<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;color:black;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">DeAnna<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><table class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><td style="padding: 0.75pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">As usuall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">I can’t think of much to</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">improve the story.</font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I have the same
old suggestion I always have about making the transitions from one situation
to the next a little smoother. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It’s interesting
how even dogs can’t help but have a favorite child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Was <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Griffin</st1:city></st1:place></font><font size="3"> afraid of water,
or was he just religiously opposed</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font size="3"> </font></span><font size="3">to
baths.</font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I had a dog, a
dalmation, who was afraid to cross over a 4 inch deep stream. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">But I can’t
blame a dog for not wanting to smell from perfume and get all the oil washed out
of their coat. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I think humans
do that to them because they don’t want shedding hair all over the house. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Dogs know that
smelling of rotted manure and other natural delights is better than perfume. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">They can’t wait
to get rid of the smelly stuff by rolling around in dung<o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">. On the other
hand, all animals like grooming. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">Pardon the polemicy of my comments.
Obviously, All dogs and humans, in fact all living species, are individuals. <o:p></o:p></font></font></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></td><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><td style="padding: 0.75pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></td><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></tr><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></tbody></table><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Part
two of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><font face="Times New Roman"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Griffin</font></span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"> also helped me through another life transition.
I would have had a difficult time adjusting to no longer having any children in
our home in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:state></font><font size="3">.
Our youngest daughter decided not to go to college. She insisted on marrying
her high school sweetheart shortly after she turned eighteen. Having </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> to nurture and
shape into a star dog helped me to weather the inevitable stresses of empty
nest syndrome.<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">An example of how much time and care a guide dog
can require can be illustrated by sharing the story of what happened when I
attempted to give <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
his spring bath. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">On
that June morning in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado Springs</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">,
the weather was in the seventies with a warm dry wind. I usually took my
guide dog </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
to an owner-grooming place that supplied all of the necessities and bathe him
there. I decided to give him his bath in my home tub. It was one of
the oversized affairs with a wide seat at the front and a step up to get in ala
Roman design with shower curtains instead of glass doors. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> hated baths. I gathered all of
my equipment; shampoo, zoom groom rubber brush, bar of flea soap, old towels,
dog cologne and conditioner. I changed into my swimsuit and we proceeded
into the bathroom and close the doors. </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> stood with head down, tail tucked and
whimpered through the rinsing and soaping. My shower head is one of those
that can be detached with a hose on it to get the water where it's needed.
After wringing out as much water as I could with my hands, I dried him with two
large towels and took him outside to clip him to the porch railing with a
leash. I went back inside to remove five pounds of dog hair from the
tub. I mopped up the water he had shaken all over the place. I
gathered up the soggy bath mat, hairy towels, grooming tools and doggy cleaning
products, stowing them in the appropriate locations. I got dressed
in my jeans. When I went out to see how </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> was drying and whether it was time to
brush out the loosened fur from his coat, I couldn't find him. Following
the leash still clipped to the porch rail, I discovered he had squeezed through
the railing, then crawled under the porch and was completely covered in mud. He
had taken refuge under the steps. This area is usually pretty fragrant as
it is where our old cat used to go to relieve himself when the ground was covered
with snow. The mud fortunately hadn't retained much odor since Aslan left
us last year in August for kitty heaven. It was hanging in clumps and
completely ground into the fur. He had obviously rolled around in
it. So, it was back into the bathtub and the whole process had to be
repeated. I was in such a hurry to get him into the tub that I didn't
take time to change back into my bathing suit. My clean tub got another
layer of dog fur supplemented with gritty mud and My jeans got soaked. To say I
was unsympathetic as I rubbed and scrubbed my whimpering mud hound would be an
understatement. I vowed to go back to the self-Grooming shop, no matter
the state of my wallet, the next time I needed to bathe my guide dog.
They have hair dryers, grooming tables and large sinks at convenient
heights. Best of all, when I am done, I can take off the rubber apron,
turn in the tools and grooming products and leave the mess for someone else to
clean up. My lower back didn't appreciate stooping over a cowering dog
for three hours for the two combined baths. However, the mission was finally
accomplished and he was transformed once again into a beautiful German Shepherd
Seeing Eye Dog, clean, fragrant and minus much of his winter coat.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Curtis and I opened a fair trade gift shop
in the historical district of Colorado Springs known as </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Old</font></st1:placename><font size="3"> </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Colorado</font></st1:placename><font size="3">
</font><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">City</font></st1:placetype></st1:place><font size="3">. It kept us busy and
gave us a good excuse to travel. Eventually we were selling hand-crafted items
from over 35 countries. Although we never made much money, we enjoyed the work
and the feeling of contributing to third world economics. We explored the
available technology such as bar code scanners, programs to keep inventory and
ordering that operated with screen reading talking programs. I took classes to
become more computer savvy. I was able to get some writing done and published. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Our eldest daughter graduated from college,
completed a master’s degree in criminal justice. Our youngest daughter was
raising three children on her own. We offered to help her get an AA degree to
become a certified veterinary technician, a CVT. She joined us when her
children were seven, five and three. We helped with childcare while she worked
and attended classes. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Griffin</span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> displayed some new talents. He kept track
of three children and made sure that we always had all three with us before
starting off. He was especially fond of the youngest girl, Amberlee. He would
bring her one of his toys and gently place it in her hand to throw. He made her
older brother and sister chase him down and wrestle for the things he freely
offered to his favorite child. . <o:p></o:p></span></font></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">One day we took the children to an amusement park.
My niece Samantha took Kassia’s three children to go through the haunted house.
When Amberlee screamed, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">
tried to launch himself up over a chain link fence to rush to her rescue. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I was preparing tacos for the family dinner one
evening. Amberlee put down food for <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3">.
</font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3"> could
be a finicky eater. He decided the taco meat I was frying smelled better
than the Science Diet in his dish. Amberlee sat on the floor holding the
pan in her lap chanting, "Open the tunnel, here comes the
train!" She fed </font><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Griffin</font></st1:place></st1:city><font size="3">
a piece of kibble.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Next
to inter the tunnel was a kitty complete with meow. Cows and various
other barn yard animals followed with the appropriate sound effects.
Before long, she proudly reported, "Grandma, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> ate all his dinner!"
Spoiled guide dog you say? Perhaps, it is interesting though how the small
people learn their parenting skills by example. Amberlee was a finicky
eater too. As in most family interactions, there are more smiles than teeth
grindings in being a grandparent who is called upon to help raise their
grandchildren. This is especially true for a blind grandparent, who can’t
access the school pictures and seldom gets to see grandchildren who live
halfway across the country. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">When Kassia graduated with her degree, she was
flown to <st1:city w:st="on">Columbia</st1:city></font><font size="3"> </font><st1:state w:st="on"><font size="3">Missouri</font></st1:state><font size="3">
to interview for a position at the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">University</font></st1:placetype><font size="3">
of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Missouri</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3">. She was
offered a full benefit package which included health insurance for herself and
the children. Although the pay was slightly lower than what she was earning in
Colorado, the money for continuing education and half tuition for her children
if they wished to attend the University, made up for the difference. The only
hitch was that she would need night and weekend childcare. They wanted her to
train in anesthesiology and be on call some nights and weekends. She asked us
to come to </font><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size="3">Missouri</font></st1:place></st1:state><font size="3">
as her backup team. When your family needs you, you go.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Once we arrived, we decided that only one of us
needed to be the designated grandparent. We needed more than Kassia’s salary if
we were going to buy a house, land etc. to give the children the same
opportunities to have pets and a rural childhood that we gave our own children.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I got hired at an independent living center as a
half-time legislative liaison and half-time independent living specialist. My
previous work for the American Council of the Blind gave me experience in
working at both the state and local level. I had hoped <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> would be able to work for at least
six months before retiring at age ten and a half. Unfortunately, he developed
some sort of liver problem and went downhill rapidly. Six weeks after I got
hired, his liver values bottomed out. The vet said he might last an additional
couple of weeks, but death was inevitable. Even on his last day, he wanted to
work. I took him to the office with me and he tried to lead by leash guiding
even though he was weak and unsteady on his feet. I wrote the following poem
for him after he crossed the rainbow bridge. We planted a tree over his ashes
on the five acre farm we bought. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Don't
Look Back<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Your
strength is failing,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Your
pace is slower,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">You
come wearily to your feet when I call.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Your
glorious coat,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Hides
how thin you are.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">From
everyone else but me as I stroke you. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Still
you come to me,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Ready
and willing.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Telling
me you want to guide if I need you.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">You
try to comfort,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">To
end my sorrow,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Place
your loving head on my knee as I cry.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">You'd
stay if you could,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">But
I won't ask it.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The
time has come for you to go on alone.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">A
place waits for you <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Where
there is no pain.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Where
you won't have to struggle to carry on.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Where
you can run free,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Or
rest as you will.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It
is time for you to go there without me.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Don't
pause to look back,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Don't
feel you need stay.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Just
run on ahead to scout the way for me.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I
will look for you,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">When
it is my turn,<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Take
my love and my thanks for the walk we shared.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Go
now don't look back.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">You're
such a good boy.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I'll
be okay even if I am crying.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">I had teers in my eyes as I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">read this poem.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><div style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; padding: 0in; border: currentColor; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3">Griffin</font></span></st1:city></st1:place><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"> taught me that we can get better results
from others if we are willing to give them credit for their
accomplishments. A thank you well timed makes the day brighter for both the
one giving the thanks and the one receiving it. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Griffin</st1:place></st1:city></font><font size="3"> was the only one of my dogs to die in
harness. He loyally guided me until the day he died.<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Cleora<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">This was fun to read. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">There are a few technical problems<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">in the content that are easily corrected, if
they need correction.</font><font size="3"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">This story would make a good video<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">game<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">. I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font size="3">think
Sitting should look like Daisey Duck and the cricket like Jiminey Cricket. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Two brownish-red
foxes stood on the walkway running beside the river flowing under the castle
wall.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“There is nothing
there,” insisted the female. “This castle is abandoned. There hasn't been
anything or anyone here for two days.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes there is,”
argued the male. “I can smell it.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Do you see
anything?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“No, but it's
there. I can smell it.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting awoke
instinctively alert to danger. Jerking her head forward, she found herself
staring into piercing, beady black, eyes as her bill collided with the male
fox's nose. The force propelled her backward in the water as the fox's teeth
closed on empty air. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Quack!” Turning,
she began paddling away from the fox as fast as she could.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper,
stunned by hitting and knocking down the windshield of the carrier, shook his
head trying to orient himself. “What's going on?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Fox,” said
Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper
looked out the front of the carrier. “What fox?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting craned
her head around to look behind her.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Oh, that fox,”
said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“You were right,”
said the female fox.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I told you,”
said the male.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting and
Grasshopper heard two splashes behind them.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“We're visible,”
said Sitting, seeing her reflection in the water.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Slowly
Grasshopper's head began to clear. He saw the windshield was down. Tilting his
head bac, he saw that the visor was turned outward, and one side was hanging
down. He thought it might come off completely if he tried to move it.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The foxes were
almost upon them when Sitting reached the castle wall and ducked under it. She
looked around frantically. The river ran beside a large throne room. They were
just behind an ivory colored throne. Beyond that, about 200 yards away was a
stair case running up to a second floor similar to the one in the castle at
“The Crystal Pond.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Splashing behind
them let them know the foxes had also come under the wall.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Quack,"
squawked Sitting as she spread her wings to fly. “My wings are sore from all
the flying, yesterday.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">She felt a
backward tug as she heard sharp teeth clamp shut behind her.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Ignoring the
soreness in her wings, she flapped hard to lift her and Grasshopper into the
air leaving a disappointed fox with a mouth full of feathers. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Her heart was
pounding. Her tail stung where the feathers had been pulled out, and She was
flying a little to the left. She veered right just in time to land at the top
of the stairs.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The foxes had
reached the stairs and were bounding up them two at a time.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Suddenly she
thought of grasshopper. “Grasshopper! Grasshopper! Are you there? Answer me.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">One thing that bothers me is that aduck can
outswwim a fox by far any day. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">So why was Sitting in a tither about a fox
swimming after her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Also, shoulddn’t she and/or the cricket see the
fox in the first place?<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I'm here,” he
said weekly. “Whew. Am I ever glad I stayed in the carrier.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Hoping this
castle was laid out the same way hers was, she ran down the hall and squeezed
through a partially open door.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The foxes were
right behind them.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Conversely,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font size="3">once they got up on dry land, the fox could have snatched the duck up
without effort. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Didn’t you ever listen to ‘Peter and the Wolf?’ <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">At leasst she had the sense to take off.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper poked
his head out and started looking around the big room they were in. “There's a
table over there.” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting made the
short flight and landed neatly behind a pile of scrolls and a crystal ball
sitting on the table.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The male fox
barked and snarled as he struggled to open the door enough to come through.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">So now she’s got herself cornered. Not much of a
tactitian.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Seeing the
crystal ball, she remembered that Dark Merlin said something about the
equipment being smart. “Door, close,” she commanded.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Hearing panicked
yelping, they peered around the pile of scrolls in time to see the heavy door
close just as the fox managed to pull himself out of the doorway.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Well, that was
convenient,” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yep,” said
Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Why are we
visible?” asked Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper
explained about the visor. “I'm afraid it will break off completely if I try to
lower it.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“We're safe for
now, but how are we going to get out of here.” said Sitting. “I don't think we
should try to go out the way we came.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Agreed. Maybe We
can go out that window,” said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting looked
across the room. Sure enough, there was a shuttered window on the other side
just like the one in her own castle command center. “I guess all the castles
are about the same.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Looks that way.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting's heart
rate was returning to normal. “Do you think the visor still works? Assuming you
can get it to snap in place?"<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I don't know,”
said Grasshopper, looking intently at the visor. “If I try to move it back, I'm
afraid it will break off.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What about the
windshield?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">He reached out
with a front leg and pulled it upright. “It seems ok.” Then, he extended his
antennae and pulled gently on the side of the visor that was still attached. At
first it seemed to be moving ok. He continued to pull. The bottom edge of the
undamaged side snapped into place on the windshield, but the other side was
hanging below the top edge of the windshield.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">He should be using his legs only. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">He has 6 of them. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">His antennae have no strength. They are only there
to feel.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Are we
invisible?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting looked
around for anything that would show a reflection. She walked over to the
crystal ball and looked into it. Half of her was invisible, but the other half
from where her neck attached to her body shimmered and blinked on and off.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Was it her bottom or top half that blinked on and
off?<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Using his
mandibles, Grasshopper tugged on the visor until he was able to raise the low
side up to its proper place on the windshield. At last it snapped into place
and Sitting disappeared completely.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“There,” he said
with satisfaction. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting began to
look around at the stuff on the table. “The fox said this castle had been
abandoned. I wonder what happened to the ruler.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Crystal Ball,
What province is this?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">“This is the <st1:placetype w:st="on">province</st1:placetype></font><font size="3"> of </font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Aeosil</font></st1:placename><font size="3">
of the </font><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><font size="3">Kingdom</font></st1:placetype><font size="3"> of
</font><st1:placename w:st="on"><font size="3">Hades Legions</font></st1:placename></st1:place><font size="3"> formerly of
Realms United (5:35),” said the crystal ball.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What do you
mean, former?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Provinces that
are not happy in the kingdom they are in may defect to another kingdom. Aeosil
defected from Realms United (5:35).” <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I see a number
after the kingdom name sometimes. What does it mean?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“In this case,
the 5 means he was in the kingdom Realms United. The 35 means he was on island
35.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What island are
we on?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“We are on island
48. Kingdom Hades Legions is number one on the island.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What about
Silent Enigma?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Silent Enigma is
kingdom 8 on island 49.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting stared at
the Crystal Ball uncertain what to think. She didn't understand any of this.
With each new bit of information she felt more confused. “How many islands are
there?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“One-hundred.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What are all
these scrolls?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“The ruler
collected kingdom news.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“The foxes said
this kingdom doesn't have a ruler.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“It is true the
ruler has not been seen for two days.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I wonder if
there is anything to eat around here,” said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What?” asked
Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Eat. Food.
Something to fill the ...”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I know what food
is,” snapped Sitting. Then immediately, “I'm sorry. It's just that all of this
is so confusing. We watched a battle between a province from Heavenly Legends
and Silent Enigma followed immediately by a battle with an army from some other
kingdom. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Now I find out we
are on an island, and a province from another island and kingdom joined this
kingdom. How is that possible? How can a ruler just pick up his province and
move it to another place?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper said
nothing.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting stood
staring at the pile of scrolls. “Crystal Ball, can you tell me what is in these
scrolls?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I can answer
specific questions.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">After several
minutes Sitting breathed in and let out a long, slow sigh unable to think of
anything specific to ask. “Do you suppose the foxes have left?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I hope so,” said
Grasshopper. “I'm hungry.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting hopped
down from the table and waddled over to the door. She placed the side of her
head against it and listened intently.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I don't hear
anything,” she said.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">She knocked on
the door with her bill, and listened again.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I think they may
have left.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Door, is there
anyone on the other side?” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Nothing happened.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“We could try
going out the window,” said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yes.” She looked
in the direction of the window. “But I’d like to look at those scrolls after we
find something to eat.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“We could try
opening the door a little,” said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Door, open
enough for me to see out,” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The handle turned
and the door opened a small amount. Sitting and Grasshopper peered through the
crack. No one was there.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“What if they are
just down the hall, or at the bottom of the stairs waiting for us?” asked
Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I could hop off
and go check,” offered Grasshopper. “I don't think foxes would try to eat me.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I think he might be wrong.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Okay,” said
Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Uh-Oh. I wish I
had thought of that before I pulled the visor down.” Grasshopper used his
mandibles to gently unsnap the visor while he tried to hold it steady with his
antennae. There was a crackle followed by the sound of the visor tearing the
rest of the way off the top of the carrier. The visor fell, landing on the
floor outside the door.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Somehow I think
that was a bad thing,” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Yep,” said
Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Doesn't anything
ever go right in this infernal place? Honestly, I can't wait to get out of
here. Wherever here is, that is.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper
hopped down and looked closely at the broken visor. “I might could tuck it in
the carrier. Maybe we can find a way to reattach it.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Forget it. I
just want to get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“It won't hurt to
take it with us.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Oh, alright.”
Sitting lowered her head and Grasshopper pushed the visor up her bill, onto her
head, and into the carrier. He pushed it as far back as he could, then crawled
back into the carrier.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">I thought the duck could see when the visor was
down. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">If so, why is she so willing to give that up and forget
about the visor?<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I thought you
were going to see if the coast is clear,” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Oh, right,” said
Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Grasshopper
hopped up on the guard rail that ran along the hallway. Then, he ran along the
rail toward the stairs where another hall ran perpendicular to the hall that
led to the command center. He looked down the hallway and the stairs. “Looks
clear,” he said. “I think they left.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting joined
him at the top of the stairs. Grasshopper got back in the carrier, and they
started down to the courtyard.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">As they neared
the bottom, a snarling fox came out from behind the throne, his yellow teeth
bared, and a hungry glint in his eye.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Come to dinner,”
said the fox.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“No, thank you,”
said Sitting. she whirled around, and started running back up the stairs. Then,
she saw the other fox standing in front of the door to the command center.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting lifted
off just as the foxes were closing in. She flew to the left and landed on a
dragon head mounted on the wall of the courtyard.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The fox ran over
and stood below the dragon head. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“You can't stay
there forever,” said the mail fox.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">There was a loud
crack followed by the dragon head breaking loose from the wall and falling
straight down.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting spread
her wings, and with a flap soared up over the fox. She could see that the
second story hall met another hall running to the right. There was another open
door. She headed for it. Inside the room, she landed and commanded the door to
close.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">In a few minutes,
they heard an unhappy pair of frustrated foxes scratching at the door, and
making a long wavering screech like someone being brutally murdered.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting stood
trembling at the far wall of the dark room. <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“There doesn't
seem to be a window in this room,” said Grasshopper.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Maybe it is just
shuttered,” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I don't think
so. Even a shutter would let in a little light.”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Sitting breathed
in sharply and sneezed.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Fortunately,
Grasshopper was only thrust halfway out of the carrier. He crawled back inside,
and pulled up the windshield. “When we find someone to fix the visor, I'm going
to ask them to install a shoulder strap.” he said irritably. "What caused
that?”<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I don't know.
I'm smelling something. It tickles my nose,” she said, sneezing again.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Ducks don’t have noses.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The room was
filled with boxes. The boxes were as long and wide as half of Sittings width if
she stretched her wings out completely. They were as high as they were wide.
Best they could determine, all the boxes were the same size. Some were stacked
on top of others.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Exploring, they
found there was enough room to walk between some of them.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“I wonder if I
can get on top of one of these stacks?” said Sitting.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The screeching
and scratching outside the door was deafening.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Suddenly, they
heard a yelp of pain from the other side of the door. There was a soft thud,
then the sound of clawed feet slipping and sliding in a frantic effort to run
away. Then all was silent.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">They waited.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Door, open,”
came a command from outside.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The heavy door
swung open. There in the doorway, stood a tall stranger carrying a bow with an
arrow knocked and ready to fire. Its point was aimed straight at Sitting. At
his feet lay a dead fox.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><div style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding: 0in; border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">to be continued<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Martia <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman">The epicurial
metaphors<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are intense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman">Just <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about all the
senses are represented.<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman">HOw many pounds did you gain on this walk?<o:p></o:p></font></span></u></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Yummy Winter Walk</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Marcia J. Wick, The Write Sisters</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">January 2019</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Word Count: 233</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman">Despite the biting cold, I hunger for a winter walk. I
layer long johns under fuzzy fleece, and pull a hat with ear flaps over my salt
and pepper hair. I slip protective booties on the precious paws of my guide
dog, then I wrap my furry yellow lab in a reflective lemon jacket. She flaps
her ears and pokes her anxious head through the harness. We venture into the
chilly air for a mouth-watering adventure - I gulp at the ice cream delight. <o:p></o:p></font></span></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I am <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>not sure ‘gulp’ is the best word. It has a
gasping connotation.</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The trekkers stretched over my boots provide sure footing
as my guide leads me onto the sidewalk buried beneath a blanket of crispy meringue.
Fence rails like Popsicle sticks line our way. Glittering ribbons of icing
outline bare trees creating a chocolate and vanilla marble maze. </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><div style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in; padding: 0in; border: currentColor; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">My guide dog halts at the curb to survey a slushy
street crossing; she gingerly picks our path through gooey gelatin. Dollops of
marshmallow cream top evergreen hedges and passing cars. Pine needles shimmer
in glaze. Yards are iced and decorated with sprinkles like cookies. Wind stirs
the winter scene, lifting puffs of powdered sugar off the roof tops. The cloudless
sky, like baby blue frosting, caps the frozen treat. As we blast through the
sunshine and shadows, a branch weighed down with mounds of cocoanut slaps me in
the face like a pie. I blink and lick my lips, savoring the sweetness.</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><font face="Times New Roman">Salley <o:p></o:p></font></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv3660609278msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><font face="Times New Roman"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">___________</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></o:p></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p class="yiv2401016080msonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></o:p></span></u></b></p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>