue to get the points in.  If BB joins us, maybe we could throw her
into the deep end of the pool.  Wouldn't want her to loose out on all the
fun we're having."
   Sean grinned at us.  "Yeh.  Unless we sell the loans on the ones I've
already financed, this'll be the last for a while.  Wouldn't want her to
miss out on all that practical experience, would we?"
   ------
   SEAN
   Kate took off to school in plenty of time to start her final.  She was
completely confident in herself and she should be; with the study tech
under her belt, she seemed to know it all cold.
   The rest of us did a little window shopping then ported back home.  We
relaxed a while (Geeser relaxed too after a strenuous afternoon of
sleeping) and waited for Kate to get back.  No pressure, mind you.
   Mona popped in grinning with pride.  She'd appeared exactly where she'd
wanted.  She laughed and told us, "First solo!"
   She got a round of hugs and kisses; too bad Kate missed out.  She told
Sean the CE manual downloads were ready to go.  She'd sent Sean an email
with user instructions on accessing, getting through the password page then
downloading the updated PDFs.
   Margie commented, _"Ya know, I think she deserves a Soo Laid for all the
good work she's done recently."_
   Eileen and I agreed enthusiastically.  We grinned and leered at Mona
while she flushed all over.  I told her, "Unfortunately, not tonight.  I've
had firm instructions I'm on a starvation diet for the next couple days. 
However, that doesn't stop us from cuddling you to death.  Speaking of
cuddling, you need to meet Geeser now that's she's certifiably clean."
   Geeser was just as enthralled with Mona as the rest of us were.  I don't
think her intentions were quite the same as ours, but she was more than
willing sleep-test her lap.
   We hung around the den gossiping and chatting with her.  The Brain
Trust/Inner Circle at her school was doing great.  Most of them were
already half-way through the study check list.  Of course, the other N&B
young-uns had already completed it and were helping out the rest.
   Mona told us, "Since I'm gonna be in middle school next year, we're
gonna start setting things up there now instead of waiting.  Momma Maura
has an appointment Monday with the councilor.  We've still got two weeks of
school to set it up."
   Sounded good to us.  With McCambridge's success and Bob Reynolds'
"blessing" I could see no reason why they wouldn't be interested.
   Kate popped back in real early at 8:45.  She was somber.  She told us,
"Well, several of the questions were a bit wonky.  GAAP wouldn't do them
the way the book said.  I decided to put the book answers down and keep my
nose clean.  [GAAP = Generally Accepted Accounting Principles]
   "After I turned my test in, I _picked_ the instructor's mind for the
grading answers.  I *aced* it!"
   Ho boy!  We laughed, danced around, did high-fives, butt bounces and
shared lots of hugs and kisses.  Mona was right in there with us.
   Mona suggested, "While I might be out of line, I'd recommend she get
*two* Soo Laids.  Maybe even three!  Aile, Deidre and I will be more than
willing to help."
   Sounded fair to me.  Then again, I was probably biased since I thought
they were all wonderful, sexy, gorgeous ladies.
   The two non-biased social secretaries discussed it.  They decided it
would work out just fine except some handsome man should treat the six
ladies to a great night on the town beforehand.
   They ignored me when I suggested Connor would probably be interested in
taking them out.  Oh, well.  They ignore me anyway when it comes to
scheduling.
   We decided to move the CE and CH workshop to next Tuesday.  If BB came
aboard, I wanted her in on them.
   ------
   (Friday 6/2)
   We held the CC Organizing Board Workshop at 1:00 AM.  Again, pretty much
everyone showed up.
   After doing the Admin Scale, this was pretty straightforward.  Most of
the functions had already been "assigned" informally already; this simply
formalized it so we weren't stepping on each other's toes.
   We filled everything with Core people to start.  We put people who had
full-time jobs like Carmel, Sheila and Jackie in the Public Division where
they'd mainly promote the Clann to likely new prospects.  Rosheen was part
of the Delivery (Operations) Department; we figured the matchmaking service
was part of delivery.  All the genealogy work went in there, too, so the
young-uns (except Mona) would be under her supervision.
   Mona was our webmistress; we treated the web site as a communication
line to the Clann members.  The rest of us we scattered around in suitable
areas ensuring we had all the functions covered.
   Liam, Mauve and the Keavys found spots they could do without too much
physical strain.  For example, we'd set up a couple telephone lines at each
household and they'd handle incoming calls from the Clann.  We needed an
easy way for a member to get in touch with the Ceann if they needed help or
had a problem.
   Things worked out just fine.  Again, I told them to look it over and if
it was okay with everyone, Mona could publish it along with the Admin
Scale.
   ------
   We rolled out of bed and got our morning showers.  Geeser beat me to the
kitchen; maybe she's learned to teleport.
   After breakfast, the ladies hit the books while I did my email and
newsletter reading.  Still plenty of interesting stuff happening in the
business world.
   Yes!  Eileen and Marge finished the last detail manual!  They were done!
   Kate and I gave them righteous hugs and kisses.  Good on 'em!  I whipped
out the completion certificates I'd made, signed them with a flourish and
handed them over.
   I told them, "Great!  Now that you've finished training, we've gotta
have some other financial arrangements." I upped Eileen and Marge's salary
to $1,500 a week as a start.  "You'll be earning every bit."
   I handed them two sheets of paper and told them, "I was the only
stockholder for Cullen Enterprises.  That changes as of now." I gave them
each 5% of the shares; Marge's was in trust because she wasn't legal yet.
   I got three open mouths for a minute.  I explained, "Being an executive
and on salary is one thing.  It's still a J O B.  Now you're owners which
is an entirely different matter.  Kate, when you finish your training,
you'll get ownership too.  Welcome to the sink or swim life."
   I ended up on the business end of three delightful female bodies
dispensing hugs and kisses.  Hey, I could tolerate a lot of that.
   We did wind down after fifteen minutes or so of cuddles and snuggles. 
The ladies got dressed for the day's visits.  Kate and Marge took off
together and Eileen popped out for hers.
   ------
   Simon from Collectable Arts had sent me an email saying he had the
collectables web site up.  He gave me an unlimited ID and password.  I
jumped up on it and looked it over.
   Looked decent to me.  There was an extensive search capability; one
could search by category (cards, comics, stamps, etc.), asking price
(range, over and under), publisher or company or any combination.  I could
look at a picture on some of them like the stamps and cards.
   An item could be listed with a possible value even if it wasn't for
sale; Simon had put some of Kathleen's stuff up like two Irish whiskey
bottles and a small chest.  The description asked for identification and a
possible market value.
   Each item had the dealer listed; you could email him or get their name,
address or phone number to contact.  There was an online auction coming
Real Soon Now.
   Looked great.  I called and talked with Simon.  He told me, "We just had
a redheaded terror come through here.  Tore us new assholes, she did!"
   We laughed together.  I told him, "I sympathize with you.  I live with
three of them so you should sympathize with me.  I get snatched baldheaded
every couple days."
   "Yeh.  Well, I could probably tolerate being bald if I had even one
wonderful lady like them in my personal life.  Francine's taken, so that's
out."
   Hmm.  I gave him the Clann's URL and told him, "Look at the matchmaker
article.  While it's a Clann Cullen site and you're not Irish, I'll vouch
for you; being in one of my businesses gives you Clann status.  Drop an
email to Rosheen like the site says and put in that I recommended you.  Who
knows who she can find."
   He told me, "Hell, it's worth a shot.  I'll do it this evening.  Anyway,
if you look at the members list, we've already got over fifty dealers.  My
guy's making up a mailing list -- both postal and email -- and we're
looking at doing a first mailing to at least 500 others to get them on the
site."
   Sounded good to me.  I made a note to dump another grand or so in the
checking account to ensure the mailings were covered and to get the
programmer some cash.
   He said they'd be at the wedding and reception.  The store was close
enough to the Tavern the Fs (Francis and Francine) could handle the store
while he was there then they'd switch after an hour so Simon could get the
free food.  He asked, "Could I bring Ted along to the reception?  He's the
programmer.  He's only 11 but sharp as a tack."
   I told him, "No problemo.  My oldest niece is almost 11 so you'd better
keep an eye on him so she doesn't drag him off and have her way with him."
   "He'd be happy with it.  He's an early starter and is very interested in
girls; we've had quite a few single-guy talks already.  I told him to
behave like Sean Cullen, and he'd have girls falling all over him."
   Yeh, right.  As if I were a character model.  I warned him, "In that
case, he might have the other two nieces on him, too.  They're nine next
week, very, em, mature and very interested.  Tell him to get plenty of
rest; who knows what the three of them could do to him.  What's his last
name; I'll warn them to take it easy."
   "Maloney.  Is that Irish?"
   "Sure sounds like it.  Who knows, in this neck of the woods he might
even be related.  Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow."
   I sent off an email to the nieces asking them not to use up Ted Maloney
all at once at the reception.  Maybe they'll have mercy on him.
   After doing some more emails and some research, Geeser and I took a nap.
I had a feeling the next couple days would be very busy.
   ------
   EILEEN
   It felt a little odd to be out and about without Margie.  Guess I'd
gotten used to her being around the last year or so.  Grin.
   Anyway, I had two visits.  The first went smoothly; only a few minor
points to get in.  The manager was quite interested in buying the business
so I told her to review the buying and selling section in The Book.  I
informed her Sean would probably be sending out an email Real Soon Now
about the recent updates.  I pushed the seminar; she hadn't been to one
yet.
   The next one, Collectable Arts, was in good shape.  Sean had "warned" me
they were starting up a collectables web site as a separate enterprise so
I'd have two businesses to look over.
   The Fs were very interested in buying the shop.  I told them about The
Book updates and to keep an eye out for an email from Sean.  "Review the
section on buying and selling.  We'll be following that pretty much to the
letter."
   I pushed the seminar for them, too.  "You've got quite a bit of
experience now so it'll be really valuable.  You get to see us light
ourselves on fire, too."
   Francine looked at my hair and said, "Looks like you're already on fire.
You, Bridget, Sean and Kate."
   We laughed.  I told her, "Wait til you see Sean do a couple hat tricks
with his bowler."
   We went over the points template.  They were in quite good shape; just a
few things to get in.  We did a quick shop inspection.  I had them order a
few new racks; a couple were bent or had a broken weld.
   With Collectable Arts out of the way, we went on to the web site
project. Simon gave us a quick show and tell; it looked great to me.  They
were planning on doing a dealer mailing (postal and email); we eyeballed
their checking account.  It needed a bit of an infusion so I made a note to
have Sean drop some in.  They needed to give the programmer some ca$h to
keep in the exchange.
   Good.  We were done for this week.  I checked with Kate and Margie; they
were almost done with their last visit so I just popped back to OTL.  The
N&Bs were coming over after the young-uns were out of school to practice
tonight's gig.
   The lazy-bones Sean was napping on the sofa.  I picked Geeser off him;
we wandered around making sure the place was ready for an influx of Irish.
   I ported the dining room table, chairs and other stuff out to the back
yard so we'd have some room to move around.  The hardwood floor felt just
like the stage at the Tavern so it should do just fine.
   I sent Geeser over to wake up the lazy bones.  After a _hint_, she
started licking the end of his nose.  He opened an eye and pretended to
growl at her.  She promptly desisted; she must have worn herself out
because she draped herself over his chest and gave it a vibrating massage.
   People started popping in.  Sean passed Geeser off; she ensured everyone
felt welcome with loud purrs and nuzzles with a chilly nose.
   John did the choreography.  Since we were _joined_ a bit, it didn't take
long to get the moves down we wanted.  We were ready!
   Everyone popped back home by 4:00; we'd meet later at the Tavern.  I
reminded John we had an additional nine people showing up tonight.  He told
me he'd have his "assistant" (Patrick) made sure there was a table set up
for the mob.
   One thing we hadn't decided on was a honeymoon.  Sean told us he'd never
really had a vacation; that sucked.  Even Frank and I had taken a week off
-- then again, Cullen Enterprises alone was probably worth several million
where Frank and I had been lucky to have a couple hundred net worth rather
than a negative.
   Kate hadn't had much time off, either.  Margie was the only one who had
"experience." She told us, _"Hell, after I retired, Fergus and I took a
year and just wandered around.  Lots of places in the U.S.  We did a bit of
South America, Europe and a bit of Asia.
   "Granted, we had a really tight budget, but most of it was travel and
accommodation expenses.  The way we operate, we could either spend sleepy
time here or get a room wherever."_
   Looking at our schedule, we were pretty tight the next couple weeks.  If
BB came aboard, we wanted to get her at least partially trained before we
dumped everything on her and took off.  We decided on taking Sunday
completely off and scheduling at least a week at the end of June or early
July -- or maybe after the first seminar.
   Kate suggested, "How about Vegas?  It runs 24/7 so Sunday's just another
day."
   Sounded interesting.  Margie'd been there (some 20 years ago) so was the
most familiar with it.  She popped over to a tourist information place and
glommed onto all the free maps and literature she could find.
   First we needed a breakfast spot.  Kate, Margie and I decided Sean would
not be in condition to prepare it himself.  Between looking at the maps and
brochures and a quick _look_ at some signs and some probing, we decided the
Rio buffet was the spot.  It had a "world-famous" buffet (even Kate had
heard about it) and opened at 6:00 AM.
   We picked other spots for the day.  Many of them were just to wander
through and gawk a bit.  Yeh, there were shows, too.  Margie hopped on line
and got three tickets (plus kid) to an evening Flamingo blow-out.  At $50
apiece, we hoped it would be more interesting than the standard Hollywood
movies which were out.
   Of course we decided to gamble a bit.  The banks had already closed for
Friday but Sean chanted some incantations and trotted out $10K in cash.  He
grinned and said, "Just a little mad money."
   He showed us his stash.  He'd "excavated" a big cavity under the house
in the bedrock, ported a large stainless steel sealed box into it and put
goodies in it.  Paper money, negotiable jewel stones, gold and silver
coins, that sort of stuff.
   The only way to get stuff in and out would be either teleportation or
dig through 100 feet of bedrock then break through the box.  Good luck; a
thief would have to know it was there to start with.  Mario had come up
with the idea of putting packages of garden seeds in places for shield
anchors so Sean had them liberally scattered through.
   He had us hook into the nodes and programmed us for the shields and
firewall.  He said, "John, Patrick and Lena know where it is, too, just in
case."
   All righty, then!  Time to get dressed for the Tavern night.  Green
tonight -- Sean pouted when we told him he could *not* wear his leprechaun
outfit.  We had new people to impress.
   Kate, Margie and I got all gussied up.  Well, my tits hadn't gone
entirely flat; guess the proper decision helped.  The normal Inner Touch
handled any deficiencies.  The nipples hadn't been affected; they were as
sensitive as ever -- Kate and Margie checked to make sure.  Fuck.  I had to
change my panties.
   Kate and Margie cackled away; I thought Kate was getting corrupted.
   Carmel told me, _"I'll bring us.  I'm done with the check sheet so we're
a go!"_
   Margie took a few minutes to print up teleportation certs for everyone.
We'd port over the appropriate ones.
   We got to the Tavern a bit early to ensure we'd be there as the guests
arrived.  The maitre de was alert; he brought them all right over.  Patrick
had set up a couple tables together; With something like 21 people, we
needed them.
   The ones who'd completed their check sheets just ported into the Tavern
office.  No one seemed to notice one hell of a lot more people came out of
the office than went in.
   Lena had enhanced her paralegal, Jean; the young-uns had trained her up
and she was working on the teleportation check sheet.  Jean was a
quite-pleasant lady in her late 20's.  She'd been with Lena around six
years and was working on her own law degree.  Since she was single, Rosheen
immediately added her to the "find a mate" list.
   BB was kinda the odd girl out because only we OTL folk knew her. 
Anyway, we got and made introductions all around.  BB was bubbling over
with something she was "hiding." We didn't pry -- yet.
   Kate reached under the table and brought back certs for those who'd just
completed their check sheets.  Everyone had a good laugh over the wording
and quietly made them disappear -- probably ported them back home.
   We ordered dinner and chatted a lot, usually in Irish.  The young-un's
had taught the newbies the language trick so by the time dinner came,
everyone was babbling away in acceptable Irish.
   Sean's meal didn't come as ordered.  Instead, John and Patrick dropped a
serving platter with a small bird in front of him.  It was a goose!  They
slapped him on the back and told him, "Your goose is cooked now, boyo!"
(The expression comes from an Irish tradition called, "Aitin' the gander.")
   All the males kept jibing at him about it.  We girls pretended to glare
at them and Irished them good.  Fun!!
   We let dinner settle.  Sean finally told BB, "Okay.  You've been busting
with something all evening.  Talk!"
   She laughed hard.  She told us (in Irish), "Well, first, I've decided to
take you up on your 'position' offer with Cullen Enterprises."
   Everyone gave her a quiet round of applause.  Great!  Now we have
someone else to dump stuff on.  Grin.
   I asked her, "So, when?"
   BB grinned widely.  "Well, I finally decided to give notice this
morning. Usually Cal Tech likes at least a couple weeks; more if you're an
executive -- which I wasn't.
   "Anyway, first thing this morning I told Richard -- the other HR person
I work with -- I was giving my two-week notice.  He looked at me, stuck his
fingers in his ears and chanted, 'I don't hear you.  I don't hear you. 
Look at your email!'
   "Okay.  The morning's email had an announcement from the main Cal Tech
HR department head.  They were cutting back admin staff and were offering a
severance package for anyone who volunteered who'd been there more than a
year.
   "Well, that was me!  I'd been there just over five years.  Richard and
I'd gotten another email with all the package details.  So, Richard just
ran me through the process like we did three others today.
   "Anyway, they'll have a severance pay check for me Monday morning plus
all my untaken vacation and sick leave pay.  Should be right around $25K.
Today was my last day so I can start Monday."
   Yowsah!  Some things do go right.  She got a round of hugs and cheers.
   We still had a little bit to go before our gig, so we gathered up all
the girls for a quick hen-party in the restroom -- that's why it's so big
at the Tavern.
   The old-timers got the newbies to spit out their marital status, current
love-life, needs and wants in a partner if wanted and all that juicy stuff.
Rosheen took notes.  She told the single eligible girls (Carmel, Lena, Jean
and BB), "Keep your eye out at the wedding and reception tomorrow for other
singles.  We've also got the two Saturdays after that with Clann Reynolds
weddings.  That should give you a fighting chance; if it doesn't happen,
let me know.  There's still others around who might not make it to one of
the weddings."
   The singles looked thoughtful.  Margie added, _"Remember, by custom
everything consensual is acceptable.  You might want to take someone you
find home tomorrow night for a trial run.  The three young-uns here are
gonna be lookin' mighty hard.  Hehehehe."_
   ------
   Show time!  We weren't gonna do a big show; we had a long day ahead (and
a nice long night!) tomorrow.
   We got the now-usual gang up on stage -- The entire N&B and OTL gangs.
Everyone had some green; we girls all had green dresses.  The adult ladies
had nipples attempting to escape all the time while the nieces were a lot
more demure (but still sexy as hell).
   Our gig this time involved a lot of spins.  The weenie was
Bridget/Margie riding different shoulders.  In the middle of a spin, she'd
lean backwards so her body disappeared behind the person's head, port to
another person (_linked_, so they were ready) then rise up so by the time
the new person had their back to the audience in their spin, she was there.
   Really fun.  "Of course" the audience just "knew" it was stage magic and
Bridget was very "well-trained." Every switch they caught got applause and
laughter.
   She ended up on Sean's shoulders.  We were doing a fast jig where the
feet and legs move a lot but the upper body is pretty still.  Bridget
pounded her heels on his chest, waved her bowler and beat it against his
shoulder while holding firmly onto his hair with the other hand.  All in
perfect time with the music.
   The audience loved it.  Our gang left at the table could catch what we
were really doing, but everyone else just loved the show.
   At the end, Sean talked to the audience a little.  "As most of you know,
Eileen, Kate and I are getting married tomorrow.  Bridget here will
supervise the proceeding; so far, she seems to approve." Bridget laughed,
waved her bowler and kicked her legs.  She approved.
   "The reception will be here tomorrow afternoon starting at 12:30. 
Normally, a reception is only for invited guests.  However, the ushers and
waiters know most of you by now so if you just happened to be in the
neighborhood, you might be able to sneak in for a bite."
   He sang "Bridget Flynn" to Bridget then "I Love You Because" to Kate and
me.  Yeh, we cried a bit; mushy old stuff.  We got him back with "Today,
Tomorrow and Forever." Some of the audience had heard it before but tough
darts.  This affirmed Kate's status publicly as a Ceann-Mate -- exactly
what he wanted.
   ------
   SEAN
   My goose was cooked, all right -- and I reveled in it.  None of my
memories had such a depth of love and delight as I had right then.  Nor had
there been any firmer friends even after decades of living together.
   I really wanted to make Kate's status clear.  Probably quite a lot of
the audience were Clann and would accept her readily as a mate.  The rest
-- well tough darts!  Nothing unlawful about saying it.
   We tried to get out early and managed to get all the incoming
congratulating done by 9:15.  We were outta there!
   We did have a reception committee waiting at OTL, though.  Geeser was
really happy to see us and kept trying to lead us to the kitchen.  Wonder
what she wanted?  Margie did the honors this time.  We wanted Geeser to
know each of us was a food source as well as a cuddle-and-love source.
   We relaxed a few minutes in the den.  Geeser came wandering in a few
moments later, spotted Marge on the floor and flopped down across her hips.
About 10 seconds later they were both gone by-by.
   The ladies exiled me to the honoring room.  Kate told me, "You've got a
long day and night ahead of you tomorrow.  You've gotta get your rest and
if any of us were with you, we might be too tempted."
   Margie added, _"And keep your hands off your dick, lad."_
   Yes, ma'ams.  It would have been my word against thousands of theirs to
protest so I slunk off to a cold, lonely bed.  Maybe Geeser would take pity
on me and keep me warm.
   My prison sentence didn't stop us from getting together outside, though.
We spent the night exploring possible vacation spots.  We looked for
scenery (my idea of scenery seemed to differ significantly from theirs),
entertainment like shows, amusement parks, plays and general "I've always
thought I'd like to see/do that."
   We did find plenty of time for wonderfully-sweet _blendings_ and hefty
snoggings.  At least they hadn't cut me off completely.
   About 4:00 I noticed Geeser had snuck in and was snoring away across my
feet.  Someone knew how to take care of the boss!
   We were up at 8:00.  The ceremony was to start at the park at 11:00;
Jackie and her gang were due here at 8:30.  Hopefully that'll be enough
time.
   We scarfed down a quick breakfast while Geeser did hers.  Wonder if
she'd be interested in going to the ceremony?  Probably not.  She was
female but...
   Jackie, Alice, two of her other girls, Maura and Teresa showed up right
on time.  Apparently the Cullen Sisters weren't really there to help; they
wanted to make sure I wasn't running away.  At least that's what they told
me.  They wouldn't slag their younger brother, would they?
   I was immediately banished to the den.  Teresa said, "We'll get you
dressed around 9:30.  Then you'll go press the flesh and impress the women.
Other than that, you've got no purpose until 10:00."
   Just what I thought.  Geeser and I told each other what a hard lot we
had.  I was quite sure she believed me as much as I believed her.
   I tried to check email; just couldn't get into anything.  Hell, I was
even quivering a little.  What?  Was the mighty Clann War Leader nervous
over getting married?  After hundreds of times?  Nah, couldn't be.
   At 9:29 I wandered into the honoring room.  Yeh, my kilt was laid out
and seemed ready to go.  By some magic, Jackie popped in just as I got my
shirt off.
   She helped me.  Fuck, I could barely button the stuff.  Jackie grinned
but didn't say anything.  She told me, "I'm here to make sure your
stockings are straight, and you don't forget to put on something.  *And* to
ensure you leave your bowler here." I wouldn't do something like that! 
Right.
   She clucked around almost as bad as Marge.  She brushed my hair,
adjusted everything five times then said, "That'll do.  Since you're a man,
it'll probably be messed up in five minutes.  One of us will check you out
before we really start.  Not that we don't trust you, mind you."
   I ostentatiously plopped on the traditional hat.  *I* was ready -- if I
could keep my knees from giving away.  Jackie wrapped herself around me and
started rubbing portions of her delectable anatomy against me.  Of course I
had the expected reaction.
   Jackie laughed and told me, "Good.  Maura said I should get you warmed
up.  You're gonna be hugging a lot of Clann women, and you gotta let 'em
feel what's waiting for 'em." Groan.  It didn't help much but at least one
of my legs was stiff.
   John was waiting patiently outside the front door.  He slapped me on the
back and told me, "I wasn't about to go in there.  All those hens would
peck me to death -- or put me to work."
   He escorted me up to the park.  It was set up and looked ready to me. 
There were lots of chairs set up, several portable toilets, a fancy white
tent and altar and half a dozen young people around directing traffic.
   Connor and Caden were already there telling people it was pretty
informal until the ceremony was ready to start.  They were telling people
lies about how great I was and truths about how beautiful the brides would
be.
   Time to earn my wages as the Ceann.  So far, I'd been getting lots of
the benefits, now I had to do the public relations that went with them.
   I grabbed the first woman I came to, gave her a big hug and got a quick
gestalt.  Okay, I got the name, brief family history and how she was
related.  "Keelin O'Connell!  So glad you could make it!"
   For some reason, she didn't hesitate to snuggle right up against my
chest and the Ceann's Shillelagh.  We chatted about her husband, his job,
their two kids -- one still in high school, the other a sophomore in
college -- and her Aunt So and So.
   Who needs a Farley File to talk with someone?  I had a distinct
advantage which I shamelessly abused.
   On to the next person, a man.  Same thing except he got a firm handshake
instead of a hug.  I used his name at least three times and told him how
beautiful his wife Maureen was looking today -- and how happy I'd been to
hear his oldest daughter had gotten four As and two Bs on her finals.
   Connor stuck close.  After I'd talked with someone, he'd give them a
card with the Clann Cullen web site address on it and tell them to keep
checking in.  He'd say, "Lot's of things happening!"
   On and on.  At least I got my mind off my weak knees.  I spotted some
familiar faces and dispensed righteous hugs and kisses to Rosheen, Carmel
and Maeve.  BB popped up; I gave her a good snuggle.  She snuggled right
back, wiggled her hips and boobs against me and said, "Seems like someone's
ready to party!" Things were definitely starting to look up.
   Buses came, disgorged oldies then took off again.  I saw lots of Clann
Reynolds folk appearing (probably ported to OTL then walked up); some I
recognized from their meetings as from the Clanns Fuerte and Way.
   I saw the JP, Majella Canavan; John got right over to her.  They had a
short conference then John assigned Caden to stick close to her and do
anything she needed.  I saw him eyeballing her butt; maybe he thought she
had a "need."
   We even had a small band.  No strings attached; I'd been told violins
and the like do not do well outside.  They started playing some quiet stuff
which made things seem even brighter.
   I'd gotten through meeting maybe half the people there when John told
me, "It's time.  Come with me, oh mighty Ceann.  Your mates-to-be are on
their way."
   We're gonna have a wedding!
   Chapter 25
   EILEEN (Saturday 6/3)
   Jackie, Alice and her two other shop girls had done wonderfully.  They'd
spent an hour on hair, nails and makeup and proclaimed themselves
satisfied. I guess if they were happy with the results, we should be too.
   Maura and Teresa helped us dress for another good hour.  Nora's final
alterations had been perfect so everyone was happy with the dresses.
   Nana broke out the emeralds and other jewelry.  The emeralds fit me
perfectly, and we loved the way they complimented my dress and hair.  Kate
had borrowed a set of lovely diamonds from Kathleen; she looked luscious.
Margie got a small emerald necklace and wound a slender emerald bracelet
around her left wrist.
   Even the shoes were comfortable.  My tits were up just fine (thank you,
Inner Touch); Kate's and my nipples poked out just the right amount. 
Sorry, no Margie-titties today.
   Maura and Teresa popped back home to dress.  Teresa told us, "We'll be
quick; we're not as important as you three."
   Jackie sent Alice and the girls up to the park and stayed with us.  At
9:30, she told us, "I'm gonna get Sean dressed and send him out to do
public relations.  I'll be back in a few minutes."
   We just stood around and got more nervous.  People were arriving from
everywhere; buses came, dropped off our neighborhood oldies then left for
more.  Ones of us ported into our living room then walked out the front
door up to the park.
   Jackie came back and told us, "He'll be okay.  John's taking him up to
start pressing the flesh and putting the snog on the Clann women.  John and
Patrick will keep him out of mischief -- hopefully."
   Kate and I were shaking and nervous; Margie was calm, cool and happy. 
_"You can do it, Snapper.  You and Kate just stand up, look Sean right in
the eye and say you'll do it.  We've got the JP primed, Sean's ready and
all you've gotta do is show up.  You don't even have to be nekkid or bring
whiskey.  I love you all, so let's do it."_
   Finally it was time.  Jackie made a final clucking over us then pushed
us out the door.  She carried Margie while Kate and I carefully made our
way up the sidewalk.  Dayum, sure is a lot of material to maneuver in those
dresses!
   We stopped at the edge of the park and waited for our cue.  Lots of
people saw us, smiled and waved.  Brian came up between us and said, "Let's
do the deed, my sweet coleens.  No problems, no fuss."
   We _felt_ a sound shield go into place around the park.  All the
modern-day traffic and city noises we'd become used to faded away, and we
were left only with the sound of a few birds.  Teresa told us, _"Just like
it was for thousands of years.  A wedding in the forest."_
   We heard Sean's voice give out a penetrating, melodious call for three
long seconds.  Teresa filled us in, _"The Clann Cullen call to assembly. 
The call to battle is completely different and would make you pee your
pants."_
   Sean must have been standing on a chair near the altar.  He was holding
a long staff vertically above his head; there was no doubt he wanted
attention.  He called out, "Clann Cullen and guests!  Come to meeting. 
Take your seats, please."
   He stood there with the staff above his head, not moving an inch while
people got seated.  People were quick; probably fifteen seconds while
everyone found a seat or stood around the outside.
   We _felt_ Sean _join_ lightly with everyone.  It _felt_ as if he
gathered power to him; everyone _knew_ he was the leader, the Ceann.  He
was no longer Sean Cullen the Hat Man, he was the Clann Ceann who'd fought,
bled and died for his Clann over thousands of years, who'd counseled his
people and who loved them all.
   We _felt_ a chill through everyone as they realized his power.  They
might not know how they _knew_ but they were aware.
   He spoke quietly but everyone could hear clearly, "Cead Mile Failte. 
There's going to be a wedding.  We begin."
   Rosheen and the N&Bs sang an atonal song in ancient Gaelic.  The
assembly _knew_ (from the _join_) it was the ancient bonding song which had
evolved over thousands of years and _knew_ what it meant.  The translations
don't rhyme and don't match the meter so it's a bit like blank verse in
modern English.
   ------
   We gather today for a bonding Of a new family.  A new clann To go
forward In this world Of trouble.
   Let there be hope For long lives And long loves.  For a life without
love Is not a life But a long night Of malodorous discontent.
   May the Gods Smile upon us today And help us Witness and affirm This
bonding.
   ------
   Sent chills through me.  I _felt_ the same chills through Kate, Marge
and Sean -- and everyone else there.
   Majella, the JP, called out, "Let the future bond-mates approach."
Finally, our cue.  We walked carefully up the aisle with Jackie carrying
Margie.  Kate and I had our hands full just managing our skirts while
holding on to Brian's arms.
   Sean was waiting with his staff.  He sent his love out to us and the
assembly.  We flowed our love back so all would know of our joy.
   At the altar, Jackie handed Margie over to Patrick.  We stood in a
semi-circle facing the assembly.  Dayum!  Majella had a lot of Talent
tucked away!  She faced the assembly and told them, "There may be those
among you who do not know Clann Cullen's Irish customs.  They have evolved
over thousands of years; times change, but the spirit has remained the
same.
   "Fewer than two hundred years ago, I would have been the Clann's priest
and fully empowered to bond these people before me.  As a Justice of the
Peace of the State of California, I may marry only Sean and Eileen.  Today,
I will do both.
   "If this offends you, you are welcome to leave quietly.  Clann Cullen
has found these traditions and customs to be both workable and effective
for thousands of years.
   "A marriage, or bonding in this case, is the spiritual association for
the optimum survival of the people in the bonding.  The Clann has often had
plural bondings as we are having today.  Only the people involved have a
right to say.
   "The Ceann always has the final say in any bonding; that is Clann
Cullen's custom and has worked well for millennia.  Do not judge by today's
apparent morals; we all know what travesties they bring."
   Another short song in the ancient Gaelic.
   ------
   The bonding time is here.  The future bond-mates are here.  The priest
is here.  The Ceann has approved this bonding.  There are no further
obstacles.  Let the daylight of love Shine forever.  The ceremony begins.
   ------
   Majella told us and the assembly, "This bonding is among you.  People
grow and may change over a lifetime; you might find this to be the case. 
At a later time, some might leave the bonding and others might join.  Once
this initial bonding today is complete, only the new clann or family and
the Ceann have the power to make these changes.
   "This bonding and future changes are completely separate from any legal
ties required or denied by the laws of the land.  These are bondings of the
souls which the law does not recognize.
   "Usually in the case of a child the bonding is implicit since the child
is usually the offspring of one of the bond-mates.  This case, however, is
different.  Bridget is not only Eileen's daughter, she is uncommonly bright
and aware as many of you have already discovered.  Though she cannot yet
speak, I am truly satisfied she has an awareness of the ramifications of a
bonding."
   She asked Kate, "Kate Riona Hanlon, do you accept Sean Quinn Cullen,
Eileen Finian McLennan and Bridget Margaret McLennan as your bond-mates to
live and love together through sorrow and joy?"
   Kate wept a little and said, "Aye."
   She asked Sean a similar question.  In a loud firm voice, he said, "Aye.
With all my heart."
   I wept; my heart overflowed.  I, too, answered, "Aye."
   She asked Margie the same question.  She smiled, laughed and got out a
loud reply which everyone could hear as, "Aye!"
   Majella said, "The bond acceptance is complete.  Please place the
rings."
   Kate pulled Sean's claddagh ring from his right hand and placed it on
his left with the heart facing him.  He turned to me, took my ring and
transferred it.  I did the same with Margaret then she transferred Kate's
ring.  Having Margie do this with us was not exactly as we'd discussed long
ago but it was right.
   We did a four-way exchange of luck money.  Jewelry Arts had created
large 24-caret gold "coins" with a raised image of the four of us on one
side and our name and the date engraved on the other side.
   We ensured they clinked loudly (the couple will be blessed with
children), and we laughed.  Yeh, Margaret had a bit of trouble handling
three coins in her small hands, but she managed.  We each ended up with a
coin from the three others.
   The last Gaelic song.
   ------
   The bonding is complete.  Let no person deny this.  They are joined in
love.  May their lives be blessed With the bright sunlight Their love will
bring them.  May their joy be ageless And sustain them Through the perils
of the ages.
   ------
   Majella told the assembly, "I declare the bonding complete.  I declare
Eileen Finian McLennan and Sean Quinn Cullen to be man and wife."
   We exchanged firm bonding kisses among us.  We were bonded.
   Good thing we didn't have to rely on our eyes alone to walk back down
the aisle.  We women were all teary-eyed and Sean wasn't much better off.
The assembly stood, applauded and cheered.
   At the edge of the park, Sean turned, raised his staff again and told
everyone, "The ceremony is complete.  In our old tradition, let the feast
begin!"
   We fled back to OTL to change for the reception.
   ------
   SEAN
   Yowsah!  Done deal; we'd carried it off without a hitch.  The Cullen
Sisters had come through with flying colors.
   Back home, we hugged each other firmly for several wonderful minutes
while we briefly _blended_ together with joy and shared our love.  Then the
ladies dashed off to change.
   I put our luck money coins in prepared frames.  Each frame had the
person's name engraved with the date.  The frame held the person's three
coins in cutouts with optical glass in front and back so someone could see
both sides.  I polished each coin to remove any fingerprints and used
_touches_ to place them in the holders.
   We'd planned for Marge's luck money exchange; we hadn't planned on
Majella publicly bonding her.  Must have been the Cullen Sisters'
influence; I'm gonna have some firm words with them -- words of praise,
thanks and delight!
   I went to help my ladies change but Marge shooed me out.  _"We've got it
handled.  Go change yourself.  Fifteen minutes!"_
   I was very careful with the kilt and accessories; we wanted them to last
hundreds of years.
   I got on my daily kilt and my dancing shoes.  Yeh, my bowler went right
on my head.
   I went back to the den and talked with Geeser a while.  The flow of
people in and out hadn't bothered her in the least.  So long as someone fed
and snuggled her, she'd put up with pretty much anything.
   I checked the park.  Most everyone had left; the buses had carted the
oldies off, and there was a gang of people taking down the chairs and tent.
It all seemed under control so I let Geeser worry about the rest of it.
   The entire ceremony had taken only 30 minutes which was good.  I'd been
to some weddings which had been so long the ushers had to go around waking
people up.  Not this one!
   Lots of people came in our front door then ported off.  I hadn't
detected anyone thinking the appearances and disappearances were unusual so
I figured it was the way to go.
   My ladies were right on time.  Dayum they looked great in their kilts!
The kilts were knee-length and quite full.  Betcha they'd swirl very
nicely. They still wore some of their jewelry, but each also wore their
bowler and shamrock pendants.  The Hat Ladies were on the prowl!
   We shared some more snuggles; hope Geeser didn't feel left out.  We
admired our claddagh rings on our left hands and smiled smiled smiled!
   ------
   We took our turn porting over to the Tavern office; there seemed to be a
steady stream of importees dropping in.  Good thing the situation had been
covered on the check sheet; there weren't any mishaps.
   We didn't beat everyone; the young-uns, John and Patrick were already
changed and there.  Aile told us, "The Moms are still changing.  You know
how women are; everything's gotta be just right.  You ladies were gorgeous
at the ceremony -- and still are!"
   John, Patrick and I immediately added our compliments.  No doubt about
it, they were.
   I noted, "And there's three *really* fine things right in front of me,
too." I admired their secondary sexual characteristics and six mood
indicators immediately sprang to life.  Not a bra among them; the Cullen
Sisters are raising 'em right.  Betcha there'll be lots of guy-eyes getting
strained -- of all ages.
   The buffet was ready to go so we did a quick run through to keep up our
strength.  The ladies and young-uns stoked themselves pretty good.  My
ladies because they hadn't eaten much in the morning and the young-uns
because -- well, they were young-uns.
   I let them know what I thought of their singing, "Your singing was
perfect.  Besides being completely exotic because of the language and
atonality, you sang as if you meant it.  Good on ya!  Good on ya'll."
   They smiled and laughed.  Marge said (rather loudly), _"I think they
deserve a Soo Laid in the near future."_
   All five said, _"YES!"_ in unison.  Yeh, I'd say they were all pretty
"interested" by now.
   I laughed, too.  "Talk with the social secretaries.  That kinda stuff is
in their department."
   Connor said, "I noticed before the ceremony when you were talking with
people, you knew their names and such right away.  I _felt_ you _inspec_t
them; maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I usually take several seconds
to _inspect_ someone."
   Musta missed something in the training.  Eileen immediately made a note
to include the gestalt in the training -- might even create a formal
new-spirit training check sheet so nothing gets missed.  I filled them in
on the gestalt.
   "Especially today, have a pre-made search set up.  I looked for the
formal name, nickname, marital status, relatives, relationship to your moms
and me then any indication of Talent.  Plus, whatever they're really proud
of right then.  Takes maybe a half second, and they don't notice it.
   "I'd like you all to do it today with everyone you meet then ride it for
all it's worth.  This is the first major Clann gathering since Mama Teresa
and Papa John were married.  I want every person you talk with to feel
really special because 'even' my nieces and nephews have heard me say
something positive about them.
   "We want the Clann to feel their leadership is in good hands; they've
probably been feeling pretty neglected the last five years, and I'd like to
turn that completely around.
   "If you young ladies get any crap about not wearing bras, tell one of
the Moms and they'll go tear a new one.  You've got bodies to be proud of,
not to hide."
   Kate put in, "Today's not only the Ceann's wedding, it's a major public
relations effort.  That's one reason we invited everyone under the sun plus
told the Tavern people they were welcome.  Eileen and I'll be doing the
same.  Have tons of fun at the same time; *we* will."
   The Keavys, McLennans and Rosheen popped out of the office about then. I
turned the young-uns loose on them to pass the word.
   By the time my ladies had polished their plates (and were eyeballing the
buffet again) we had over a hundred people in the room.  Patrick had told
us to make ourselves a bit scarce for a while so he could announce us, so
we ducked back into the office and greeted people as they ported in.
   Yeh, Clanns Reynolds, Way and Fuerte came in full force.  Vera Leonard
and her entire family from Mesa popped right in.  Great!  Maybe we'll have
a few minutes to chat later.
   As a group would pop in, one of the young-uns would descend on them and
escort them to the right room while telling them exactly what we'd be doing
with the gestalt and requesting they do the same.  Should be a great
afternoon with all these wonderful people here!
   ------
   EILEEN
   Just about 1:00, Patrick told us, _"Come on out and wait outside the
door.  I'll introduce you then we'll start the bash."_
   We did a quick once-over on each other (boobs, bushes and hats -- no
boobs or bush for Margie) and slipped outside.  We stopped right outside
the banquet room door.  We heard Patrick inside say loudly, "May I have
your attention, please.  The bond-mates are here."
   We stepped inside the door and stopped.  Patrick told them, "Please
welcome the bond-mates!  Mr.  and Mrs.  Sean Cullen, Kate Hanlon and
Bridget McLennan!"
   People stood, smiled hard and clapped away.  Be Jaysus!  We four could
_feel_ their enthusiasm and happiness for us.  We bowed and curtsied;
Margie did a very credible curtsy from Sean's arm.  They went on for a good
minute then Sean quieted them down.
   He told them, "Thank you very much for that welcome.  Eileen and Bridget
aren't from Clann Cullen -- that we know of -- and I think they now know
what a great Clann we have with so many wonderful people."
   He gave a thirty-second spiel telling them there would be some good
changes coming Real Soon Now.  "We plan to keep much closer to you and to
keep you much better informed than ever before.  Our door and our hearts
will always be open to you."
   We got another solid round of applause then Patrick said, "Let's party!
The bond-mates have the first dance."
   I collected Margie while Sean swept Kate onto the quickly-open dance
floor in the middle.  Nice; they must have slipped in some lessons from
Elizabeth because they were dayum good!  Add in some romantic snogging to
appreciative applause and they did right good.
   They got applause then Sean pulled Margie into his arms.  Considering
their height difference and the fact she was over three feet above the
floor, they did great.  Margie hammed it up only a little; just enough to
let people know she was having a great time.
   They did play some tricks.  Margie "lightened" up her body to about five
pounds, and they did some spins.  Sean held her with the palm of his hand
under her butt then they twirled her around.
   Through his light join with everyone, he kept putting out, _"Bridget
McLennan is an adult with a young body."_ Pretty much the way Bob and the
gang had gotten Kathleen back into the school.  Neat.
   My turn.  Interesting.  We'd not really done any one-on-one dancing but
being closely _joined_ and with Elizabeth Reynolds giving us on-the-fly
coaching, I'd say we did just fine.  He did keep his hands off my arse but
snuck a phantom hand underneath my kilt -- he's gonna get it.  Real Soon
Now.
   We mixed.  We talked.  We pressed the flesh, Sean prodded ladies with
his shillelagh while Kate and I left two small bruises on guys who were
willing to give us a hug -- which was pretty much every one.  There were a
few babes in arms who could have cared less, but even they got baby kisses
and compliments.
   Kate, Margie and I got back in line at the buffet.  We were feeling a
bit peckish from all the dancing; seems every guy wanted a round.  Why not?
Some were lustful and some were just "doing their duty."
   To the one, however, they were proud.  They were proud to belong to
Clann Cullen!  The non-blood-related were just as proud and were even more
happy their line had married or had been adopted in.
   Sean snared me for a few minutes for another turn around the floor.  He
guided me over to Kate, stole her and Margie then told us, "I'm so proud of
you ladies.  Besides being so beautiful, every person here thinks we're
perfect together.  They're so proud of you and the Clann it just oozes out
of them.  I'm proud of you and I love you so much it hurts."
   Kate cried.  I cried.  Margie shed some tears, too, and told us, _"Ya'll
surprised me.  When Majella started talking about me, I almost peed over
Patrick's arm.  I didn't think you'd have the balls to pull something so
politically incorrect._
   _"But it was perfect; you were proud enough of me to face the possible
upsets and pulled it off exactly right.  Not a person here I've looked at
thinks it's anything more than a bit unusual.  You've all made an old lady
so happy to be loved again."_
   Sean snuggled us firmly and let us wet down his shirt a little while we
shared a brief blindingly-bright _blending_ spread throughout everyone so
they'd share some of our joy.
   ------
   SEAN
   Mary Murray and her husband were joyous.  He thanked me several times. I
told them, "The ancient gods were strong in their presence.  While I'm not
a priest, I'm quite sure they'll be watching over you."
   Hell, Mick Murray had a spot of Talent just like Mary.  Sounds like an
enhancement job for Rosheen or one of the other Core.  Check out the
family, too.
   I _told_ Rosheen; she slapped in nodes and pumped away.  She told me,
_"I'll have them take me around to the rest of their family, and I'll check
'em out.  Sean, it feels really good to be doing something useful again."_
   BB latched onto me for a dance -- or did I latch on to her?  Anyway. 
She's got the finest, silkiest platinum blonde hair I'd ever seen and it
smelled delicious.  Being the diplomat I was, I tactfully asked, "How did a
German and Vietnamese pop out a tall blonde?"
   She laughed and told me, "Dad's family were Swiss-German guards a long
time ago.  He's bigger than you are and extremely blonde -- the Aryan
ideal. Mom's Viet all right, but not all Orientals are short and slender.
She's something like 5 ft.  8 and built like a brick outhouse.  Black hair;
I haven't the faintest idea how I got to be blonde.  Maybe if I play my
cards right, you'll be able to check out if I'm blonde all over."
   I assured her I'd be more than willing to check out every hair I could
find on her luscious body.  She wiggled a set of hard-tipped breasts
against me which only the Jolly Green Giant could call small.  Bashful is
not a word I would use in describing her.
   I was a bit wary of Valerie Hess, but she got a hold of me and wouldn't
let go.  Dayum, she's good!  She snuggled up lightly and did something like
touch my neck a couple times.  I was on fire.
   She laughed a little and apologized.  "You've probably been a warrior
for thousands or millions of years.  I was a lover, not a fighter.  It just
pops out every once in a while."
   After I escaped her clutches, I had to sit down for a while.  Sure glad
the kilts are full-cut; they hide a lot.
   I did manage to get a couple shots of Irish whiskey while I rested. 
Uh-oh!  I saw Valerie huddled with my Bond-Mates!  They kept glancing over
at me with the oddest smirks.  I had a feeling I was in really deep do-do.
   Patrick cleared the dance floor; he'd volunteered Bob and Kathleen to do
a little show for us.  I was expecting a magic show, but they danced.
   Our non-string band managed a good approximation of a waltz and they
were off.  Dayum, they simply floated.  Their feet, legs and hips moved so
fast sometimes we couldn't see them while their shoulders didn't move a bit
up and down.  They floated.
   Yeh, some of us _felt_ them cheat a little.  We saw them take some
spinning leaps well over six feet long.  Not possible.
   They gave us a wonderful five-minute show full of grace and beauty. 
Their love for each other flooded through us -- I didn't see a dry eye
anywhere.  Then again, I couldn't see too well myself through my tears.
   They got a solid minute of applause.  Patrick announced, "Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen.  If you'd like a chance to try to keep up with one of
them, they're getting married two weeks from now.  Let's give them another
hand."
   They got it.
   Teresa sat beside me for a bit while she had a couple nips.  She told
me, _"Hope you maintain your health, Lover Boy.  Every female I've done a
gestalt with is more than willing to get checked out by the Ceann's
Shillelagh.  And I'm not talking about the one on display over there on the
table."_
   Argh.  She rubbed it in, _"Some of them are barely old enough to walk
and they're hot for you already.  That elderly lady with the walker over
there is hoping you'll take her in the office and show her a good time."_
   Argh again.  I was familiar with the lady in question from the wake. 
She waved at me, and I could _feel_ what she had in mind.  Her body might
have been old, but she was definitely feeling frisky.  I told Teresa, _"Put
her on the schedule.  Bet she knows a few things a young flah like you
couldn't even dream of."_
   Teresa grinned.  _"In that case, I think I'll have a long chat with her.
Your love life's been a little tame lately; I haven't heard much screaming
from OTL.  Besides, you've got a couple Soo Laids to work off."_
   ------
   EILEEN
   Maura had put our luck money frames on a table along with Sean's staff,
her Clann ring and several other Clann artifacts.
   Sean's staff was clearly ancient and was polished and worn from use.  It
had a sign which said, "The Ceann's ceremonial staff is almost 800 years
old.  It is made from an oak species which no longer exists.  Sean Cullen
plans an honorable retirement for it soon and will commission a new one."
   Someone had put some graffiti on the sign, "The Ceann's *other*
Shillelagh is the one to meet in a dark room." Hehehehe.
   Another artifact was a battered war club.  I could find ancient blood in
several of the pores; it wasn't a toy in any sense.  The sign said, "The
Ceann's war club is 600 years old and was used by at least ten Clann War
Leaders in battle.  While it hasn't been used in battle for over 150 years,
the Ceann will wield it again should the need arise."
   I finally got a chance to rest after dancing for a solid hour.  Maura
brought me over a plate from the buffet and a good-sized glass of whiskey.
   Margie immediately stole some soft stuff from my plate, dipped her
finger in the glass and rubbed it in her mouth.  _"My mouth hurts a little
today.  It's gonna need lots of food to massage the gums and lots of
whiskey to numb it up."_
   Kate staggered over and collapsed in a chair beside us.  "Dayum.  Glad
I'm only 22.  If I were your guys' age I would have been totally knackered
by now."
   Nana popped up, _"Feel glad you're not *my* age -- either end of the
scale.  Don't push yourselves too hard today; we've got Lover Boy to wear
out tonight."_
   Kate and I looked at each other.  I told her, "Now I know how a soldier
feels going into a hopeless battle.  Lover Boy's had several days' rest; we
won't have a chance."
   Kate agreed whole-heartedly.  Margie said, _"I'll do my best, but it'll
be like an ant crawling up an elephant's leg with rape on its mind.  Fat
chance.  I think we'll need four or five more women before we even have a
decent shot at wearing him down."_
   Kate said, _"Yeh.  Maybe BB would be willing to help out pretty soon. 
Have you checked out them diddies?  Betcha she's got a right tidy arse and
a tasty furry fanny in those knickers, too -- if she's wearing any."_
   Margie and I stared at her for a moment.  What happened to the shy,
innocent young woman from a couple weeks ago?  Maybe she needed a couple
shots of whiskey to calm her down.  Or maybe a couple of shots had loosened
her up?  Privately, I agreed with her -- and was more than willing to check
it all out in a couple days.
   Speaking of Lover Boy, he'd snuck up behind us.  He laid some
neck-nuzzles on us which got all three of us quivering in a hurry.  He
asked, "How are the most sweetest, most lovelery and most wonderfulest
ladies in the world doing?"
   Dayum.  I had to port off a good pint of pussy juice before it spotted
my kilt.  Margie told him, _"Your tongue's gonna be so worn out tonight
from licking my slit it'll fall off.  I'm gonna sacrifice myself to save my
bond-mates."_ She threw her head back and arms open in mock submission. 
_"Take me, I'm yours!  Just spare the others."_
   Sean stroked her cheek lightly and told her, _"We'll give it a try.  I
remembered some tongue and mouth exercises the Ceanns have used for several
thousand years -- and I've been exercising for a couple weeks."_
   May the Saints preserve us!  We're doomed.
   ------
   SEAN
   No, I hadn't remembered any such exercises, but I wasn't about to tell
them.  I'd check when I got a couple minutes, though; the old Ceanns had
been pretty canny.
   The young-uns seemed to be doing just fine.  They'd been glad-handing
and flirting with everyone.
   Connor and Caden had each attracted a following of young ladies.  No
wonder in it, they were the Ceann's nephews *and* were handsome with rich
spirits and great blarney tongues.  Go for whatever you can, guys.
   Simon came over and congratulated us.  He told us, "Ted's here
somewhere. Several young ladies glommed onto him, and he's in guy-heaven."
   Yeh.  I could see.  The young ladies in question were Aile, Deidre and
Mona.  They dragged him over; Aile and Deidre were latched on to either
side pushing boobs into his arms, and Mona was snuggled up behind bruising
his back.
   Aile introduced us and said, "Ted's part of our Brain Trust at school
and is gonna be Inner Circle!"
   He was ready to pop any moment.  I shook his hand and said, "Your web
site looks and works really good.  I think you and Mona need to work
together a lot so you can share ideas.  I see you've already met the
Passion Posse."
   He grinned and told us, "Yeh.  They're the sweetest, most wonderful
ladies I ever could have imagined." No doubt he's Irish!
   I told him, "Well, if they work you too hard this afternoon, I know
there's several spare beds at their places.  One of the Moms or Dads could
probably talk your folks into letting you stay over."
   We almost were overwhelmed with the flare of delight they put out.  I
had a good idea what they'd be doing tonight.
   His family had been adopted Clann a couple hundred years ago; by now
maybe about seventh or eighth or tenth cousins by marriage or something --
let Rosheen worry about it.  Maybe something would work out among him and
the nieces.
   We got a chance to talk with Vera, her husband Chris and the family. 
All were ones of us!
   Nice.  They'd fired up their own Clann in Mesa using the Clann Reynolds
customs.  With fifteen people already, they were well on the way.  Chris
told us, "Vera was elected Ceann.  It fits her perfectly." Yeh, it sure
did.
   Waystation 1 was in full-bore expansion mode.  They'd added five more
staff and were averaging fifteen clients more per week than before.  No
problems, really, that weren't covered by policy and they couldn't handle
easily.  Good on 'em!
   We had a round of toasts and speeches.  Patrick told of some of my
earlier mis-adventures and alluded to that dayum leprechaun picture!  He's
gonna get it one of these days; I'm sure my bond-mate Marge would defend my
honor with her (six now!) teeth.
   Maura talked, too.  She told of meeting Eileen and Bridget for the first
time and how hopeful she and Teresa had been.  She told them, "You know
Ceann Fintan, his oldest son Aidan and his wife died in 9.11.  What we
didn't know then was they'd never informed Sean -- the heir -- that he
*was* the heir.  They hadn't told him of his duties and hadn't trained him
at all.  That's why you haven't heard or seen much of him the past five
years.
   "He simply didn't know.  When we'd mention 'Clann,' he thought it was
just the immediate family.  Well, a couple weeks ago we managed to set him
right.  He's assumed the rights and duties of the Clann Cullen Ceann so you
can rest assured he's now on the job -- with Ceann-Mates to help!"
   Patrick put in, "And you can bet the two Cullen Sisters are gonna be
keeping a close eye on him, too!"
   We got a lot of applause on that.  Maybe I was wrong, but it seemed the
women were the more enthusiastic.
   Teresa put in a pitch for the web site.  "We've got it there so we can
communicate with each other.  If you need to talk with the Ceann or one of
his mates, look there for the email address or the phone number.  We'll try
to handle everyone as soon as possible."
   She told them about the genealogy research we were doing, too.  "There's
an article on the web site about that.  Rosheen Kelly's heading up that
section so if you have any information, old photos you can identify,
marriage certificates, that sort of thing, drop her a line.  We'll be glad
for the help.
   "We've incorporated Clann Cullen LA as a non-profit organization.  In
just a few days, we'll probably have a tax-exempt status.  So, if you'd
like to donate something, PayPal is more than willing to help out.  At the
moment, Ceann Sean is supporting the entire effort financially.
   "If you'd like to offer your time, we've got plenty of projects we're
working on.  Rosheen's also the matchmaker, so send in your eligible
people's names.  Sorry, Sean Cullen isn't on the eligible list any more."
   We had several more toasts.  Funny, the Irish whiskey didn't seem to be
as strong as before.  Or I was getting numb.  Neither Kate nor Eileen
seemed to be feeling any pain, either.  Marge...  well, I had the suspicion
she'd been stealing liquid from her two mates.
   We had a wedding cake, of course -- green icing, lots of shamrocks and
Irish Cream filling.  Yum.  Three big figures on top holding a baby; that
fit.  Now, how do we have three adults and an infant hold the knife and
make the first cut?  Well, we worked it out with lots of orchestration from
the peanut gallery.
   We fed each other -- and smeared it around.  Marge didn't wait to be
smeared; she grabbed my hand and rubbed it in herself.  Good thing we were
wearing our daily stuff; we all had frosting and cake crumbs all over. 
None in the hair, fortunately.
   Kate told everyone, "Bridget gets as much cake as she wants.  She can
eat pretty much anything but can't chew very much.  Fingers excepted --
she'll chew on them any time!"
   ------
   EILEEN
   Dayum, people had brought gifts.  The invitations had said, "No gifts
needed," but stuff appeared anyway.
   Mona broke herself away from the Passion Posse around Ted long enough to
take notes on who'd brought them; each was marked so we didn't have to
guess.
   They were thoughtful.  There were several beautiful lucky horseshoes,
five hand-embroidered magic hankies and five Bridget-sized leprechaun shoes
(pairs) and hats.  Neat, clever and welcome.
   More dancing!  We had no place we had to be tomorrow before 6:00
(evening) in Las Vegas so party hearty!
   We made another run through the buffet.  Fruitcake, corned beef and
cabbage (no ducking under the covers tonight!), Irish soda bread, mead, and
really dark Irish beer (almost as potent as the whiskey).  All traditional
Irish wedding foods.
   Margie sampled everything she could get in her mouth.  She and George
sat in high chairs next to each other, and he kept up the inflow, too. 
People kept bringing them small pieces of the cake just to watch them
hoover them down and laugh.  Hopefully Margie'd inherited Frank's and my
cast-iron stomachs.  So far, she'd never had a tummy-ache from anything. 
George?  We'll find out.
   There were plenty of "standard American" foods so no one was forced to
eat Irish.  None of us noticed any of the non-Irish skipping anything so it
was fine.  Maybe we'd have some "Irish by Ingestion" pins made up.  Hic! 
Oops, sorry.
   It was something like 8:00 so we decided to get out of there before we
got totally blasted and passed out on the floor.  There'd never been an
Irish wedding where the bride(s) and groom(s) had gotten so plastered
they'd passed out.  At least not one I'd been to.  Grin.  Betcha we could
get some stories from the old hands, though.
   The young-uns had stayed sober but not through lack of trying to sneak
in a couple.  The adult N&Bs were pretty wasted as well as most of the
guests.  Well, there was plenty of food and drink left, the Tavern staff
was still awake and the oldies had their rides back home.  We were outta
there!
   Once you're outside, it doesn't matter what condition the body's in. 
Kate popped outside while we supported her body (nice handles on that
chest, girl!) and did the honors.
   Geeser immediately greeted us with, "Where's *my* party?" Sean had
remembered to bring some small-cut meat back so she was gonna be happy for
several hours.
   Oh, Jaysus.  Glad I didn't have to drive the body around too much.  The
others weren't in any better condition.  Even if the spirit doesn't get
drunk, the controls get really sloppy.  I almost squished a tit when I fell
over, but my body shield flared up before it flattened out too much.
   Okay, okay, okay.  We dragged bodies into the shower and sluiced off the
assorted cake icing, food spills, sweat and pussy juice (from the girls).
Geeser declined a turn.
   We dried the bodies off somewhat and piled them on the bed.  Geeser
immediate claimed the topmost position on the heap and tried to massage us
all at once.  Somehow I thought our plans to molest Sean all night just had
a major setback.
   What the hell, we went outside then back to the party.  Yeh, things were
getting pretty rowdy.  We listened to Bob Reynolds (he and Kat don't drink
-- wusses!) pretend to be Sean while he called Ted's folk so he could stay
overnight.  Sounded like Sean, too!  Apparently everything worked out fine
because the Passion Posse got really hard and slick -- not that they
weren't before.
   No one got too out of line; besides, the Tavern staff had plenty of
experience in handling patrons.  Yah, lots of the oldies got pretty wasted,
but there were several extra wheelchairs to wheel them back to the buses.
   We dashed around exploring several places we'd mentioned for possible
vacation spots.  We kept close eyes on the body telemetry in case they
sobered up a bit.  It might be an interesting tale to tell if we passed out
all night but not a lot of fun.
   Around 10:30 we got nosy and checked out N&Bs' place.  Yep, just as we'd
suspected, Ted was staying overnight.  Seems Mona's bed is big enough for
four smaller bodies if you stack them right!  The Passion Posse was really
giving Ted a workout.  Well, at least someone was sober enough to go at it.
   Around midnight, we _felt_ Margie's body giving off moans and groans. 
We popped back; yeh, she was moaning and squirming around.  We were
concerned, of course.  She told us, _"I'm so horny!  I ain't had no lovin'
in days.  Where's a stiff tongue when you need one?"_
   Oh, my.  Well, our bodies felt okay by now; maybe we could burn off the
rest of the alcohol.  Kate yelled, "Soo Laid on Margie!"
   We promptly pinned Margie down on a soft touch cushion.  Sean wiggled
his tongue at her and said, "You're gonna get it now, old lady.  The Ceann
always carries a hideout weapon!"
   She squirmed, moaned and dramatically declaimed, _"Take me then.  Have
your vile way with me!  Please, leave the others their innocence!"_
   Yeh, as if we had much left.  Two of us on her upper half and one on the
bottom half.  We caressed, kissed, gently sucked ears, fingers, toes,
wonderful Margie-titties and nipples and a sweetly-seeping cunny while
telling our youngest/oldest bond-mate how much we loved her and how
courageous she was to sacrifice herself for us.
   We rotated every five minutes or so.  She must have been practicing.  We
kept a close check on her heart rate and how hard her muscles clenched up;
we were still dealing with a very young body.  Even though well below her
limits, she shared nice, hot releases with us which flared her pleasure
through our _blending_.
   Sean was below wielding his hideout weapon when Margie begged him, _"I
need you inside me, Sean.  Please."_
   Sean gave another firm lick then drenched his little finger in her
juices.  With a gentle _touch_, he put a tiny nick in her little hymen then
slowly worked the finger inside.
   Margie _shared_ the sensations and emotions fully.  A little twinge as
her hymen split the rest of the way then the wonderful sensations of
penetration and filling!  Sean slowly eased his finger in; her heart rate
went up and hot releases washed us as her entire body clenched up firmly.
   Yeh, she had at least the start of a g-spot.  Sean found it and between
gentle licks on her tiny clit and slow massages on her g-spot (and us above
ensuring other parts didn't get chilly), we kept her coming hotly for a
solid twenty minutes.  Soo Laid, Margie-style!
   Sean ended it off perfectly, just before her muscles became exhausted.
We let her come down gently, telling her how wonderful she was, how
beautiful her body had become and how brave she'd been to sacrifice
herself. Grin.
   We let her rest and doze for a few minutes while we made wonderful
rainbows and brilliant flares with our _blending_ through our bodies.  So
great to be alive and bonded to such wonderful mates!
   We took Kate on a long slow Journey, surfing gentle waves and gently
_sharing_ our sweet love.  No home runs or grand slams, just wonderful hot
releases washing through us for a long time.  So good, so sweet.
   They got me!  Another long Journey; intense climaxes to share with our
love _blending_ together through our bodies.  So right, so wonderful.
   I wasn't ovulating yet.  I told them, _"We'll have to work on this a
lot. We've got a duty to produce an heir."_
   Margie laughed.  _"As if it were a 'duty' alone."_
   No, we didn't wear Sean out; he still had plenty in reserve.  Nothing
says we can't pop back during the day for more whoopee and wild fun!
   ------
   (Sunday 6/4)
   We let our bodies sleep the rest of the night until 7:00.  After a quick
shower with fun groping (Margie wasn't at all sore), we got into some
casuals.  Kate did the honors and dropped us wimmin into a convenient
restroom at the Rio -- Sean did his own port to the men's room.
   No cameras in the restrooms.  While the cameras at the entrance might
not show us going in, only out, it wasn't *our* security issue.
   The buffet line was short; five minutes.  Apparently most of Vegas slept
in on Sunday morning.  Wonderful stuff and Sean didn't have to fix it or
clean up.  We probably made four trips each -- Margie had a smaller plate
we kept full for her.  The waitress brought a high chair for her so she
lorded over us while ensuring her face absorbed nutrients through her skin.
   We snuggled, snogged and fed each other like newlyweds.  We ensured
Margie got her share though not so overtly romantic as the rest of us.  We
didn't need to attract any odd attention; our bowlers would attract enough.
   After stopping at the restrooms to make much-needed deposits (cabbage
has some side-effects), we wondered through the Rio gawking like tourists.
   Sean got us rolls of nickels and we shoved them in the slots.  We seemed
to like the mechanical ones with the wheels the best.  We threatened Margie
with dire consequences if she messed around with the machines -- that
wouldn't be right.
   She looked shocked we would think of such a thing.  _"I'm just an
innocent little girl!  What would I know of how these things work?"_ Right.
And BB's flat-chested.  Margie had a PhD in *Applied* Math.
   We drifted through the cards area.  We didn't know crap about any of the
rules (Margie knew from her dissolute previous life) so didn't bother to
play.  With Margie coaching, we probably could have done okay, but it
didn't seem to be worth it.
   Oh, my.  Seems one young lady was wearing a wire of some sort.  She had
a confederate sending her steering signals while he wandered around behind
the other players looking at their cards.  Naughty, naughty!
   For some reason (grin) a couple casino security people casually drifted
over.  Seems even very low-powered transmitters and receivers get very hot
when they short circuit.  The two naughty folk were dancing around swearing
as they tried to pull the equipment away from their skin.
   The security people took a great interest in their antics.  Oh, well. 
Fun's over.  Nothing to see here, folks.  Move along, please.
   Breakfast had settled so we ducked back into our bathrooms, ported back
home and sacked out for a much-needed nap.  Partying is so much work!
   Geeser seemed to think so too, because she lay on top of everyone to
ensure we didn't get chilled.  We idly _looked_ her over.  She was pretty
aware even if she was a cat -- I'd seen humans with less awareness.
   Hmm.  She wandered around a house, shared the bed a lot with four lively
large (comparatively) bodies and didn't seem to know the meaning of
"accidental squishing."
   Okay.  While our bodies slept, we had a lazy, meandering discussion
about a firewall and body shield for an animal.  What the heck.  Sean fired
up a couple nodes for her, installed a firewall and body shield then hooked
us in for extra power.
   They were actually pretty complex since there was very little
intelligence (as we knew it) underneath to make judgment calls.  Kinda like
an artificial intelligence or knowledge framework by the time Margie and
Kate were done fiddling with it.  Well, at least she wouldn't get squished
if Sean fell on her while one of us was rejecting his advances.
   Yeh, that took an hour; back to Vegas!  Slightly fancier clothes -- why
not dress up?  -- and we hit the sights.
   NewYork NewYork's roller coaster was kinda fun.  We borrowed the Wild
Bunch's streamer-twisting idea and had a great time.  Seemed none of us was
particularly susceptible to motion sickness so we yelled, waved our arms
and screamed with the best of them!
   The Stratosphere was great with the push-up ride.  For whatever reason,
they wouldn't let Margie ride with us.  Oh, well.  Sean held her while Kate
and I bounced up and down screaming our lungs out!
   We found a lunch buffet and pigged out again.  Playing is such hard
work!
   Caesar's Palace for shopping!  *That* we could get into.  Sean put on
his gentleman's hat and refrained from making rude comments about women
shopping.
   One hell of a lot of "stuff" floating around there.  We weren't
interested in a restored 1930's gas pump for $3,500 or an ultrasonic insect
repeller for $75.  Tons of tourist junk.
   The clothes were great, though; almost every name brand was represented
somewhere.  Sean told us, "You see and like, it's yours." Dayum. 
Decisions, decisions.  Now we had free reign, it was actually harder.  We
had fun arguments about how badly one of us needed something and end up
passing on it.
   Just the opposite of the way we'd all been for so long.  Now we had beer
tastes (or desires at least) on a Champaign budget.  Sean didn't appear
particularly offended; he just grinned.
   We settled on a nice dress apiece, including Margie.  Kate remarked,
_"Margie, once you can walk and talk that body, you can dress adult and
pass as one of the Little People with boobs and all.  No one would know the
difference that I can see."_
   Ho!  Put a different slant on things, it did.  We immediately started
looking for adult-style clothes which might fit a 6-month to year-old body.
Guess we'll have to go through all the stores again!  Grin.  Sean looked
long-suffering but told us, "As you wish.  How could I refuse such
impassioned pleas for such a worthy cause?" Right.
   Margie told us, _"Looks like I've really got a good reason to walk and
talk.  Actually, today it seems like several controls have firmed up a bit.
Betcha 20 orgasms a day would get me dancing in no time, right?"_
   Great idea!  Hehehehe.
   We ported our purchases back home.  We didn't really find anything we
liked for Margie.  Maybe we'll get Nora to practice her tradecraft a bit.
Margie decided she'd survive in the meantime.
   We bopped around lots of the major casino buildings.  Each had at least
a grand entrance hall or something designed to impress and overwhelm.  We
inspected, discussed, cogitated and decided we liked OTL just fine the way
it was.  We didn't need a grand mansion -- yet.
   Two people stopped us and asked about our hats.  Well, give
platinum-tongued Sean an opening and he'd take it.  They got a quick
briefing (after a good gestalt on our part) and an exchange of business
cards.  A couple more seminar prospects!
   Our show was at 6:00 so we found a place for dinner around 4:30.  Yeh,
another buffet; we went back to the Rio.  Scrumptious!  Margie refrained
from spreading stuff too far over her face because we had a show date.  It
sure didn't stop her (and us) from doing quality control checks on a lot of
different foods.
   She had a distinct bulge in her belly by the time we were done.  Of
course, we adults had more control over our appetites; our bulges were
smaller -- only because our bodies were bigger.
   The Flamingo show was great!  Lots of dancing, fun music, elaborate
costumes and boobies bouncing around.  Sean observed, "They're nice, but
I'll put yours up against any of them." He's gonna get it so good tonight!
We spent plenty of time snuggling and cuddling while enjoying the show.
   Was it worth $50 apiece?  At least once, we decided.
   Back home to OTL by 8:00.  Enough of Vegas for now; we had our own show
to put on.
   We were well-fed and well-rested this time.  We were still careful to
stay well within Margie's physical limits (_"I'm toughening up every day.
Pretty soon we won't have to worry about it at all."_), but ensured she got
her twenty.  Let's see, ten hot ones each from three of us -- that's
twenty, isn't it?
   Be Jaysus!  Sean didn't hold back at all with Kate and me.  Between us
we got tons of base hits, thirty or so home runs then three grand slams
apiece!  Now *that*'s mink-fuckin'!  He told us, "After all, you starved me
for several days." Right.  Bring it *on*!
   On the other hand, Kate and I were sore front and back, our muscles
ached (so gooood) and we were exhausted.  We did need a couple more in the
harem if we wanted to keep him worn down.
   
  
Best Girl 21-25