Chapter 15

Junior and Surprise eyed me up and down. Surprise saw just what she expected ... standard 10 year old ... very pretty ... for ten ... in reasonable shape ... straight is a shape ... ten year olds are ‘straight.’ At least this one is.

“You’re 10?” Junior said.

“You know that.”

“Ask me again ... about 4 years from now,” she said.

“Yup,” said Surprise. “Fourteen would be just about ripe ... er ... right.

“You know, you get the watch in two years ... want some practice?”

“Do I haveta?”

“Pretty much ... even if you turn it down, I can’t use it.”

“What about... ?”

“She abandoned us in Onerahi ... didn’t want to leave. That negated her claim.”

“Well ... what about Aunt Cyn ... it’s her watch.”

<Freely given, > said a voice in my head. <and I don’t need it.>

‘Seven?’ I thought.

<Yes.>

‘I think we’re related,’ I thought.

<Auntie Tyche, > said the voice.

‘Nuh uh,’ I thought back. ‘Half sisters.’

<What!?!>

‘This is going to be so much fun.’

<NO!>

‘Yes ... and going by birthdays, ... I’m older.’

<Oh gods!>

‘That’s you ... I’m older than my sister.’ I thought about that, ‘five years.’ I giggled ... no really ... giggled. I never giggle. ‘Hi little sis.’

<Stopit!>

‘How did you get so OLD!’ IU asked Seven.

<Our watches don’t regress us. We can pick and chose.>

‘So ... you’re 22 thousand?’

<I never thought of it that way.> Seven thought ... and had a senior moment.

“EW!” said Junior, “Who did that?”

And they all looked at me.

“Not me ... Seven,” Seven was quite loud and accusatory in tone.

She popped in alone and apologized... “Sorry.”

“Hi, Seven,” came from various and sundry ... Pentwater is used to ‘odd’ folk ... usually in the summer though.

“‘Lo, Ernie,” Seven said.

“Hi, Seven,” replied Ernie.

“Hi, Seven,” shouted Frank from the kitchen.

“Hi, Frank.”

Seven said, “Fourteen Wendy’s and fries.”

“Fresh rootbeer?” suggested Ernie after he called back her order.

“Ooo ... and one for the counter,” nodded Seven.