Pass It On
Chapter Two

Destiny’s eyes and her thoughts were on the coin in her hand. She didn’t really believe it could be a true magic coin ... but ... what would it hurt to wish? Closing her eyes she wished for something simple ... something obvious ... something that was ruining her day.
“I wish the rain would stop.”

Thinking that saying it twice might help the wish along. She said it again.
“I wish the rain would stop.”

Destiny opened her eyes slowly to see Katie staring at her.

“What’s wrong Destiny?” Katie said with concern.

Destiny didn’t answer. She just stared up at the clouds and waited to see if her wish was granted.

“What’s wrong Destiny?”

“Shhh ... just wait a minute Katie.”

Katie did as she was told and sat down on the porch without another word.

Three long and silent minutes passed before Destiny put her hand out from the porch. Water droplets splashed in her palm and she sighed sadly. She looked to her other hand that held the coin that had promised her three wishes.

“Yeah ... just what I thought. No magic ... just a stupid old coin ... not even worth enough to buy a Kit Kat bar.”

Katie was up and quickly at her side. “What are you talking about Destiny?”

Destiny started to throw the coin into the street but then put it in her jean pocket. “Nothing ... I just ... well ... never mind. Let’s go riding.”

Katie looked out at the splashing puddles and then shivered. “But it’s raining and it’s cold and I don’t want to get wet.”

Destiny walked down the steps and picked up her bike from the grass. “C’mon Prep ... I said let’s ride.”

Katie whined. “But Desi ... I don’t ...”

“I said LET”S GO!” Destiny said with the look and authority of a big sister.

Katie sighed and fell in line as she always did. “Oh kay.”

Without further protest she ran down the steps and picked up her own bike. Closing the gate behind them, the pair soon headed down the sidewalk and off into the rain.

Destiny deciding that a free mini cone was just as good on a rainy day as it was a sunny day, led Katie toward the McDonald’s in TwinAire.

They had just crossed the railroad tracks when Katie noticed a tiny ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds. “Hey Destiny!” She shouted. “Look ... the sun’s trying to come out.”

Destiny riding no hands as usual looked heavenward and saw the tiny sliver of light in the dark clouds. The rain however was still falling on her nose and she continued to pedal without comment or hopeful smile.

By the time the Kroger’s was in sight ... the rain had slowed to a light drizzle. As they pulled into the McDonald’s parking lot ... it had stopped all together and the dark clouds were clearly on the run.

When the girls parked their bikes, Destiny reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin. A smile turned at her lips. “I don’t know ... maybe you do have a little magic in you.”

Katie set her kickstand and then was as Destiny’s side. “What did you say?”

Destiny’s eyes were still on the coin. “Back on the porch I wished for it to stop raining and now it has.”

Katie’s eyes went wide. “Do you really think it could be magic?”

Destiny shrugged her shoulders and then put the coin back in her pocket. “I don’t know. Maybe the rain just quit on its own.”

Katie shivered from a mixture of excitement at the possibility of magic in the palm of her sister’s hand ... and from the cold rain still soaking her shirt and pants. “And maybe ... the coin really is magic and you just used the first wish to stop the rain. Oh my gosh ... do you know what that means Desi?”

Destiny grabbed the door to the restaurant. “Yeah ... it means you just used up your wish and I only have two left.”

“Hey, wait a minute! That’s not fair! I didn’t make the wish ... you did!” Katie cried. “And besides … don’t we get three wishes apiece?”

“Paris gave us the coin together. That means we have to share the wishes, because that’s the way it is in every fairy tale I ever read … and since I’m the big sister I get two and you get one.”

Destiny gave Katie her best tough girl look. “So … are you cool with that little girl, or do you wanna bump about it?” Destiny fired the first shot into Katie’s shoulder just in case she did.

This time Katie did not back up, back down or apologize. She immediately returned fire and punched Destiny in her shoulder.

Destiny stopped, looked down at the spot where Katie hit her and then smiled approvingly at her sister. “Not bad ... you’re learning to fight back.”

Katie beamed from the praise her sister had given her. She stared at her left hand still balled into a fist, and was amazed she’d used it as a weapon.

Destiny grabbed Katie by her shirt sleeve. “Now Dumbo... let’s go get our mini cones and then head over to the baseball field to see if Tommy’s playing.”

“But ... but what about the wishes?”

Destiny pulled Katie through the door. “Cones and baseball first ... wishes later. Come on!”

As Destiny stood at the counter, Katie waited at a distance as always. The mini cones were for children only and even though Destiny knew Katie was really a kid, the server behind the counter wouldn’t feel the same way and wouldn’t give Katie a cone.

Destiny ordered two cones, saying one was for her little sister. Luckily, the server never asked to see Katie. As she waited for the cones to be filled, Destiny’s thought turned to the “maybe magic” coin in her pocket. What if ... what if ... the coin really was magic and what if they really had two wishes left? Destiny wasn’t sure what she’d want to wish for. It would be so easy to wish something for herself and if she did, it would have to be a wish she’d already made so many times, but had never been fulfilled.

Her eyes and thoughts turned to the psoriasis that had covered her body since birth. She would so love to wish it away ... so love to be able to wear shorts and tank tops or go swimming at the park pool without the stares of adults and the taunts of other children. It would be so wonderful to look in the mirror and never ... ever see a single red and ugly dry patch of skin on her body again. Then maybe ... just maybe ... a cute boy like Tommy would notice her. Yes, that would be an easy wish ... the easiest one in the whole world, but could she really be selfish and use her wish for herself?

What about the people in her life she loved? What about Mom and Dad? She sure would like to wish them a lot of money so they didn’t have to worry about the bills so much and so they could finally fix the house up nice just like they always dreamed of. Yeah ... she definitely wanted to help them and she wanted to help Paris and her brother Michael too... And she couldn’t forget about her friends in the neighborhood. She had so many friends and so many of them really needed some magic in their life.

Two mini cones being handed to Destiny by a smiling server broke her thought for the moment. Destiny smiled back, thanked the lady for the cones and then motioned for Katie to follow her outside to collect hers. It was then that Destiny knew what or who ... one of the wishes should be used for.

She wanted Katie to be her little sister in EVERY way. She wanted Katie to have the fun sized body to match that eleven and a half year old spirit of hers. She wanted Katie to finally come home and be able to stay there. She wanted Katie to wear the clothes she wanted, to play the games she wanted, to be picked up and hugged the way she wanted, to grow up the way she wanted and for the whole world to see her as she truly was.

Destiny stopped outside the door and then handed Katie her cone when she walked out. Destiny took a lick of her ice cream and then added one more want to her wish list. She wanted Katie to be able to walk up to that counter with her and get her mini cone ... just like any other kid. And as she picked up her bike, she decided to make it official.
She reached in her pocket and held the coin tight. She wished with all her heart that Katie could be her little sister ... her real little sister ... in spirit, in heart and in body.

Katie, unaware of the silent wish Destiny had used in hope of changing Katie’s destiny, thanked her for the cone and then got back on her bike. She waited for her sister to lead and Destiny did not disappoint.

“C’mon Katie ... let’s go to Christian Park and see if they're playing or not.”

“You mean to see if Tommy is playing.” Katie gently teased.

Destiny blushed once again and then waved for her to get moving. Katie followed Destiny out of the parking lot and across the intersection. The baseball diamond at Christian Park was about ten minutes away and as Katie splashed through the mud puddles along English Avenue, she noticed Destiny kept looking over her shoulder at her. Katie didn’t really think much of that, as Destiny was always checking to be sure her little sister was keeping up. Of course what she didn’t know was that Destiny was really looking back to see if her wish had fun sized Katie yet.

As Katie pedalled past parked cars and picket fences, her thoughts turned to the magic coin in Destiny’s pocket and the possibilities for the wishes she hoped it held.

Katie knew all about magic wishes. She’d been making them all her life ... especially one. She was probably about five or six the first night she wished on a star that she could have the body of a little girl instead of the boy body she’d been trapped in. But the body was only half the wish ... the other half was to be part of a family who would see ... and want and love the little girl as she truly was.

Years ... so many years had passed since the first night she’d made that wish. Her body had grown and with the aid of surgeries had been somewhat feminized to allow her to live as a woman, but the stubborn little red headed girl who made that wish so long ago had refused to grow up and was her true heart and soul. That little girl still waited for her chance to live and wondered if she’d ever have, but at least the other half of the wish had come true for her when she met Destiny and her family. They had seen past the middle aged body to the place where the little girl lived and they’d welcomed her into their hearts, their lives and their home.

And when someone would ask Destiny’s mom why she let her twelve year old daughter run around with that “crazy” redheaded person, she would tell them that Katie was her “cousin” and that emotionally and mentally she was the same age as Destiny. As long as they treated her the same as the rest of the kids she would be happy and there would be no problems, but if they didn’t or if they mistreated her ... then they’d have a problem. And while Destiny’s Mom was but a shade over five feet tall, and weighed a buck nothing, she was a little dog with a big bite and no one in the neighborhood really wanted to tangle with her or her red headed hot tempered husband. Needless to say, Katie never had a problem with the residents of Churchman Ave.

Yes ... it would be so easy for Katie to use her wish to melt the years and this body away and to slip into an eleven and half year old model that fit perfectly. It was so easy she almost asked for it, but something ... someone stopped her.

She looked ahead at her sister on the bike and knew she couldn’t selfishly wish that wish for herself, not when her wish could be used to make Destiny’s dreams come true. Katie’s heart went out to the brave little girl pedalling in front of her and how fate had cursed her body just as it had cursed her own. Psoriasis had covered Destiny’s body since birth and forced her to cover herself in clothing from neck to ankle when all the other kids were in shorts and tank tops. Doing something as childhood summer simple as going to the public pool was outside her reach. Her life had been full of doctors and crá¨mes and treatments and hopes for cures that had never come true anymore than Katie’s wish for her body to be right. But through it all, even the taunts and teases of her classmates, Destiny never let it get her down, or at least down for long. She was a brave, happy and loving little girl who blasted through her psoriasis like she did a mud puddle. She refused to let it stop her from being her, but sometimes ... sometimes when she was all alone in her room and she let the tears and pain pour out for a while, it slowed her down.

Katie didn’t want her sister to be slowed down or to be stopped from having all the fun and doing all the things the other kids did. She loved Destiny and wanted her to have the childhood and the life she deserved ... the same life Katie had wished for herself ... and she couldn’t ... wouldn’t let psoriasis stand in the way if she could do anything about it. And ... if she really had a magic wish ... how could she not use it to help Destiny? How could she use it for herself and really be happy as long as her sister hurt?

Katie stopped at the intersection waiting for the green and made two decisions. One ... she definitely wanted to stop at the Kroger’s on the way back from the ball field to get a free cookie from the bakery. Two ... she had to use her wish to make Destiny psoriasis free.

Katie, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the thought of using her wish to make Destiny’s dream come true, nearly closed her eyes and lost herself in both. Thankfully she didn’t or all would have been lost, as there at her feet lay the magic coin.

Katie’s eyes went wide as she picked it up and held it to her chest. It must have fallen out of Destiny’s pocket while she was riding. Evidently good luck was smiling on them just as the sun was. Katie decided not to waste any more time or take another chance on losing the coin. She closed her eyes and wished with all her heart that Destiny would be psoriasis free. And like her sister had before her, she wished it twice, to be doubly sure it would come true.

Katie opened her eyes and looked ahead. Destiny was waving and waiting not too patiently for her to catch up. At this distance she couldn’t tell if her wish had been granted, so she hit the pedal hard and started gaining ground. If when Katie caught up with her, the wish hadn’t been granted yet, Katie decided not to tell Destiny she had made it. She would just say she found the coin where Destiny had dropped it and give it back to her. There would still be one wish left and Katie knew what or more aptly who it should be used for.

She would do everything she could to convince Destiny to use the last wish to do something special for her family ... the same family that had done so much for Katie.

Katie smiled as she pedaled, envisioning the big house completely remodeled just as Destiny’s parents had always dreamed, and for once there would be enough money so they didn’t have to borrow, beg or make do. She thought of her adopted brother Michael seated at the ultimate game system, playing games with his friends and having fun instead of fights. She thought of Paris with her Totally Twilight Bedroom, Larry at her side, and her first song being released and going straight to number one on the charts.

“Wow!” she said aloud as she closed in on Destiny. “We just have to use the last wish to make everyone else happy. We just gotta.”

When she pulled up to Destiny, she noticed she looked more disappointed than angry at having to wait on her. Katie also noticed the small patches of dry skin were still peeking through the crá¨me on Destiny’s face and out any place her clothes didn’t cover.

Katie, obviously disappointed her wish had not been granted, reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin. “Destiny you dropped the coin.”

Destiny took the coin from her palm and put it in her pocket with little emotion. “It probably doesn’t really work anyway.”

Katie sighed, “Yeah probably.”

Destiny swung her bike round. “Come on ... let’s get to the field. Maybe we can at least catch some of the game.”

Katie said nothing as she fell in line behind Destiny. The remainder of the ride was quiet thought by both girls, both wanting to believe their wishes were going to come true but with each pump of the pedal and no magical changes evident, they were quickly losing faith.

To be continued …

PASS IT ON
CHAPTER THREE

When they pulled into the lot by the field, the game was already in progress. They quickly parked their bikes and found seats in the bleachers. The pair of princesses scanned the field and the dugouts to find Destiny’s star player.

“There he is!” Katie cried as she saw Tommy playing shortstop and readying himself for the next swing of the bat.

When Destiny saw him, she waved and shouted. “Hi Tommy!”

Tommy turned just for the moment when he heard his name, unfortunately a moment was all the batter needed as he hit a line drive right at Tommy. He tried to recover, but the damage was done as the ball shot past his mitt and the runner was safe at first.
Tommy shook his head and turned back to face the plate.

Destiny buried her face and wished the bleachers could swallow her up.

“Now I know he hates me.”

Katie pulled her back up. “No he doesn’t.”

“Yeah sure ...” Destiny sighed as she sat up. “I probably just cost him the game or something.”

Fortunately for Tommy’s Yankees, Tommy made up for that one missed play by making two other spectacular ones in the inning and the other team never scored a run.

For the next hour the girls sat “a bit more quietly”. Katie got into watching the game and Destiny pretty much just watched Tommy. While both enjoyed what they were watching, they still were able to sneak quick glances at each other, hoping to see some sign their wishes were coming true, but sadly as the game progressed, they saw none.

Finally it was the last inning and the Yankees were up to bat. The Tigers had broken the game open by putting up three runs their last time up and led 4-1. Destiny, Katie and the rest of the Yankee fans sat on the edge of their seats hoping the Yankees could still come back to win. The first two batters made outs and it looked as though the game was lost, but the Yankees never quit believing in themselves and Destiny never quit believing in Tommy. Two singles and a walk later, Tommy was at bat with the bases loaded and needing to hit a home run to win.

Destiny was so wishing Tommy would hit the ball out of the park, and tempted to use the last wish to make sure he did. But one look over at Katie and her still “giant” fun sized body reminded Destiny that magic wishes, no matter how hard you wish them, don’t really come true, or at least not for her.

Katie was wishing for Tommy’s home run swing and watching Destiny for any signs of her wish coming true. When Tommy swung at the first ball and missed, it didn’t much look like that wish was coming true. When she saw her beautiful sister’s body still plagued with psoriasis, she pretty much lost faith in that wish too.

As the pitcher wound up to pitch and Tommy focused himself on the ball, Destiny’s enthusiasm overflowed and once again it came out in a holler. “Hit a home run Tommy!”

Unfortunately for Destiny, the noisy bleachers had quieted the moment she shouted and everyone there, especially Tommy heard her cheer. All eyes turned toward Destiny, including Tommy’s. She blushed as red as her hair and became a puddle.
A few awkward moments of silence passed and then the game began again. Katie giggled and scooped up her "puddlepated" sister.

“I can’t believe I did it again”, Destiny squeaked.

Katie put an arm round her. “It’s okay sis. He probably didn’t hear you.”

“Katie! Everyone heard me, especially Tommy.”

Katie did her best to settle her flustered friend. “Look, so what if they heard you and he heard you? You want him to know you like him don’t you?”

The blush returned to Destiny’s cheeks. “No ... I mean yes ... I mean ... oh I don’t know what I mean.”

“Look just watch the game and if he hits the game winner then you can give him a hug and help him celebrate.”

“And what if he strikes out and they lose?” Katie’s eyes twinkled with the hint of adult wisdom she had. “Then you can give him a hug and help him feel better. Either way you get a hug.”

Destiny giggled. “You’re pretty smart for a little sister.”

Katie smiled back. “I’m older than I look.”

“No”, Destiny quickly corrected her. “You’re younger than you look.”

Katie nodded and gave her wise big sister a heartfelt hug. When they broke the embrace Destiny sighed. “I just wish ... I just so wish he’d hit a home run and I’d catch the ball and he’d ask me out ... just like we dreamed.”

Before Katie could comment, the crack of the bat and the cheers of the crowd drew her attention back to the field. When she found the ball, it was in the air and flying straight toward them.

She shouted for Destiny to turn, but her sister was still lost in her dream world. Katie shouted a second time as the ball came closer, but then it was too late. Katie tried to catch the fly ball, but without a mitt, it slipped through her fingers and hit Destiny square in the forehead.

Destiny wobbled a second and then fell back on the bleachers. Her world went black.

She was Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty all in one. She felt like her fairy godmother had made her beautiful and that she was waking up from a deep sleep to find a handsome prince named Tommy gazing at her.

She smiled and called to him through the dream mist. “Tommy?”

He smiled at her and his hand took hers. It seemed so real for a dream.
“Yeah Destiny. I’m here.”

His hand was so warm. It was all too real to be a dream.
“Nice catch Des.” He said with a chuckle. I never saw anyone catch a ball with their face. You really ought to use a mitt next time.”

It was then she realized this was no dream, but a waking embarrassing nightmare.
“Oh my gosh”, she sat up and then rubbed her aching forehead.

She looked round to see that her embarrassment was shared by not only Tommy, but several of the other players and quite a few fans who’d come over to see if she was alright and to congratulate Tommy on his game winning home run.

“You hit a home run!” she squealed as reality finally hit her a few minutes after the ball had.

“And you caught it ... sorta”, he said with a laugh as he sat down beside her. “You gonna be alright?”

Destiny sat up straight, the red mark on her forehead matching the rosy red glow on her cheeks. “Yeah ... I’m cool. I’m cool.”

Tommy looked at the goose egg forming on her forehead. “I really am sorry about that. Is there any way I can make it up to you?”

Destiny could think of a million ways but she wasn’t about to admit a single one. She turned away from him trying to make it easier to answer. “No ... I’m good.”

“Well ...” he turned her back round with the sound of his voice. “You could make it up to me?”

Anger flashed in Destiny’s brown eyes. “Make it up to you! You’re the one who hit me with the ball!”

“And you’re the one who hollered and made me miss that grounder in the first inning.”

Destiny dropped her head. “Yeah ... I guess I did. So ... what can I do to make it up to you?”

By now everyone had cleared the bleacher area except for Tommy and Destiny. “You could go shoot some hoops with me this afternoon and then if you want ... we could ride over to the Dairy Queen. I’ll let you buy me a cone after I beat you in basketball.”

“Dream on”, Destiny said with fire back in her eyes. “You can buy me one after I beat you.”

Tommy nodded approvingly and then stood up. “Okay ... I’ll stop by your house about three. Is that cool?”

“Three o’clock is cool”, Destiny figured that gave her enough time to change and put on just a little make up, “but hey ...” she quickly added. Don’t come by my house. Just pick me up at Katie’s, okay?”

Tommy gave her an odd look. “Katie? You mean Alisha’s mom Katie? Crazy Katie down on the corner?”

Destiny shook her head and gave him a frustrated look. “No dude... not that Katie. Katie ... my Katie ... you know ... Katie my adopted sister who lives down the street and drives the big silver bike.”

When she saw no look of recognition in Tommy’s eyes she waved her hand over her head. “You know ... Katie ... really ... really tall Katie ... the girl I’m always hanging out with and who came with me to the game? I want you to pick me up at her house.

This time it was Tommy who shook his head and gave her a curious stare. “I didn’t know Katie was adopted, and last time I looked, she rode the same pink Disney Princess bike she’s had since last summer.”

Tommy then waved his hand at a level just a few inches below Destiny’s head. “Last time I saw her ... which was like a minute ago, Katie wasn’t tall, she’s small ... oh yeah ... ‘fun sized’ just like you are. And just when did your little sister move out? I thought you two shared a room. Wow! She must be the only eleven year old fifth grader with her own place.”

“What are you talking about? Quit talking crazy.” Destiny cried as she tried to stand up but her legs wobbled. Tommy caught her easily and helped her back down.

“I’m not the one talking crazy girl. You’re the one acting like you sister is an alien or something. I think that ball must have hit you harder than I thought.”

“Katie”, Destiny whispered and then said again a little louder with concern in her voice as she noticed her sister was missing. “Where’s Katie? Is she alright?”

“She’s fine”, Tommy said calmly “She freaked out for a minute when you got hit, but I told her you were going to be fine and sent her to get you some water.”

Tommy looked over toward the concession stand. “See ... here she comes.”

Destiny looked over and her eyes misted as she saw the most beautiful sight in the whole world running toward her: a pair of bouncing red haired pig tails attached to a freckled face, blue eyed, eleven and half year old girl named Katie who was her little sister in every way possible. Her wish had come true and with it ... somehow a whole new reality had been created.

Tommy didn’t know the giant fun sized thirty nine year old Katie, because she no longer existed and in this new reality, she never did. Katie had been Destiny’s little sister for as long as she could remember now. She was Daddy’s second little red-headed monkey that he swung around and made giggle. She was Mommy’s other little hug monster who was always sitting next to her when the family watched movies or was on the floor nearby, colouring or writing fantasy stories. She was Destiny’s roommate and playmate. They caught the same bus to school every morning and Destiny walked her to class and picked her up afterwards. She wanted to do everything Destiny did, go everywhere she went and they even shared the same dinner plate on occasions. If you saw one, you saw the other. Everything Katie had wanted and Destiny had wished for, had come true. The magic coin had worked and Destiny couldn’t be happier. Her heart felt like it couldn’t hold all the happiness she felt.

Katie carried the bottle water in her free hand and waved at Destiny with her other. She was so glad to see she was awake. She really thought her sister was hurt bad when that ball hit her in the head. Katie had cried and got all upset. Everything seemed sort of messed up and she almost felt like she’d been the one hit with the ball. For a moment ... she’d almost felt like she wasn’t herself anymore. For just a few seconds ... it was as if she was someone else ... stuck in someone else’s body and living someone else’s life. The thought of that life made her feel all cold and sad inside. She was so glad it was only a bad dream and she wasn’t really that other person. That person was lonely and hurt and broken really bad somehow. Katie was glad she was Katie, because she wasn’t lonely or hurt or broken. She was wanted and loved and happy, or at least happy except for when her brother or sisters were teasing her or she was in trouble.

A smile chased away the memories of that bad waking dream as she scurried up the bleachers toward Destiny. It was then another dream came to her, one about wishes and a magic coin Paris had given them. Katie stopped. The coin wasn’t a dream. Paris had really given it to them and Destiny really had wished the rain away and ... Katie had made a wish too. She’d wished that her sister didn’t have psoriasis anymore. She’d sat on the bleachers with Destiny watching her watch Tommy play baseball, all the time waiting for her wish to come true, waiting for the dry patches to disappear, but sadly they hadn’t.

Katie continued to climb the bleachers, moving a little slower and a feeling sad because the wish hadn’t come true, but happy that her sister had survived catching a baseball with her forehead.

When she looked up to see Destiny, a smile peeked out. Tommy was still with her. At least that much of their wish had come true. She could see both of them smiling and talking which had to be a good sign. She stopped a few sections away and watched as Tommy tossed Destiny a baseball and then ran off to join his teammates.

Katie jumped the bleacher seats as fast as her fun sized legs would allow, hurrying to catch the scoop from her sister and to be sure she was alright.

Destiny watched Tommy walk away. She looked down at the baseball she’d caught and he’d told her to keep. She felt all warm and giggly inside as she held it. Yeah, the lump on her head still hurt but a hoop date with Tommy and ice cream afterward was worth it.

“Destiny! Destiny!” Katie cried as she scrambled up the steps.

Destiny turned to see her little sister ... finally looking like her little sister and got to her feet. She opened her arms to catch her fun sized twin and Katie headed straight for them.

When Katie was about ten feet away she noticed that Destiny was missing something. She was missing her jacket, her long sleeve top and her skinny jeans. They had been replaced by a short sleeve t-shirt and Capri pants, and ... there was one more thing missing. That one more thing is what made it possible and comfortable for Destiny to be wearing those clothes. That one more thing is what brought mist to Katie’s eyes and made her heart swell with love and happiness. The psoriasis was gone! Nowhere on Destiny’s body was a single dry, red patch. She was finally as beautiful on the outside as she had always been on the inside. Katie’s wish had come true.

When Katie reached Destiny, the big sister pulled her little one in for a hug and tears fell from her eyes. “Oh Katie ... look at you. You’re little. You’re really little! My wish came true!”

Tears fell from Katie’s eyes too. “Oh Destiny you’re skin’s all clear. The psoriasis is gone! My wish came true!”

Katie and Destiny immediately pulled back and gave each other a puzzled stare.

“What wish? What psoriasis?” Destiny double checked her perfect peaches and crá¨me skin before straightening out her little sister. “There’s nothing wrong with my skin Katie and there never has been. What are you talking about?”

Katie wasn’t paying attention to Destiny’s skin, she was too busy looking at her own and wondering what her big sister was talking about. “What wish are you talking about Des? And hey! I’m just like you. I’m fun sized, not little or small ... so get it right!”

Destiny shook her head. “No Katie ... you don’t understand. I mean I wished for you to be my little sister and now you are! You don’t have to be thirty nine anymore!”

Katie gave Destiny the same curious look Tommy had earlier. “Thirty what? What do you mean you ‘wished’ for me to be your little sister? I don’t think wishing made me your little sister, I think that was mom and dad.”

Destiny rolled her eyes. “But don’t you remember? Don’t you remember being big and ... and ... having to go to work ... and ... the house you had ... and your credit card and your cell phone and ... and you wishing you could move in with us?”

Katie took a step back and looked at her much the way Tommy had earlier. “Destiny I think that baseball hit you too hard. You’re talking gibberish, girl, and not the kind you and Paris taught me. I don’t have a house or a credit card or a cell phone but I wish I did and I don’t know what you mean about me wishing I could move in. I’ve been living at home all my life.”

Katie shook her head. “I don’t know Des. I think you’re becoming a teenager because you are acting so ... weird.”

Destiny waved her arm in front of Katie. “Well it ain't no more weird than you saying I had psoriasis. You probably don’t even know what that means.”

“I do too. It means dry, patchy red skin, and ... and you used to have it all over your body ... until ... until I wished it away.”

Destiny chuckled. “You wished it away? You wished away something I never had in the first place. Wow ... that’s REAL awesome magic ... short cake.”

Katie’s blue eyes flared. “Don’t call me short.”

Destiny’s hazel ones filled with mischief and she turned her shoulder toward Katie, inviting her to take a free shot. “Do something about it, prep.”

Katie pulled back and hit Destiny hard in the shoulder. She then stepped back and waited for the can of whoop ass her big sister was about to unleash on her. The can never opened though as a smile spread across Destiny’s lips and she nodded approvingly. “Not bad, Kay Kay. You’re learning.”

It was then a warm wave came over both of them and for a moment both girls remembered the reality they’d left behind. Destiny hugged Katie and Katie hugged her back.

“Destiny ... the coin ... our wishes ... I wished for your psoriasis to go away and it did.”

Destiny squeezed Katie tight. “I know ... I know ... and I wished for you to be little and it really worked.”

“I know that too and I’m so happy”, Katie said as tears made her new voice even squeakier. “Me too!”

The pair held the hug before gently releasing it. They looked at each other and then themselves. Seeing everything they’d ever wanted for themselves and for each other made them speechless as they reveled in the magic and the moment.

To be continued …

Pass It On
Chapter Four

When they broke the embrace, they wiped the tears from their eyes and Destiny reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin. It had changed since the last time they’d looked at. Only the words “Pass It On” remained, everything else was blank now.

Destiny nodded as she rubbed the coin between her fingers. “I understand now.”

Katie shrugged her shoulders. “So tell me because I don’t.”

“Pass it on. Don’t you get it? We’ve used up the wishes and now we have to pass it on to someone else who needs it. That’s why all the other words are gone. There’s nothing left but to pass ... it ... on.”

Katie nodded. “Okay ... I get it, but who do we pass it on to?”

Destiny looked round the ball field and her eyes caught the sight of a young boy in a wheel chair. His parents were helping him into their van.

Destiny grabbed Katie. “C’mon.”

Katie followed Destiny down the bleachers and across the parking lot.

“Hey!” Destiny called out to the young boy.

He turned round to see two unknown girls running up fast. When Destiny and Katie got there he eyed them suspiciously. “Do I know you?”

Destiny shook her head. “Nope ... we’re just here to give you something.”

“Something we think you need.” Katie added with her eleven and half year old missing tooth smile.

Destiny put the coin in the boy’s hand. “It’s a magic coin. You look like you could use a little magic.”

The boy looked at the old tarnished coin and read the words aloud. “To the bearer of this coin come three wishes. Use them wisely.”

He quickly turned it over and read the rest of the message. “After using ... please pass it on.”

The boy shook his head, knowing there was no such thing as magic coins. He then looked up to ask his two new friends what all this was about but the girls had already jumped on their bikes and were riding off.

A second warm wave passed across the two girls and all memories of magic coins, wishes, psoriasis, and thirty nine year old little sisters faded away. All that remained was two very happy red headed little monkeys cycling toward home, but with two stops along the way: one at Kroger’s to get a free cookie and the other at McDonalds for a romp in the play place and a mini cone. As the girls disappeared from view their thoughts were on the day ahead. Destiny had a hoops and Dairy Queen date with Tommy on her mind while Katie was just looking forward to hugs, Taco night and writing a fairy tale.

Paris and Larry, dressed in black and invisible to all, floated just above the trees and watched the girls until they rode out of sight.

Paris smiled lovingly at them. “Aren’t they cute? I just love my sisters. They’re my whole world.”

Larry nodded and pulled his love in close. “Yeah ... they’re cute.”

Paris laid her head on Larry’s shoulder. “And everything worked out just like I said it would.”

“True ... true ... babe but how did you know it would? How did you know they’d use their wishes like that?”

“Because I know my sisters and there just like me.”

Larry chuckled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. “Yeah ... they blew the first wish like you did. You wished for a pack of Marlboro’s and Destiny wished for the rain to stop.”

Paris took the cigarette that Larry offered and then lit it with a flick of her fingers. “But in the end ... they did the right thing. They used the wishes to help each other rather than help themselves ... which is exactly what we did.”

Larry leaned over and kissed his love. “Uh huh ... and when I wished for you to have magic at her fingertips, I knew you would make a beautiful witch who would use her powers for good.”

Paris put her arms around her love and returned the kiss. “Just as I knew you would make a handsome warlock who would use his magic to help others.”

Paris snuggled close, loving the sensation of floating in her love’s arms. “Well ... I guess that takes care of everything. We found the coin and we used it to give each other magic powers and make our love immortal. We passed the coin on to Destiny and Katie and they used it to give each other the one thing they needed most, and they passed it on to someone who will hopefully do the same.”

Paris lightly kissed Larry’s next and then sighed. “Well ... now that everything’s fixed, I guess we have to get back to pretending we’re mortals again. I so ... hate that.
Larry blew out a puff of smoke. “Yeah me too ... but there’s still one thing that bothers me.”

Paris looked lovingly into his big brown eyes. “And what’s that my love?”

“Where did the coin come from in the first place? I mean who could have made it and were we just lucky to find it at the playground or ... were we meant to find it?”

Paris shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know babe ... maybe we’ll never know the answers to those questions.”

Larry nodded and then snapped his fingers. The pair gently floated down to the grass and then making sure the coast was clear, they slipped into more human attire and became visible. With no further conversation they walked hand in hand, heading home the same way Destiny and Katie had earlier.

Unbeknown to the two young lovers, were two other lovers standing in the distance ... not quite as young but every bit as much in love.

Marc better known as Dad to the children who were heading home smiled at his beloved. “Well ... everything worked out as we hoped.”

Chris more commonly known to the children as Mom nodded and took her beloved’s hand. “Yeah ... but it was hard watching them all suffer so, especially Destiny and Katie. It would have been so much easier and so much less painful if we would have fixed those things for them.”

“And how would they’ve learned to be strong and to love each other enough to put someone else’s happiness above their own?” Marc gently reminded her of the truth Chris already knew.

“I know ... I know, but they’re my babies. It’s hard to watch them stumble while learning to walk.”

Marc pulled Chris in close as Larry had done to Paris earlier. “Me too ... but it’s necessary and now they aren’t just walking...” Marc’s eyes smiled. “Paris and Larry are flying.”

He coaxed a giggle from Chris. “Yeah ... and now we’ve got a witch and a warlock on our hands and ... TWO red headed monkeys ... not to mention what lies ahead for Michael.”
Marc sighed. “Well ... when Zeus said taking this job as Earth parents could be dangerous. I guess he meant it!”

Chris winked at her beloved. “Yeah ... but c’mon ... you know you love it and besides you were just as bored as I was laying around up there in Olympus with nothing to do but eat grapes and watch premium cable.”

Marc nodded with a wistful smile. “True ... but I do miss having all those movie channels.”

Chris agreed and then Marc changed the subject. “So ... do you think we should ever tell them that we were the ones who put the coin there?”

“No ... I think some things are meant to be kept secret.”

Marc’s eyes twinkled. “You mean like me being a god and you a goddess?”

Chris snuggled close to Marc, the same way Paris had with Larry earlier. “Yeah ... I think all they need to know is that we are the god and goddess of the house and can shoot lightning bolts up their butts if they don’t behave. They don’t really need to know we can stand on the clouds and sling the real ones.”

Marc nodded and then flashed his sexy smile. “Speaking of clouds, you wanna go fool around on one? It’s been ages since we’ve done that and the kids won’t be home for another thirty minutes? I’ll massage your feet? I’ll send Mercury to get a few candles and your favourite oil?”

To further entice her, his hand slipped down and gently caressed her hip, while his mouth found an ear to nibble on.

Chris giggled, “Silly boy ... you didn’t need to do all that. You had me at clouds.”
Without another word and not wanting to waste a single second of those precious child-free thirty minutes, the pair disappeared from view as Chris pulled Marc toward the love cloud of her choice.

*********************************************************************************

Dad aimed the remote at the television and the screen went blank. He stretched out long and lean and then looked over at his love. “C’mon Momma ... eleven o’clock ... time to make the final rounds.”

Mom yawned and nodded, then reluctantly moved from her warm and comfy spot next to her beloved. Dad offered her a hand and she took it as he helped her off the sofa.
They walked into the dining room where Momma couldn’t resist the chance to warm herself by the wood burning stove. Dad smiled at his little cold body and used the wait to look around at one of their newly remodelled rooms.

“This really came out nice. Didn’t it babe?”

Momma looked up as she warmed her hands above the stove. “Yeah it really did. The whole house is so ... beautiful ... just the way we knew it would be with enough work.”

“And enough money”, Dad finished for her.

“For which we have my cousin Katie to thank for.” Momma said as she slipped back beside her love and took his hand.

Dad nodded and squeezed the hand that had slipped back into his own. “Yeah ... she was a really sweet lady. I liked her a lot and I know how much you loved her.”

“The kids did too ...” Momma sighed in sweet remembrance. “Of course that makes perfect sense ... she was really just a kid herself or as Destiny used to say ...”

“She was just super fun-sized?” Dad finished for her.
Momma’s eyes misted as she smiled. “Uh huh ... and when she ran with the girls ... it was hard to tell them apart. She was just as happy ... just as sweet and just as generous.”

“Generous is right.” Dad agreed. “She left us everything she had when she died.”

“Well ... we were the only family she had ... or at least the only ones who loved her.”
Dad walked Momma over to the stairs leading up to the kids’ common area and bedrooms. “You think she’s happy ... you know ... with what we’ve done with the money?”

Momma’s eyes twinkled. “I know she is. That was one of the last things she asked us to do ... to take the money and make this house the beautiful home we always wanted it to be.”
The pair stood quietly at the foot of the stairs for a moment ... thinking about the woman ... the child ... who’d left their life, but never their hearts, and then headed up to check on the kids.

At the top of the stairs was the common area, finally finished and beautifully furnished for when the kids had friends over. Momma noted the plate of half eaten pizza rolls and the empty bottle of Doctor Pepper sitting next to the microwave. That meant that Paris had eaten at least once that day. Dad spied Kit Kat wrappers, empty Mountain Dew cans, and the Little Mermaid movie sitting on the coffee table. This told him that the rest of the rabble had passed this way too. Momma and Dad shook their heads as they stepped carefully through the “Natural Disaster Area” and headed down the hall to the kids’ rooms.

To be continued …

Pass It On
Chapter 5

The first room they stopped at was on the left and had double occupancy. Even before Momma and Dad peeked in, the sounds of Justin Beiber singing “Baby” told anyone in the house and on Churchman Avenue, what two girls shared this room.

“Doesn’t Destiny ever get tired of that song?” Dad cringed as Momma went to her baby’s bedside and turned off the disc player.

She didn’t answer as Dad already knew the answer was “never”. She just pulled the covers up round her and kissed her on the forehead. Two posters, one of Cinderella and the other of her favourite Canadian cutie were hung above headboard.

Dad walked in and smiled lovingly at the sight. “So what kind of day did my first red headed monkey have?”

“Well actually”, a smile turned at her lips. “She had a pretty big one, but it didn’t start out that way.”

Dad waited patiently for the rest of the story and Momma didn’t disappoint. “The rain had her down for awhile, but then it stopped ... which was pretty amazing considering the weatherman said it was going to rain all day. But by the time the sun came out ... she was already out riding. Eventually she ended up over on the baseball diamond at Christian Park.”

Dad made a swing with an imaginary bat. “How’d It do?” “It” being the playful pronoun Dad often used for all his little tax deductions.

“Did It hit a homerun?”

Momma giggled. “Not exactly, but she did get hit by one.”

The lost look on her love’s face encouraged her to explain. “She didn’t go to play. She went to watch Tommy play.”

“Tommy? The boy next door? I didn’t know she liked him. I thought she was crazy about this Justin Beaver kid.”

“It’s Bieber”, Momma gently corrected him. “And she’s still crazy about him, at least she better be considering how much we paid to get her tickets to his concert for her birthday, but he’s a dreamy star she may never reach ... while Tommy is the cute boy she can. Every girl has to have a dream love AND a real life Romeo.

The heavy sigh that escaped Dad’s lips could only be made by a father with a daughter on the verge of being a teenager. Momma noticed but continued without comment or sympathy.
“Anyway ... Destiny was in the stands when Tommy hit the game winning home run and instead of using a mitt to catch it ... she used her forehead.”

Dad leaned down closer to get a look at his little one in the dim light. Even with only a night light to illuminate the room, he could see the small red mark centre of her forehead.

He winced, having sympathy pain. “That had to hurt. Is she alright?”

Momma nodded as she brushed the red braid from her daughter’s face. “Oh yeah ... she’s alright. She’s YOUR daughter which means she’s hard headed.”

Dad chuckled knowing it was true. “It must have been embarrassed ... especially in front of ... of ... which boy is it?”

“Tommy and she of course she was ... but actually ... it all worked out really well. Tommy came up into the stands to see if she was alright and to apologize for hitting her. He ended up asking her out to shoot hoops over at the park and then for ice cream at the Dairy Queen afterwards.”

Dad folded his arm and lost his smile. Momma went to work coaxing it back out. “Now there’s no reason to get an attitude or your shotgun. Trust me ... Destiny can take care of herself. If Tommy’s hands go trying to touch the ‘promised land’, she’ll send him there and she’ll hit him anywhere and I mean ANYWHERE she can and with anything she can get her hands on.”

The smile returned and Dad chuckled. “Now that’s my girl.”

It was then the pair turned their attentions to the other bed and the other little girl in the room. Two posters sat between the pillars of her canopy bed. One was a poster of her favourite Disney princess: the Little Mermaid. The other was of Doctor Who, the British Science Fiction series that she and Dad had a standing date for every Saturday night. This freckled face little one seemed to be floating in a sea of stuffed animals.

“So what kind of trouble did my second little red headed monkey get into ... or do I want to ask?”

Momma relocated a few precious animals and sat down on the bed next to Katie, named after the woman who'd made so much possible for them. “Oh ... no more than the usual. This morning, just like Destiny, she was pacing the porch like a caged animal waiting for the rain stop. And ... since we both know she has to be just ... like ... Destiny ... she rode bikes with her to Tommy’s baseball game.”

Dad nodded knowingly, as he knew his red headed monkey’s travelled in pairs. Destiny led and Katie followed ... just as it had once been the same with Paris and Destiny.

“Well ... two hours later, they come blowing in from the game. Destiny’s showing me the ball and the word “Rawlings” printed across her forehead while both she and Katie are telling me the story. Of course after they told me once, they had to tell me again ... and again ... and again ... while I doctored Destiny’s forehead and fixed them grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Of course by then ... it was nearly two and Destiny had to get ready for her hoop date with Tommy.”

Dad gave her a puzzled look. “Get ready? What did she need to do. All you need to shoot hoops is tennis shoes, a ball and a basket.”

Momma giggled. “If you were a twelve and half year old girl you wouldn’t even ask that question.”

“If I was a twelve and half year old girl ... there wouldn’t BE a Destiny.”
Momma smiled hungrily and winked, silently saying how glad she was, that her beloved was who HE was, and then continued her tale.

“Well ... when Tommy picked up Destiny to play basketball, naturally Katie wanted to go. When Destiny told her she couldn’t go and I told her she couldn’t ride over and spy on them ... she wasn’t a very happy camper. She mopped around the house for awhile, so I tried to get her interested in playing video games, but she saw the mike and begged to sing Karaoke.”

Dad closed his eyes and cringed. “I’m so ... glad I decided to work today.”

Mom smacked Dad on the arm for the tease, but there was painful truth ... ear drum painful truth in what he said. Both Paris and Destiny had their Mom’s beautiful singing voice and their Dad’s ability to pick up almost any musical instrument and play it, but the music gene skipped over Katie as she could neither sing nor play. Of course, much to everyone’s ear pain, it didn’t stop her from trying every time someone turned on the Karaoke machine. Even the dogs hid when they saw the mike in Katie’s hand.

Dad looked over at the pile of notebooks and sketchpads sitting on Katie’s nightstand. It seemed she was forever laying on her bed or on the floor, writing or drawing in them.

“Hey maybe Katie can design album covers or write the songs and Destiny and Paris can sing them?”

Momma smiled without comment and then continued on with her tale.

“Well after Karaoke ... I finally shooed her outside to play for a little while, but told her if I found out she went over the ball court while Tommy and Destiny were there, I’d put my foot up her butt.”

Momma chuckled. “When I said that, she shot me a pair of blue daggers and sat out on the porch pouting and colouring for awhile. I think after that ... she went down to Alisha’s and played Barbie’s with her, but it wasn’t an hour later and she was back inside. Michael and Paris were home by then so she tried hanging out with them.”

Momma shook her head and smiled sympathetically at her sleeping angel. “I know she went to Michael’s room first, because he hollered for her to get out and leave him and his friends alone about a hot second after I heard her knock to get in.”

“Any better luck with Paris?”

Momma nodded. “Some ... I think Paris let her sit on the bed for a little while and listen to her sing, because about twenty minutes later Paris sent her downstairs to get a cold Doctor Pepper and some pizza rolls out of the freezer.

Dad shook his head. “I’m surprised she didn’t have her beg you for a cigarette.”

Momma’s eyes went wide. “It did me too, until I found out that Paris came home with a full pack of Marlboro’s, which was a pretty good trick since she was broke and bummed one from me when she left this morning.”

Dad scratched his red curly locks as he leaned in the doorway. “I wonder where It came up with those cigarettes?”

“Do you REALLY want to know?” Momma teased him with a knowing smile.

Dad, deciding sometimes ignorance was parental bliss ... didn’t press for answer and just waited quietly for Momma to finish the story.

“About fifteen minutes after she made the soda and pizza roll run for Paris, the phone rang. I’m not sure if it was Brittany or Larry, but either way ... Katie got booted again and ended up in the kitchen with me. Well ... after about ten minutes of her sitting on the island mopping, I told her to either go watch a video or take a nap.”

“Which one did she do?”

“Both”, Momma said with an impish grin that left Dad puzzled until she explained.

“I knew she was feeling left out when Destiny went off with Tommy, but I also knew her biggest problem was that she was so tired she could hardly stand herself and yet there’s no way an eleven and half year old child is going to volunteer to take a nap. They are way ... two grown up for that so I knew she’d choose the video, but that’s a mommy cheat, because I knew as soon as she got comfy on the sofa ...”

“She’d fall asleep”, Dad finished for her.

“Yeah ... I went upstairs about fifteen minutes after I saw her get the Little Mermaid video and she was sound asleep. I put a blanket over and then went outside to do a little gardening.”

“So did the nap help?”

“Well it did for about an hour, until she woke up screaming and crying so loud that I could hear her all the way in the backyard.

Dad sighed. “The nightmare again?”

Momma gently caressed her baby’s cheek. “Yep ... the whole bit about waking up and finding she’s all alone and trapped in the body of some giant old woman and nobody will believe she’s really a little girl. I had to hold her and promise her tacos tonight before she finally calmed down.”

Dad watched Katie sleep, silently praying her dreams were sweet ones tonight, and troubled by the fact that lately they hadn’t been.

“I wonder what’s causing her nightmares. Do you have any idea?”

Momma shook her head. “No ... not really. It could be caused by almost anything ... a story she read or a movie she saw ... or maybe it’s all the Kit Kat’s and pizza she eats. Who knows?”

Momma cringed for a moment wishing she didn’t have to list the next possibility. “It might even be hormones ... puberty is right around the corner you know.”

Dad hung his head in defeat. “But Momma ... can’t we do something with this one ... either keep It little or jump It up to twenty one and shove it out the door? I just don’t know how many more teenagers I can take.”

Momma smiled sympathetically. “I know babe ... and Katie was the only good one I had left, but don’t worry. We’ll get even when we spoil our grandkids rotten and then send them back home to make their parents lives a living hell.”

Dad chuckled and then offered his hand to his beloved. “And that’s why we work so well together ... I get mad ... you get even.”

Momma smiled as she took the hand and eased herself off Katie’s bed without comment.
“So ... is there anything else our twin monkey’s got into?”

Momma shook her head. “No ... not really. Destiny came back not too long after Katie woke up. She had a smile a mile wide. She beat Tommy playing horse which means he had to buy the ice cream and ... I think he asked her to go with him, but I’m not sure whether or not she said yes. Her and Katie shot out of her to go riding until tacos were ready and then they both crashed before I got the scoop. I’m sure Destiny will be bursting to tell me tomorrow ... if Katie doesn’t tell me first.” She added with a giggle.

Momma then blew both her babies a kiss and headed toward the door with Dad, but when she saw a pink jar on the bookcase next to it, she stopped and picked it up. “Oh ... I forgot to tell you. You know that red dry patch on Dezzi’s arm ... the one we bought this cream for but wouldn’t go away?”

Dad nodded. “Yeah ... she’s got an appointment with a dermatologist on Tuesday doesn’t she?”

“Well ... I’m going to call Monday and cancel it. The most amazing thing happened. She had it this morning when she was sitting on the porch watching the rain. I know she did. I saw it ... but when she came back from the ball game it was gone ... completely gone ... not a trace. I guess it wasn’t psoriasis like we feared it was.”

Dad shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe it was just a rash or something.”

“Maybe”, Momma agreed as she sat the jar back down on the shelf and followed Dad into the hallway.

To be continued …

Pass It On
Chapter 6

Noticing the door to Paris’s room was ajar he walked the few steps to her doorway and pushed it open. Seeing her empty bed he turned back to Momma.
“So what’s the story with It?”

“Well ...” Momma drawled as she squeezed past Dad and into her oldest daughter’s room also known as the Twilight Room with its black and purple colours and posters of Taylor Laughtner ... super hot werewolf from the Twilight series. Compact discs and clothes were strewn about and the television had been left on. Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly was currently playing. Momma found the remote next to an empty bottle of Doctor Pepper and clicked the power button. The image disappeared as the screen turned black.

“The little witch wasn’t in a good mood this morning. She woke up cranky and then got worse when I only gave her one cigarette. She flew out of here like she was riding a broom, but when she came back it was like magic. She was all smiles and even apologized for being so bitchy. After that ... she was up in her room most of the time ... either singing or ... listening to her music.”

Momma spied the open case to Paris’ favourite song, “She’s in Love with the Boy” which EVERYONE in the house now knew by heart, sitting next to her player.”

“Of course, then the phone calls started and I guess the last one was Larry, because about thirty minutes later she came down the stairs in full make up and black dress jeans.”

Momma hesitated for a moment as a memory floated back. “Come to think of it ... she was all in black ... black jeans ... black spaghetti strapped top ... and black boots ... yeah MY black boots ... the little witch.” Momma added with a scowl.

“And I noticed when Larry walked in, he was all in black too ... hmmm ... maybe it’s a Twilight thing.”

Dad was listening but still looking at the clock and his daughter’s empty bed. “So ... it’s after eleven. Where is It?”

Before Momma could answer, the television set came on without any remote control assistance. Suddenly the screen was filled with the old black and white television show, Bewitched. Mom and Dad watched the lovely Samantha wiggle her nose and make magic for a moment before Dad grabbed the remote and shut it off.

He turned it over in his hand and looked at it. “Must be a short in the wiring. I’ll take a look at it tomorrow.”

His eyes then turned their attention toward his beloved and the question that had been left floating in air. “So why isn’t Paris home yet?”

This time the compact disc player tried to answer him as it kicked on and suddenly “She’s in Love with the Boy” came out of the speakers and filled the upstairs. Momma scrambled across the bed and pushed the power button before the music woke Michael and the girls.
Momma still stretched out on the bed, stared up at Dad and shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe we have a ghost in here?”

Dad folded his arms across his chest and nodded. “Maybe ... but what we don’t have for sure is a Paris.”

Momma wiggled off the bed, finding her feet and Dad’s answer. “She called right before you came home. She said if she wasn’t back by ten, she’d be spending the night at Larry’s house.”

Fire lit in Dad’s eyes. “I think I might need my shotgun after all, because when he brings her home tomorrow, me and junior are going to have a talk.”

Momma reached her hand out to her love. “Now wait a minute ... don’t lose your temper. If you think about it ... it wasn’t really so ... long ago that you yourself was just a good looking boy hanging down on the corner with no particular place to go. My Daddy said you weren’t worth a lick. He said when it came to brains you had the short end of the stick, but he was wrong honey and so ... are ... you, because Paris looks at Larry like the way I still look at you. She’s in love with the boy.”

Dad sighed and softened. “You really think so?”

Momma nodded and repeated. “Yep she’s in love with the boy and I’m pretty sure she’s gonna marry him someday, because you know what they say.”

Dad nodded and lovingly squeezed the hand Momma had offered. “Whatever is meant to be will always find a way.”

Dad then pulled Momma in for a hug but the empty bed behind them reminded him of the one that must be in Larry’s room and his worries about Paris being in it.

“Whether they’re going to eventually get married or not ... for now ... Paris is still fifteen and I don’t like the idea of her spending the night at Larry’s. Like you said ... I was once a teenage boy. I know what’s on his mind.”

Momma giggled. “You’re thirty two and the same thing is still on your mind.”

Dad frowned. “If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it’s not working.”

“No ... what will make you feel better is that Larry’s mom doesn’t want any grand babies this soon either and she’ll make sure that they sleep in separate rooms and that he keeps his ‘magic wand’ in his pocket.”

Dad rolled his eyes and used his arm to gently move Momma toward Paris’ door. When his hand drifted to her back pocket, his fingers felt paper and he patted her lightly. “Hey ... what do you got back there?”

Momma sighed. “Junk in my trunk, but Paris has stole most of it.”

Dad laughed and pulled the paper from her back pocket. “No ... I’m talking about this.”

When he pulled his hand around in front, it held a white stamped envelope addressed to Paris. Momma immediately took it from him. “Oh yeah ... I almost forgot about that. It came in the mail for Paris today. I was going to give it to her, but she never came back.”

“Who’s it from?” Dad squinted to read the return address.

“Some record company in Nashville Tennessee ... Underwood Records it’s says. I wonder why they’d be sending Paris a letter.”

Dad shook his head and frowned. “I’ll tell you why. It probably joined one of those record clubs where they give you a half dozen cd’s for a penny but then you have to buy a dozen more at twice the price of what they cost in the store. I bet this is the bill and now she’s going to expect us to pay for it.”

Momma was tempted to open it to see just how bad the financial damage was, but deciding to give her daughter a little privacy and Dad a chance to cool down, she tossed the letter on the bed. Bad news could wait for tomorrow.

She put her hand back in Dad’s “Come on babe ... let’s go check on Michael.”

The pair stepped out of the room, closing the door behind them. They never looked back, but had they ... they would have seen the television come on once again ...this time sound muted but clearly displaying the images of the Hallowell sisters, better known to the viewing world as the lovely witches from the hit series Charmed.

Mom and Dad walked the few feet to Michael’s door and started to gently push it open, when a sleep walking red headed monkey caught their attention.

“Mommy” came a soft sleepy voice that caused them both to turn toward the girls’ room. When they did ... they saw bare feet and wobbly legs, a Little Mermaid nightgown and a pair of closed eyes that would have been blue had they been open.

Momma knelt down and opened arms. “Kay Kay ... what’s wrong baby. Are you having a bad dream?”

Katie shuffled over and then shook her head which gave both parents a sigh of relief.
Momma pulled her in for a hug. “Well then why are you up?”

Katie’s lip pushed out in a pout and she whined. “I can’t sleep. Destiny’s talking in her sleep again.”

Destiny was famous for the conversations she had while sleeping, just as Katie was known for sleepwalking and normally ending up in everyone else’s bed but her own.

Momma tried to offer her frustrated daughter a little sympathy. “I’m sorry honey.” And then curiosity got the better of her. “So what’s she saying tonight?”

Katie stood quietly for a moment, more asleep than she was awake. “She’s talking to Justin Beiber and Tommy again.” She said with a disgusted sigh.

“Are they answering her?”

“No ... I don’t think so.”

Momma giggled. “Then that’s okay. She can talk to them all she wants, but if you ever hear them answer, then you come get Mommy okay?”

Katie wobbled a bit and nodded, while Dad shook his head and smiled approvingly. He loved the fact that Momma loved messing with the kids minds every bit as much as he did.
Momma kissed her little one on the forehead and then shooed her back toward the room. Katie, however, wobbly legs and all held her ground. Her eyes never opened and Dad had never spoken a word to alert her to his presence, but somehow her parental radar knew he was there.

She turned toward him, raised arms and open hands. It was the universal sign that all children used when they wanted a hug or a ride. It was obvious Katie was fishing for both.
“I’m too tired to walk back.” She whined and wobbled.

Dad laughed and looked toward his love. “You see this Momma? One of my little red headed monkeys is trying to put one over on their old Dad. It thinks It can get me to give it a ride to Its room ... but I’m not falling for it. It walked itself out here and It can turn itself around and walk back.”

Katie was unmoved however and continued to stand there arms raised and hands open.
Dad playfully put his finger in Katie’s face. “Look you. I’m wise to the game. You’re just playing opossum. There’s no way you’re going to sucker me into carrying you to bed this time.”

Again Katie battled back with persistence and silence, and as always it paid off as Dad knelt down and swept the little on into his arms. Holding her close he made the usual idle threat. “And this is the LAST time I’m doing this too.”

Momma watched Dad carry Katie into her bedroom. He never saw the triumphant smile on his little girl’s face or the pinkie Momma raised in the air that signified where Katie and the rest of the kids had Dad wrapped.

When Dad returned from putting Katie back to bed, Momma resisted the urge to tease him, deciding to let him off the hook for once. Instead she went up on tippy toe and lightly kissed his cheek.

When he asked her what that was for she simply smiled and said, “Just because I can. Now come on ... let’s go check on Michael. I really ... want to get to bed.”

To be continued …

Pass It On
Chapter 7

Dad knocked lightly, before pushing open the door to Michael’s room, also known as the Blue Room or the CAVE (Churchman Avenue Video Emporium).

The dark blue paint and matching carpet made it obvious to anyone why it was known as the Blue Room. The ultimate collection of the latest video game hardware that filled one wall and the shelves full of video games that filled two others, left no doubt as to why it was called the CAVE by every kid in the neighbourhood who was a video game junkie.

A quick check of Michael’s bed said he hadn’t found it yet. A glance over to the command centre of the video games found the master gamer still in his chair, controller in hand and sleeping soundly.

Momma smiled lovingly at her fast growing teen that for that moment almost seemed small enough to hold in her arms. Dad looked around the room and turned to Momma, surprise etched on his face. “Where’s the rest of the rabble? Usually when I walk in here, I have to step over boys like walking through a teen age mine field.”

“I think Robert or one of the other regulars was supposed to spend the night, but then something came up and they didn’t.”

Dad walked over and laid a hand on his son’s shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. “Michael ... get up and go to bed. You hear me?”

Michael stirred in the chair, moaned a little and then got comfortable again.
“Michael! Get up!” This time Dad was a little louder and a little more forceful in his shake.

Michael stirred again, mumbled something about he didn’t have school today and returned to peaceful slumber.

Momma walked over and gently pushed Dad aside. “Here babe ... let me try. I’m an old hand at this.”

Momma rubbed her hands together as she mentally weeded through the many options available to her. Saying dinner was ready normally worked well with Michael. He was teenage boy and that meant he had a bottomless pit for a stomach, but a quick look at Michael’s said it was still full from second and third helpings on Taco Night, so she had to go to plan V ... V for Video.

Leaning over, she showed off by giving Dad a quick wink and then whispered lightly in Michael’s ear. “Michael ... your new video game just came in the mail.”

Michael immediately sat straight up in the chair as if he’d been hit with a bucket of water. His brown eyes went wide and his socked feet shuffled on the carpet as he tried to get up. “Ultimate Death Warrior 4!” He shouted.

“Dude I’ve been waiting six weeks for that game.”

Momma laid a gentle hand on her sleep talking son and sang to him softly. “It’s okay Michael. You can play tomorrow. It’s time for bed now.”

Dad stood in silent amazement as Michael, still somehow very much asleep, stood up, turned possession of the controller over to Momma, walked over to his bed, and then climbed in without delay or protest.

Momma followed Michael to his bed, pulling the cover over him once he’d laid down and then kissed him gently on the forehead. “Good night baby. I love you.”

“Night Mom ... love you too”, he answered as he rolled on one side and snuggled beneath the blanket.

Momma strutted over to Dad, stopping just short of him and pulled out an imaginary six shooter from her imaginary holster. She spun it a few times, took aim at Michael, fired once ... blew the smoke off the barrel and then returned it to the holster.

She shook her head and smiled. “Sometimes it’s so easy it’s just like shooting fish in a barrel.”

Dad scratched his head and still looked dumbfounded by it all. “But how ... how could he not wake up with me shaking him and nearly shouting ... yet you whisper something about a new video game and he’s wide awake?”

“Actually he was never really awake ... although Kay Kay was when she suckered you into giving her a free Daddy Cab ride ... I just told him something he really wanted to hear and he responded.”

Daddy sighed. “I don’t suppose you’d like to share the secret to that?”

Momma slowly walked over to his side and then stretched up on tippy toe to whisper in his ear. “It’s a Momma thing. If I tell you ... I’d have to kill you.”

Dad and threw up his hands in defeat. “Okay ... you win. I guess there’s some things a man’s just not meant to know.”

Momma winked and try to soothe his bruised ego. “That’s okay babe ... I have no complaints about everything you do know.”

Dad’s smile returned as he put an arm round Momma and then gently pushed her toward the door. It was then Mom realized she still had the game controller in her hand. She stopped and turned to place it back on the console when curiosity got the better of her.

“I wonder what game he’s playing tonight.” She asked as she reached for the case that had been turned upside down.

Momma sighed sadly as she turned it over in her hand “I know it’s gotta be one where he’s either fighting or killing something. I just wish he would play something else.”

Dad leaned over to sneak a peek. “Yeah well ... I’d rather have him throwing punches on the computer screen than on the street corner or the ball court. At least then we don’t have to worry about the cops knocking at our door.
”
Momma nodded, “True ... true”, as there was a time that a loud knock on the door or a passing patrol car had made both parents wonder if they were coming to pick up Michael for fighting or Paris for skipping school, but those fears had finally faded away. Paris changing schools and getting involved in the music and drama program had turned her from a truant to an honour roll student, and Michael ... who was never the type of kid who went looking for trouble, but somehow it always seemed to find him, had made a complete turnaround of his own.

His bedroom ... the CAVE, gave him a place to be alone when he needed to be, to have friends over when he wanted company, and all the video villains he could ever want to fight when he wanted to take out a little teenage anger and frustration. His room and all the gaming equipment had given him a place to go, something to do, something to share with his friends and something to be proud of. It had also got him involved in a Friday night gamers club ... which increased his circle of friends and made Mom and Dad rest a little easier at least one night a week knowing that he was safe and sound.

Momma turned the box over to reveal the picture of a God and Goddess standing on a cloud. They were hand in hand and kissing. In the woman’s free hand was a small gold coin.
Dad frowned. “That doesn’t look very violent to me.”

“Me either.” Momma noted the lip lock the Goddess was putting on the God.

Dad read the caption below the picture. “Pass It On ... I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this one. I wonder what you’re supposed to pass on?”

Momma was still staring at the kissing couple. “Tongues ... I’d say”, and then frowned. “I’m not so sure I like the looks of this game ... maybe it was better when he was slaughtering bad guys left and right.”

Dad turned the box back over and read aloud the brief description of the game. “Pass It On ... The game where you find the magic coin and use it to make three wishes, but
remember ... use your wishes wisely and unselfishly. Once you’ve made your wishes pass the coin to the next player. Finding peace, happiness and love ... making things right ... the way they should be ... is the ultimate goal of the game. If each player does this then everyone wins and nobody loses. Good luck.”

Momma’s frown turned upside down as she smiled approvingly. “What a great game! Now this is one I’d like to play ... not that I don’t mind taking out a little frustration now and again by blasting bad guys to bits.”

Momma then picked up her imaginary sword and took a swing. “Or slicing off a few heads now and then ... but it would be nice just to go on a peaceful, fun adventure.”

Dad nodded and looked over at his sleeping son, still in disbelief that he was playing a game without mass destruction or loss of life.

Momma put the box down and picked the controller back up. She teased Dad with a sly smile. “Feel like playing a game? It says no losers ... so you don’t have to worry about getting mad because I beat you.”

She’d thrown down the gauntlet. Normally, Dad would have taken the challenge, grabbed the controller and the game would have been on ... but not tonight. He gently took it from her hand and placed it back on the computer console.

“Maybe tomorrow ... I’ve got another game I’d like to play with you tonight ... and when played right ... there are no losers in this one either.” He tempted her with a wink and a sly smile that told Momma exactly what two-player game Dad was up for.

Momma returned the smile and wink, and then reluctantly released his hand, just long enough to kiss her son one last time and be sure he was tucked in properly ... but knowing full well that by the time they were back down stairs he’d have all the covers kicked off.

Dad turned off the lights behind them as he closed the door. The pair walked silently down the hallway and through the common room ... no doubt some of their thoughts were on the three sleeping children who were home and the one who was not, while the smile on their faces said a few were on the game about to be played downstairs.

To be continued …

Pass In On
Chapter 8 (The last bit)

At the top of the stairs, Momma stopped and looked up at her handsome
prince. “I’ve told you all about the kids’ day, but you still haven’t told me about yours.”

Dad shrugged his shoulders. “Not really much to tell. You know the moving business ... pack this ... move that ... break something and blame it on the helper. Just the usual ... nothing special.”

Momma heard the words, but there was sparkle in her love’s eyes which meant there was more to the story.

Dad started down the stairs, but Momma gently took his arm and stopped him. “So are you going to tell me or do I have to guess?”

Dad played it wide eyed innocent. “What?”

That look never got the kids far and Dad wasn’t getting any mileage either.

Momma released his arm and then stepped down in front of him. She folded her arms and looked up. “Okay ... so what was it? Did you drop a piano out the window? Jack knife the moving van? I know ... you had to move a strip club ... girls ... poles and all.”

Dad couldn’t keep a straight face or a secret. “None of the above ... but if you really wanna know ...”

The “hanging on every word” look on Momma’s face told him she did.

“Well actually ... I had a pretty good day, but I don’t think your friend John did.”

John was nobody’s friend. He was the grandson of the owner and the acting manager ... although he didn’t really act much like one. He was a college educated idiot ... lazy ... dishonest ... whiney and as worthless in the office as he was on a job. There were a lot of things you could call this waste of space but perhaps Destiny said it best the day Dad brought his little monkey to work. After half a day of listening to him piss, moan and complain, she went up to him, motioned him down to her level and then said, “John ... you’re a dick.”

Dad simply smiled proudly and said, “Now that’s my girl.”

Momma tried hard to suppress a smile. “You really should leave that man alone ... but ...”

The smile peeked out. “I know you didn’t ... so c’mon ... tell me what you did this time.

Dad threw up his hands and pleaded innocent. “Babe ... I didn’t do anything. I was as nice as I could be from the first moment I saw him today. Why as soon as he walked in ... I smiled ... I waved and then I said, “Good morning Princess ... and for some reason he didn’t like that.”

Momma giggled. “Princess” was Dad’s personal term of endearment for the prima donna prep and John didn’t much care for the crown that fit him so well.

“Then a little later we were doing some moving and he decided to give us hand by carrying a lampshade ... so me ... just being concerned for his safety and his manicure told him, ‘Be careful there Princess ... I’d hate to see you break a nail.’ And for some reason he didn’t like that.”

Momma covered her mouth ... trying not to laugh and wake the kids, but it was getting harder to hold back as Dad continued to pour it on.

“So we get back to the shop and a customer comes in wanting to speak to the boss, so I went back to his office and there he was ... feet up on the desk and sound to sleep as usual. I very politely woke him by saying. “Excuse me Princess ... I hate to disturb your beauty sleep, but there’s a customer here’. Do you know ... he didn’t seem to much like that either?”

Even Dad was having trouble playing it straight now as laughter was trying to spill out.

“But you know me ... I’m always genuinely concerned about his welfare ... so after lunch when he came out to the van bitching to us about taking too long to eat ... I said, “What’s wrong Princess? Are you riding the cotton camel today?’ And do you know ... for some reason he REALLY didn’t like that!”

Momma was able to say, “Sounds to me like the Princess must have been sitting on his crown instead of wearing it”, before they both gave in to laughter.

After a good laugh at the Princess’ expense the pair headed slowly down the stairs. When they reached the landing, Dad turned the tables on Momma.

“So ... I’ve heard about the kids’ day and I’ve told you about mine. How about your day? Busy?”

Momma shrugged her shoulders and then started the rundown. “No not really ... I just played chauffeur, cook, maid, laundress, doctor, referee, gardener, seamstress, psychiatrist, veterinarian, mechanic, and fireman ... please don’t ask about that last one ... you REALLY don’t want to know.”

Dad shook his head. He should have known better than to ask a stupid question.

“So no dear ... I wasn’t busy.” Momma couldn’t resist pouring it on just a little thicker. “In fact ... I’m thinking about doing volunteer work because of all the free time I have.”

Dad chuckled. “You know ... you can be a real smart ass sometimes.”

Momma snuggled up next to her love. “Yeah ... but you know you like it.”

Dad’s hand found Momma’s again. “True ... true ... that I do.”

The pair descended the last of the steps, made a short stop at the wood stove to be sure the fire was set for the night and then headed toward the front door to lock up for the night.

Garfield the rust coloured cat was there waiting for them. No doubt he had a rendezvous or two with a few of the lucky lady kitties in the neighbourhood. Momma opened the door and let him out. She watched as headed across the porch and down the steps.

“Please don’t bring me back any mice ... I’ve stepped on enough of them already.”

Momma and Dad stepped out on to the porch, watching the ginger cat until it disappeared through the hedge.

Momma shivered a bit in the cool night air and Dad instinctively wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled up close and looked out on the quiet and kid free sidewalk. It seemed so strange not to see Paris and Larry sitting on the porch or Michael bouncing a basketball on the walk or Destiny and Katie riding bicycles back and forth. It was almost too quiet. It was then Momma noticed something on the porch steps sparkle in the moonlight. Pulling Dad along with her, she went to investigate.

She knelt down to get a closer look and found it was a coin that had caught her eye. She picked it up and turned it over in her palm.

“What you got there babe ... a lucky penny?”

Momma shook her head as she examined it closer. “Can’t really tell ... it’s too dirty and scratched up. It’s probably just a slug or something.”

Momma closed the coin in her hand. “I’ll look at it tomorrow.”

Dad nodded and then looked up and down the quiet street, his eyes finally settling on the house and Marty, the old busy body across from them who set up surveillance cameras to watch their house. A sly smile turned at his lips as he turned to his love.

“Hey ... you want to give Marty-cam some good footage ... something that might curl the old broad's hair?"

Momma smiled and was in, even before she knew what he had planned.

“Sure ... what?”

Dad put his arms round her and then turned her so they were in plain sight of the camera. His eyes met hers and he said with a smile. “Oh my Goddess ... will you make me immoral with a kiss?”

Momma giggled. “My God ... I think you mean immortal ... you’re already immoral.”

When the kiss finally broke, Dad reached into his pocket and pulled out the newly found coin. Much to Momma's surprise he chucked it from their porch to Marty's.

"Here ... I'd say she needs a lucky coin more than we do."

Momma chucked and laid her head on his shoulder.

Dad looked at his beloved longingly. “I know it’s a few minutes early, but Happy Mother’s Day babe”, Then their lips met in an encore kiss and life imitated art as they had become a real life version of the God and Goddess that had graced the cover of the game in Michael’s room.

And like the game ... they had chosen wisely and everyone was a winner.

The End

Writer’s note: Story was originally written by Katie and Destiny as a Mother’s Day gift for Destiny’s Mom. Just so you know ... the two red headed monkeys are still running together and causing mischief. Hugs to you all and should you find a magic coin, wish wisely and pass it on.