Introduction: This story is the fourth and final story in a series within a series. The overall series is the “Cynthia Chronicles”. This story is directly connected to “Simoné and the Second Time Around”, “Marti and the Doppelganger”, and Marti and the Doppelganger – a Follow Up”. Several of the stories in the Cynthia Chronicles left some unanswered questions. In “Bobbie and the Glass Ceiling” two of the antagonists are regressed to childhood. Now we will learn what happened to them. In “Randi and the College Professor” Randi and Frank Deere adopt Betty, a bit of a rogue witch. Betty was regressed to early childhood, but she kept her powers. As it turns out, Betty was a real blessing. We also learn a bit more about Cindy’s first born who is the first new wizard in probably close to a thousand years. Then there is a question that has been floated about. What about death?

Bobbie’s professional golf career is over and now she has a four-year old daughter and a newborn. Cindy and Don are not only raising their firs born, but have also officially adopted Martin and Joann who are only a few months older than their first born. Things are getting interesting.

Bobbie Anderson did not put up her clubs after the Masters victory. She gave free lessons at First Tee, and had numerous speaking engagements. She was also going back to school to get her Doctorate in Psychology. Throughout all that, she continued to practice just to help stay in shape for the ordeal ahead; one that she anticipated with great joy. She and Cindy were going to be mothers in not too many months.

Then came October 31st. The births of Donald Brewer and Cynthia Anderson were uncomplicated and as far as anyone knew, were simultaneous. When they learned how to stop ovulation, they continued to follow the same schedule of turning ovulation off and on. When they had decided it was time to get pregnant, they turned their egg factories back on at the same time. Not surprisingly, they got pregnant at the same time. Needless to say, both were ecstatic. There were no post-partum problems as things just got better and better. At least it did for them.

As often was the case, the Brewers and Andersons got together frequently to enjoy a meal together. Bobbie and Andy were constructing a house at the nearby country club, and Don and Cindy had found a home. It would be quite spectacular. Don and Cindy had returned from Boston, and Cindy was in the midst of raising her son as Bobbie was raising her daughter. On this particular evening, they were dining with Bobbie and Don’s parents at the Brewers’ home. Don noticed something immediately. His parents were obviously tired.

“Mom, is everything okay?” Don asked.

“Why do you ask, Liebchen?”

“You look tired. Dad does, too.”

“Mom,” Cindy always called her mother-in-law mom, “it’s Martin and Joann, isn’t it? It’s not fair to saddle you and Dad with raising two children at this time in your life. They’re not out of diapers, and won’t be for quite a while. You’re both in your sixties. You should be taking it easy, not breaking your necks raising the twins.”

“They’re not a problem. They are good babies, and we love them.”

“Of course you love them. Just like you loved Don, Jorge, Lucy, and Charli. You are wonderful parents, but it’s time you had a rest. The company’s in great hands with Lucy, Tom, Jr., Ezra and David running things. You deserve and need a rest. We’ve been talking about it, and unless you feel very strongly against it, Don and I would like to adopt Martin and Joann. If not adopt, we’d like to take over their guardianship. The Wizard can fix things whichever way you decide to go, if you do.”

“We will not lie to you,” Hilda said patting her husband’s arm. “We have talked about this for a while. We are tired. This taking care of babies is not as easy as it used to be. That night at Augusta I think we were caught off guard. Bob and I always wanted children, and we had been blessed four times over. Then came the opportunity to raise two more children who were in desperate need of a home. They had nowhere to go to without a lot of problems for His Wisdom. It was an easy decision; however, we know now that it was a lot more difficult than we expected. But what could we do? Bobbie and Cindy were expecting their first, and there wasn’t anyone else ready to be a parent.”

The knocking at the door stopped the conversation for a moment. Don opened the door to greet The Wizard. He had a feeling why he was there and Cindy’s nod had confirmed it.

“Good evening, Your Wisdom. May I ask what brings you here this evening? We thought you were in Singapore.”

“I was. Still am for that matter. We have a very nice location below the Ion Sky. Wolf, Padrona, and the pups are watching things. It’s only 8:00 AM there, and we’re not scheduled to open for another hour. Besides, I need to go back and get breakfast for them. They can’t open the canister because they don’t have opposable thumbs.

“Okay, Cindy, Bobbie, and I were talking earlier about things, and she asked me to visit to see if there was anything I could do. I know it’s going to be a difficult decision, whatever you decide; however, for the sake of your health, I think you need to take it easy, and enjoy life. You’re already grandparents, and I assure you there will be many more grandchildren in your future. Enjoy the life you deserve as grandparents. Cindy and Don have agreed to take over their care, and I can move everything they need into their current home. It won’t take but a second.”

Bob Brewer spoke up, “We knew we were going to have to make this decision soon, if not sooner. They are not a year old. We’ll be in our seventies before they won’t need constant attention. There could be a problem, though. They recognize us as their parents. Might it be a bit of a problem if Don and Cindy step in and take over parenting? It will disrupt their routine.

“What do you think, Cindy?”

“This often came up in my studies and in reality during my internship. Children who are adoptees from a shelter or home seem to adjust fairly rapidly. There is a period of adjustment, because they recognize you as the primary care giver. I guess this could be another case study, if you are willing; however, it will never go to print.

“Martin, Joann, are you there?”

“Yes.

“Mom and Dad have been talking. You’re coming home with me.”

“Why? We love Mummy and Daddy. We don’t want to leave them.”

“Of course you don’t, but your Mummy and Daddy are getting old. You’re the first babies they’ve had to care of in a long time. Your Mummy has a problem, and she might get very sick if she doesn’t get some rest. Everything will be fine. You’ll get to see your Mummy and Daddy a lot. They’ll just be your Gramma and Grampa. Everything will be alright. Just don’t cry, please.”

“Okay, Donnie, we won’t.”

“Good, but call me Don.”

Two days later, they completed the move. Cindy wanted to do as much hands on as possible. She also asked The Wizard not to ‘mess’ with their minds. She didn’t want any outside help.

“You know,” Cindy said to The Wizard and her husband as she put the three down for their naps, “there certainly haven’t been any problems to this point. I expected some problems, especially at feeding time, but it’s been pretty smooth so far.”

“Yes,” The Wizard said, “Don told them what was going to happen, and asked them be quiet about it.”

“Don, you did what?” Cindy said, turning to her husband.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said somewhat defensively.

“Not you, Don, the other Don sleeping in the bedroom,” The Wizard chuckled. “They’re always talking back and forth among themselves. Cynthia does it, too. There’s quite a bond among the four, especially between Cynthia and Don.

“We need to talk about something else,” The Wizard said, changing the subject. “It’s very fortunate that you decided to do this. Hilda’s blood pressure over recent weeks has skyrocketed. She needs to see a doctor and get on some medication. I recognized the problem the other night at your dinner. I haven’t been around that much since last spring. Things have been a bit chaotic, as you know.

“I did a little repair, but she needs to take things easy.”

“Repair? You mean stroke, don’t you.”

“Yes, Hilda’s predisposed to them. Her family history is not good. She’s already outlived her parents, grandparents, and her brother and sister. With care, she might live 15 to 20 more years. Don, your father will live a bit longer, but not that much. That’s something that neither of you should dwell on. They will have some very enjoyable golden years.”

“I rather wish you hadn’t told us that,” Cindy said.

“Neither will suffer a long decline. “If you wish, I can erase that little bit of information.”

“That won’t be necessary. It’s not like you gave us a date and time. As long as it’s like you say, and neither will suffer, we’ll put it at the back of our minds. We will all die sooner or later. Even Lazarus Long died eventually. At least I think he did.”

A bit later in the day after The Wizard had returned to Singapore, Cindy was changing the babies’ diapers. Martin and Joann were just short of a year old. Little Don, he did not like that appellation, was five months old as was his ‘twin’, Cynthia. All three were going to be taking there afternoon naps shortly. The younger Don was the last to get his diapers changed.

“So, my wonderful son, the four of you are planning an insurrection?”

“Hardly, we can’t do much other than eat, poop and pee, as you say. I know there’s a big world out there, but we don’t understand it. We’re just trying to learn as much as we can. I know I’m in our bedroom, and in a bed or crib. Those things out there are walls. Where that bright light comes from is a window. Cynthia and I can’t see very far or clearly, but we know who you and Dad are and who Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Andy are. We know the others, too. The Wizard and I talk a lot just about things. Martin and Joann know who you are, but they miss their other parents. I told them not to worry about it. They do like you.”

“Why haven’t you talked to me before?”

“I guess because I’ve just learned how to. I love you Mommy. I think I need to go to sleep for a while.”

“Good night my precious.”

“Don, I just had the most interesting conversation with our son.”

“Seriously?”

“Most seriously. It’s not like I’m talking with an adult, and it’s just basically ideas that my brain translates into words. He is very aware of what’s going on locally; however, his awareness doesn’t go very far beyond that. He can pick up what we talk about, and then he assigns our words to what he is able to sense and see. As His Wisdom says, they are apparently talking among themselves when they are together. This could be very interesting.”

Although Betty is only four years old physically, she is quite wise. She was given a chance to grow up under far better conditions than she did the first time. Randi and Frank were thrust into parenthood rather quickly, but it couldn’t have worked out better. Betty figures there is something very special about her mother. Rather than hide the truth, they explain things to her. Things go very well.