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From: "Bill Morgan" <morg1058@chartervt.net>
Subject: {ASSM} NEW from Morgan: BARBARA Part 3 of 6
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 20:10:05 -0500
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<1st attachment, "Barbara 3.txt" begin>

The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual
relationships.  If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or
otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*

*  *  *

*_Barbara_ -- Part 3 of 6*

Copyright (c) By Morgan, 1994, 2002.  All Rights Reserved

Please note the original copyright date.  This story was
basically written eight years ago.  As a result, you will likely
find obsolete references.  I'm afraid you'll just have to live
with it; it's too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and
greatest.

This book is part of the Ali Clifford saga and in time follows
Cynthia Martin by about 5 years.  Because of the fact that there
are other stories that overlap in time, some readers may find
references to events they've never heard of.  With luck, you
eventually will.

Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_.  The
reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a
word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my
intent.  Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold
face.  If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of
things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.

More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Morgan/www> 
If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at
<morg105829@aol.com.>  My books are also posted on
<www.storiesonline.net>.

*  *  *

*Chapter 18*

Returning to the courthouse with the two children, Callaway found
Barbara Conroy waiting for them along with two other couples. 
Looking at the two women, the judge saw that one had the same
brilliant green eyes and platinum-blonde hair as Andrea
Cartwright's while the other was a golden blonde with the most
brilliant blue eyes he had ever seen.  Clearly these were the
children's mothers.  The two women dropped to their knees and the
children hurled themselves into their arms.  The love that flowed
between mothers and children was almost palpable in its
intensity.

The two women held the children in their arms and stood up. 
Ken's mother asked, "And what did you two imps do?  Were you
being good?"

Glancing around the lobby, Callaway saw that they were alone.  He
said, "They saved my life, Mrs. Clifford, so in return I bought
them lunch.  As far as your question is concerned, I'll only
repeat what the maitre d' at my club asked me: 'Who are those two
little angels?'  The answer is that they were both little
angels."

"Oh, Kenny!" Ali Clifford exclaimed, "I'm so proud of you, my
son."

Then she smiled at him with the warmest, most brilliant smile
John Callaway had ever seen.  Clearly this was the sunshine smile
Kenny had spoken of.  Moreover, his reaction was exactly what he
had said: The little boy just shone in the reflected brilliance
of his mother's smile and the happiness she was feeling.

Seeing the woman's smile, something came back in the judge's
memory.  "You're Ali McGrath, aren't you?  But... but you can't
be!  It was so many years ago when I saw you in Vietnam..."

Still holding the boy in the crook of her left arm, she extended
her hand and said, "How do you do, Judge Callaway.  Yes, I am --
or was -- Ali McGrath.  It's so good of you to remember me.  But
what is this nonsense about saving your life?"

Before answering her, Callaway first introduced himself to
Andrea's mother who gave the girl a duplicate of Ali's smile. 
The little girl reacted in exactly the same way Kenny did.

Then he said, "This morning, when I entered the courtroom, I was
dying.  I had a malignant tumor growing rapidly and spreading at
the base of my brain.  Your son estimated that I had less than
one month to live and possibly less than a week.

"When they asked to see me in my chambers, they explained that
they knew I was dying and asked if they could try to help.  Since
the greatest minds of medical science had long since given me up
for dead, I had nothing to lose so, of course, I agreed.  At that
the two children knelt on the floor, held my hands and Andy said
a prayer to God asking for his intercession in my case.  As soon
as she completed her prayer, I could feel pressure in my skull
that has been a constant in my life for months, start to
diminish.  In moments, it disappeared completely.

"Through the prayers of your two children I believe I have
experienced a miracle.  But back to the comment I mentioned, my
reply was that I think they are, in fact, two angels.  I truly
believe it.  Mrs. Clifford and Mrs. Cartwright, you have been
blessed by God with these children."

Before the parents could respond, Andy said, "Mommy and Kenny's
Mommy, I think I was bad."

When Connie Cartwright looked at her daughter with a puzzled
expression, Andy continued, "You see, I really feel sorry for
Kelly Callaway.  Mom, she is such a gorgeous woman and she's just
like you.  You know that I can look into a person's brain and see
things sometimes that the person himself is unaware of?  Well,
that happened this morning.

"You see, the judge has been hearing Kelly crying at night as she
just writhes in bed in a frustration of wanting.  And she's so
good, she's just like Bobbie was: It would never occur to her to
get relief through masturbation.  She just writhes on her bed in
agony."  Turning to Callaway she added, "A number of times she
has even come into your room late at night when you were
sleeping.  Once she was just about to awaken you when you
screamed in pain from your tumor."

Then dropping her voice until it was just above a whisper she
concluded, "That's why I also prayed silently for God to make you
younger and why I suggested that tonight you just kiss Kelly the
way you've always wanted to and then just see what happens."

Tears had come to the little girl's eyes as she looked back at
her mother and asked, "Will I be punished for what I did,Mommy?"

Connie just shook her head and replied softly, "My darling Andy,
if anything happened, God Himself caused it to happen.  You only
asked.  If you're correct, it was God's own plan, so who am I to
second-guess the Lord?  Right?"  Then she hugged the girl and
added, "My darling, I am so pleased and proud that you're
learning more about your very special powers and are using them
to help others."

Then she introduced her husband, Chip, while Ali introduced Bill.
 After the introduction Bill said, "Darling, I think the children
have been extra-special good today so something special is called
for."

With a big grin he said, "The circus is in town, kids.  How would
you like to go tonight?"  The children were elated at the
prospect.

Then the judge's eyes widened as Ali asked Connie, "Daughter,
could you spare a tit to feed Kris tonight along with little
Charley?  I'll have to use the urchins to drain my tits.  Could
you?"

"Good grief, Mom!  What do I look like?  A cow?" Connie asked
with a grin.

Ali just reached out her hand, gently felt her daughter's
milk-swollen breast, and said with a wink, "As a matter of fact,
yes!"

Then Chip Cartwright said, "Judge, just before we were married,
at Ali's wedding reception, Connie said the most beautiful words
I have ever heard.  She announced that since she was not going to
compete with me in making money -- she didn't think she could,
but more importantly we can't possibly spend what we already have
-- she was going to do something I can't possibly do: She was
going to make babies.

"Judge, Andy is the result.  For a first effort, Connie didn't do
too badly, do you think?  Of course, she is only the first and
Connie really hadn't warmed up yet, but for a first effort...?"

"Mr. Cartwright, I can only say again: You and your wife, with
God's help, brought an angel into the world.  You couldn't
possibly have done any better."

Then after glancing at his watch he said with a grin, "Now how
about if we get this show back on the road?"  With the warmest
smile at Andy he had ever given anyone he said, "I don't want to
be late getting home tonight!"

* * *

Returning to his seat on the bench, the bailiff called the court
to order.  Roberta Kramer was on her feet waiting to address the
court as soon as the bailiff concluded his duties.  "Your Honor,
we went through Mrs. Conroy's little... charade this morning. 
That test -- such as it was -- only tested mere facts.  There's
far more to education than the rote memorization of facts," she
said disdainfully.  "There's the need to put those facts to use
--"

"Of course, Ms. Kramer," Bobbie interjected.  "You mean reasoning
ability?  Well, I have some questions here that I propose to use
this afternoon.  I have written them on slips of paper.  The
court can deal them out to whomever it wishes in whatever order.
I estimate that forty-five minutes should be an appropriate
length of time to answer each question.  Is that fair?  You and
your colleagues will, of course, participate.  It's only right
that the court have answers from highly-educated adults such as
yourselves to use as a benchmark."

With that she brought up a small stack of little slips and a
package of blue answer books that were standard in so many
colleges and universities for test-taking.

Again the clerk of the court distributed the questions and the
answer books.  This time, though, it was the three children being
tested against three of the people at the plaintiff's table.  Ms.
Kramer was one of them.  Callaway watched the proceedings with
interest, mentally rejoicing at how great he felt for the first
time in memory.

The first thing he noted was the children took out fountain pens,
carefully read their questions, thought for a few minutes and
then began to write swiftly.  Mrs. Conroy had left the table and
was joined by a number of people -- obviously parents -- in the
hallway.  Returning his attention to the table where the children
were taking the test, he was fascinated watching them.  It almost
appeared as if all of their attention was focused on their
handwriting rather than on its content.  Meanwhile at the state's
table, there were apparently problems with the questions
themselves.

Ken Clifford was the first one to finish his test.  Bringing it
up to the judge's bench he whispered so as not to disturb the
people still taking the test, "Judge, I want to apologize for my
very poor handwriting.  I'm really working on it very hard -- so
are the other kids -- but it's still got a long way to go!"

Looking at the boy's test booklet, Callaway was amazed.  The
script was meticulous and beautiful.  "Kenny, this is terrific! 
I wish I could write nearly as well.  What do you mean?"

"But judge, it's terrible!  Just look at this," he said passing
Callaway the slip of paper on which the question he had answered
was written.  The handwriting -- Bobbie's -- was the most
beautiful he had ever seen.  Before he could say anything, Kenny
added, "Please don't say anything to Bobbie -- Oops!  Mrs. Conroy
-- judge.  It's only so sloppy because she just scribbled the
questions out in a hurry.  Normally, her handwriting is utterly
perfect."

Realizing the little boy was being completely serious he asked,
"What do you mean by good handwriting, Ken?"

"Well, sir, Mrs. Conroy demonstrated what she meant one day in
class.  You see, sir, back during the Civil War period, fine
writing was the hallmark of ladies and gentlemen.  There were
people with handwriting so fine that it was possible for them to
write across a piece of paper, then turn it sideways and continue
with all the words crossing the ones already written.

"Well, Bobbie wrote a letter that way.  Except instead of writing
vertically, after the first horizontal page she tilted the paper
to the left and wrote with the words intersecting at a forty-five
degree angle.  When she finished that, she tilted the paper the
opposite direction.  Now her writing intersected the original at
forty-five degrees the opposite way, and the second pass at
ninety degrees.  When she gave it to us to read, it was the most
incredible thing I have ever seen.  Reading each way, the writing
was so clear and easy to read.  It was unbelievable!"

"Can you or any of your friends do that yet?" the judgeinquired.

"Karen Chan can do it two ways but not yet three," the boy
answered.  "I guess that's because she is Oriental.  Everything
about her is so incredibly graceful and elegant."  He grinned and
added, "We tease her about being an Oriental midget while she
calls us a bunch of Occidental oafs!  You know something, Judge?
I think she's right.  And she is such an incredibly beautiful
little doll!"

"Are you going to marry her when you grow up?" the judge teased.

"Oh, no sir!" Ken immediately exclaimed.  "I thought it was
pretty clear to you, though.  I am going to marry Andy."

Then he added softly, "Judge, that's why Andy feels so badly for
Kelly.  It's something Andy and I both understand completely,
except for totally different reasons.  You know, sir, it's
absolutely terrible to have an adult's needs and desires trapped
in a small child's body.  All we can do now is wait, but I love
her so much!  You tasted the love in her lips.  Can you imagine
what I get?  It's the same love but at a level of intensity
that's multiplied, coupled with pure passion!"  With tears in his
eyes Ken concluded, "We adore one another.  Honest we do."

Callaway had been looking into his eyes while Ken Clifford was
speaking and knew instantly that he was hearing the complete
truth.  These two were incredible people and could, in fact _be_
angels.  Certainly they were like no humans of any age he had
ever met.  Moreover, he had personally experienced some of their
extraordinary powers himself that morning.

Ken left the bench and Callaway started to read his test.  First,
the question: "America's Revolution was fought almost exclusively
on land but decided at sea.  Explain and discuss."  His eyes
widened as he realized it was the sort of question one might find
on a specialized college history course dealing with the
Revolutionary period.

Fascinated, he began to read the little boy's answer.  In several
comprehensive paragraphs he sketched the sweep of the land war in
the Middle Colonies and then in the South.  The decisive event,
in his opinion, was the defeat of the British fleet off the
Chesapeake Capes by the French under de Grasse and d'Estaing. 
With Admirals Graves and Hood unable either to resupply
Cornwallis at Yorktown or evacuate him, the general was forced to
surrender.  Finishing the test booklet, Callaway let out a soft
whistle.  The paper was, in his opinion, perfect.  It was
carefully presented and beautifully reasoned and supported.  He
found a red pencil in his drawer and carefully wrote A+ on the
cover.

When Casey Jackson brought up her paper and gave it to him with a
shy smile, he smiled back.  The girl quickly retreated to look
for her parents while he opened her test.  Her question: "A
British senior officer serving with Cornwallis in the South wrote
in a letter home, 'If we win one more battle like that one, we
shall surely lose the war.'  Explain and discuss."

Intrigued, he opened the small girl's test paper.  Her
handwriting was as beautiful as Ken's but even neater in a
charmingly feminine way.  He began to read how Cornwallis had
moved out of his base at Charleston, South Carolina, with his
force in an attempt to wipe out the Continental forces in the
South.  He read how the British had "won" first at Cowpens, and
later at Guilford Courthouse -- the battle that was referred to
in the British officer's letter.  In each case "winning" was
defined as being in possession of the field of battle at its
conclusion, but also in each case Cornwallis sustained
frightening and unaffordable losses of manpower.

Meanwhile, a Tory force under Major Ferguson encountered Ike
Shelby, John Sevier, and the over-mountain men.  A British effort
to rouse the Indians against the over-mountain settlers had
backfired.  The aroused colonials, who until then had been
sympathetic to the Revolution but essentially uncommitted, moved
east over the mountains and wiped out Ferguson and his troops at
King's Mountain exposing Cornwallis's left flank.  At the same
time guerrillas under Francis Marion had interdicted his supply
columns coming up from Charleston so he was faced with the choice
of either returning to his base or cutting himself off and
relying on total victory.  When his cavalry force under Col.
Banastre Tarleton was destroyed by Light Horse Harry Lee's
troopers, his movements became a full-bore retreat which ended at
Yorktown.

The judge reread the paper and marveled.  Here was a small girl,
only six years old, dealing with the entire sweep of
Revolutionary history.  Again taking his red pencil he neatly
wrote A+ and put the paper aside.

Andy Cartwright's paper was as good as the others.  Her
handwriting was, if anything, even finer than Casey's.  Her
question: "The Battle of Saratoga was rated by an English
historian as one of the fifteen decisive battles of all time,
ranking with Waterloo and ahead of Trafalgar.  Why?  Explain and
discuss."

After reading the girl's brilliant essay and grading it an A+,
Callaway reflected on what he had already seen and heard that
day.  First, the allegations being made by the state had already
been established to be utterly absurd.  Bobbie Conroy might be
the finest teacher alive in the world teaching the most brilliant
collection of students ever assembled in one place.  Not even
halfway through the first grade, they were writing examination
papers that would receive top grades in advanced college history
courses.  Moreover, they were courses of a type offered only at
the finest schools to their finest students.

When the clerk indicated time was up, the bailiff collected the
test booklets from Kramer and the attorneys.  When they were
delivered to Callaway he looked at the questions and then tried
to read the answers.  First, he had terrible difficulty trying to
read what was written.  Although he could not decipher all the
words, he could read enough to know that they didn't have the
first clue about an answer.

Looking up from the bench he addressed the court.  "Ladies and
gentlemen, first, I have graded the children's papers.  Each was
given the grade of A+.  Looking at Casey he asked, "Miss Jackson,
I was overwhelmed by your knowledge of Colonial history in the
South.  Is it an area of particular interest?"

"Yes, sir, it is," the girl replied after first rising from her
chair.  "You see, my ancestors were slaves in the South.  My
grandmother was raised in Virginia, sir.  She worked for a family
that was FFV on both sides.  That's the First Families of
Virginia.  Sir, they were true ladies and gentlemen.  She
carefully observed what they did and how they acted and vowed to
behave the same way.  My mother was raised that way, sir.  Her
father was career Army and he was away a great deal, so it left
it up to my grandmother.  She would accept nothing less than
ladylike behavior at all times -- and still won't.  Yes, sir. 
I'm very interested in the South."

At that point a giant black man rose to his feet from a place
behind where the other children were sitting and approached the
bench.  He was over six feet six and appeared to weigh over 250
pounds.  Callaway's eyes widened as he came up.  Then the man
spoke in a very quiet voice, but one that carried to the far
corners of the very large courtroom.  "Your Honor, my name is
John Smith.  May I have your permission to address the court?  I
am a member of the bar of the State of Illinois and am Casey's
grandfather.  May I, sir?"

Callaway instantly agreed.

"Your Honor, as I said, I am Casey's grandfather -- or at least
her honorary grandfather.  Her true grandfather -- my wife's
first husband -- was killed in the service of our country.  He
died a true hero.  Sir, I played professional football and
subsequently almost destroyed my life with drugs -- principally
cocaine.  Mary Jefferson picked me up, trained me to be her
butler and took care of me.  Everything you have heard from Casey
is the God's-honest truth: Mary Jefferson Smith is not a lady,
though, sir.  She is a queen!  With her inspiration I completed
three and a half years of college in a year and then three years
of law school in a year and a half.

"Her daughter -- my daughter, now -- April Jefferson Jackson, is
a princess.  (She insisted that I adopt her as my daughter, and I
was never so proud of anything in my life.  Except maybe for the
day of her wedding when she kissed me and told me how proud she
was to be escorted down the aisle on my arm.  She said that her
father -- her real father, Tom Jefferson -- would be delighted,
too.) At any rate, April came out here to Los Angeles when Mrs.
Clifford bought another bank.

"You see, sir, in Chicago, April is known as one of 'the twins
who aren't.'  Mrs. Clifford's daughter-in-law, Cindy Burke, is
the other.  Under Cindy, they established the most successful
lending program for small and minority-owned business in the
United States.  Anyway, Mrs. Clifford asked April to come out
here, along with Bill and Kathy Cartwright, to install a similar
program.  When they arrived, she learned about the school Mrs.
Conroy is running and was utterly delighted to have Casey
accepted as a student in it.

"The reason I asked to speak, sir, is that I'm sure that the next
thing we'll hear from the idiots at the other table -- excuse me,
sir.  I apologize for the remark -- is that there is no racial
mixture.

"That's garbage.  Casey is certainly black, Karen Chan is
Oriental, and Cindy Cartwright is mixed.  I will never forget the
day Casey came home from school, when Mary and I were out here
last.  It was the day on which it was Casey's turn to take her
nap with Mrs. Conroy.  You see, these children are still pretty
young so Bobbie insists that they take a nap every day.  Each
day, she lets a different student sleep with her.

"That day was Casey's first turn.  With her eyes as big as
saucers she told how Bobbie caressed her small body and hugged
and kissed her.  She said to me, 'Granddad, she doesn't know I'm
black -- or if she knows, she certainly doesn't care.  And...
and... she loves me!  She really does!' And you know what, Judge?
 She's absolutely right!  Bobbie Conroy _does_ love her -- as she
loves every other student in her class.  My wife is utterly
thrilled!

"Although it isn't all roses for us.  That same night, there we
were -- all of us: Casey, her parents, Mary and me, and to his
total disgust, her older brother, Ron -- sitting around the
kitchen table practicing our handwriting.  Bobbie -- Mrs. Conroy
-- had told the children how important it was for ladies and
gentlemen to have well-formed handwriting."

With a broad grin he continued, "Well, sir, that was all my wife
needed to hear.  Mary agreed with her granddaughter instantly and
insisted _we all_ practice.  It was the funniest thing you have
ever seen.  Here is my little granddaughter going around the
table critiquing everyone's writing.  When my daughter thought
she could sneak out to feed the baby do you know what Casey said?
 She said, 'Mom, you write with your right hand.  Just hold Danny
to your tit with your left hand and keep practicing.' And that's
what poor April had to do!"  Smith grinned, shook his head and
said, "I wonder if one of Casey's ancestors was a black
plantation overseer?  Boy, what a little slave driver!"

Then with a very warm smile and a shake of his head he added,
"And yet, at the same time, I could see Bobbie Conroy's
influence: Casey was loving, helpful, and encouraging as she
worked with all of us -- even her brother, Ron, would you
believe?

"But at the same time she had standards of achievement in her
mind to be reached and maintained!  With no excuses!"  Looking
directly at Callaway he finished, "Your Honor, that is Bobbie
Conroy.  She will not bend her standards one millimeter!  For
anyone!  So the children are rightfully so proud when they
achieve, sir.  They know that, when Bobbie says their work is
good, _it's good!_  And good for Casey Jackson is good for Kenny
Clifford.  It's the same standard for everyone.  Sir, that's
education and that's what we want!"

When Smith had mentioned April holding her son with her left hand
while practicing her handwriting with the right, there had been
an explosion of laughter.  Now there was the sound of people
moving in the audience and the most beautiful young black woman
Callaway had ever seen approached the bench and said, "Excuse me,
Your Honor.  But I couldn't control myself."

Then taking a handsome young man by the hand she came forward
followed by another woman who looked like her sister.  "Sir, I'm
April Jackson and this is my husband, Ron, and my mother, Mary
Smith.  Ron and I are Casey's parents and I want you to know how
proud we are of her and how much we appreciate what Bobbie is
doing for her and the other children.  We would like to
underscore what my father just said."

Looking at the young man, Callaway had a flash of recognition. 
"You're Ron Jackson, the Bear's All-Pro safety, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir," Ron replied.  "But to set the record straight, you
should know that my father-in-law -- my _father,_ damn it -- is
John Smith, a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame. 
He was a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers."

With a broad grin he added, "Your Honor, when your father is John
Smith -- and he can break you in half with one hand -- you
_better_ be good to his daughter.  And sir, he couldn't possibly
love April any more than he does.  And his comments about Mary? 
They couldn't be more true.  As you can see, she's a queen -- and
she looks like April's sister.  And when April has had a really
tough day, she looks like her _younger_ sister!"

With that April turned, melted Ron with a kiss and then said,
"Sir, I would just like to thank you for your comments about
Casey's test paper.  You can't know how proud it makes us feel,
and how happy we are for our daughter.  I can't tell you what it
means to us to see her come home every day just bubbling over to
tell us what happened in school that day.

"We see Bobbie Conroy as if she can take these children's brains
out of their heads and just stretch them.  She is like the
starter motor on a car's engine: she spins to get it turning and
then it runs by itself.  Well, it hasn't happened yet -- their
brains are not yet running by themselves -- but almost.  Casey
now has a love of learning _for its own sake!_  She now has the
finest collection of friends a young girl could possibly wish
for.  She is so exuberant, she just bubbles!  What more could
parents possibly want?

"Oh, I almost forgot!  There is her love of God.  We did almost
have a small war with Bobbie over that one.  You see, one evening
she called me and was very upset.  She had just realized that the
religion she was teaching was Roman Catholic -- she is a Catholic
and most of the children are, too.  Anyway, recognizing we are
Baptists, she was very concerned.

"Well, the whole family talked about it and the next day my
father went downtown to see her.  As you can see, there's
something about Dad -- it _might_ be his size," she said with a
wink," -- that does get one's attention.  Anyway, he laid down
the law to Bobbie.  He said, 'You talk about God, don't you?  You
teach these children about Our Savior, Jesus Christ, don't you? 
Well, lady, we don't give a damn about the details!  You just
keep it up!'  I think Bobbie said something like, 'Yes, sir!' and
that was the end of the discussion.

"Oh, there is one more thing.  We all love her -- desperately! 
What she has done for us through Casey is beyond belief.  We
respectfully urge you to rule against the state's petition,sir."

Before Callaway could respond there was thunderous applause from
all the spectators.  Glancing up and looking around the room he
realized that none of the children nor their parents were making
a sound.  All of the applause was coming from the disinterested
spectators.  He smiled inwardly and said, "Thank you all, very
much, for coming up and making your feelings and impressions
known."

Then to Ron Jackson he said, "But speaking as a Rams fan,
couldn't you break a leg, or dislocate a finger or something,
before you play the Rams again?  You're unbelievable!"

With a very broad grin Jackson shook his head and replied,
"Judge, I really don't think you want that.  You see, if I
couldn't play, April probably would.  And if you think I'm tough,
you should see her!  Did you see the Super Bowl telecast a few
years ago when we played the Raiders?  If you did, you saw the
pre-game show that featured a game we played against the girls in
the rain and mud in New Orleans.  Sir, perhaps you would be
interested to know that the star of the other team, Cathy
Bradley, is Bobbie Conroy's _sister._  Is that of any interest?"

"It certainly is," the judge replied.  After searching his brain
for a moment he asked, "Does that also make her related to Kris
Bradley, as well?"

"She's her other sister, Your Honor," April replied.

"Mrs. Conroy," the judge said, looking at Bobbie, "please convey
my deepest respects and my thanks to your sister, Kris.  In his
very last letter to his wife -- he was killed in action on his
next mission -- my son, Jack, told how your sister came out to
their air base in the desert to entertain the troops.  He said
she spent over eighteen hours with the men!  She talked
personally to every single person who wanted to talk to her.  She
just would not quit.

"My daughter-in-law, Kelly, wrote your sister a letter when she
received Jack's and told her what had happened and how her visit
had so brightened and inspired his last hours on earth.  A few
days later, she received the most marvelous note from your
sister.

"Believe it or not, she remembered Jack and passed on his last
words -- how much he loved his wife, Kelly -- to Kelly.  She
actually described him -- she wasn't making it up.  Then a while
later Kelly totally cracked up when she received the most
beautifully engraved card from an order of cloistered monks
saying that they would offer a daily mass _in perpetuity_ for the
repose of the soul of John J. Callaway, Jr.  It had been
requested by Miss Kristin Bradley."  Tears were flowing from the
judge's eyes as he concluded, "Mrs. Conroy, your sister is a
saint!"

"I disagree with your last statement, Your Honor," Bobbie replied
quietly.  "She's an impossible imp who's always stealing my
clothes!  And that's when she's being good!  But I'll pass on
your comments, though.  I know she'll be very pleased when I tell
her what you just said.

"As far as your comment about the time she spent with the troops,
that _is_ true.  You see, sir, women can't fight in combat.  But
Kris wanted to make the troops who were facing death feel that
the country was behind them and someone -- her -- cared a great
deal about what they were doing.

"As far as remembering your son, Jack, I'm sure she really did. 
She has an unbelievable memory for names and faces.  I guess she
thought something like this might happen so she took particular
care to remember everyone she talked with and tried her best to
see everyone who wanted to see her -- regardless of how much of
her time it took."

With a wry grin she added, "Oh, hell!  I guess she's not
_completely_ awful -- in spite of being my twin sister."

Glancing over at the state's table he saw the looks of dismay on
the faces of the people seated there. _My God!_ he thought. _They
don't get it yet!  They lost this case totally hours
ago._*Chapter 19*

Roberta Kramer was back on her feet.  "Your Honor," she declared,
"this trial has been a complete farce!"

_You've got that one thing right,_ Callaway thought, _even if
you're totally wrong in your sense of direction._

"I suppose we have established that at least a few of these
children are a bit brighter than average..."  There was a ripple
of laughter through the courtroom as Callaway could no longer
control himself and rolled his eyes to the amusement of the
spectators.  "...but can Mrs. Conroy teach?  What about... about
physical education!?" Kramer blurted, evidently quite proud of
herself for coming up with a point she didn't think Bobbie could
handle.

"Now why do you suppose I thought Ms. Kramer would sooner or
later come around to that one?" Bobbie said aloud but in a tone
of voice she might use in talking to herself.  "Maybe it's
because our classroom is on the thirty-eighth floor of a downtown
office building.  Oh, well..."  With that she smiled acidly at
Kramer, reached below the table and pulled out a large packing
box.

Before the day of the trial but after learning which courtroom
would be used, Bobbie had come down to the courthouse and looked
the room over carefully.  First, because the courtroom was very
large and the courthouse dated from before World War II, its
ceiling was very high -- somewhat over twenty feet.  Moreover,
there were several large hooks set in the ceiling, possibly
having been used to suspend heavy ceiling fans in the days before
the building had been air-conditioned.

Going into the box Bobbie took out a coil of rope.  With a warm
smile she said, "Judge, I'm really not dressed appropriately for
what I'm about to do.  I hope it won't offend the Court's
sensibilities if I strip down to a point that is still well
beyond what I would have to wear at a public beach -- and _far
beyond_ what I normally wear."  At that comment all of the
children laughed and giggled knowing that Bobbie's normal
beachwear was being nude.

"I think we can live with it," Callaway replied.  "After all,
you're doing it at the State's request."

With a quick grin Bobbie slipped off the white dress she was
wearing and stepped out of her pumps.  Now she was wearing only a
tiny white bikini which left her cheeks bare, and a white
camisole.  Her fully-revealed figure was utterly magnificent. 
After carefully measuring out a length of rope, she coiled it and
then with a casual-appearing flick of her arm and wrist sent the
coil sailing up toward the ceiling.  She caught the ceiling hook
on her first try.

"What on earth is she doing!?" Kramer exclaimed.

"Hanging a climbing rope on the ceiling," Andy replied acidly. 
"What does it look like she's doing?  Besides, it's a lot easier
throwing that line than it is to throw a rope made of braided
vines.  That's what Mrs. Conroy was using most of the pastyear."

Now Bobbie had two lengths of line in her hands with the bend
hanging high above her from the hook in the ceiling.  Again going
to her box she removed a length of much heavier rope.  This time
it was the type normally used in gyms for rope climbing and even
had a leather-covered knot on the bottom.  Measuring out to the
halfway point she hung it around her neck.  Looking up at the
ceiling she gripped the double length of line and hauled herself
upward.

Kramer and the spectators gasped at what they were seeing.  As
soon as her weight was suspended from the rope, the incredible
muscle development in her arms and shoulders became apparent. 
Without using her legs or feet at all, Bobbie just hauled herself
quickly up the rope to the ceiling.

Once there, she used her feet for the first time, wrapping the
rope around her leg and then using her feet to hold herself in
position.  Then she carefully hauled down on the length of heavy
rope around her neck to bring its end with its attachment fitting
to hand.  When she had the end, she carefully fitted it over the
ceiling hook making sure that it was solidly fastened.  Shifting
over to the climbing rope, she then lifted the first rope off the
hook and let it drop to the floor.

After again checking the attachment of the climbing rope she went
down so fast it was almost as if she were falling.  Again there
was a gasp from the spectators while the children just looked at
each other.  They couldn't understand what the spectators thought
was so special.  All Bobbie had done was to hang the rope on the
ceiling, after all.  To them it was no big deal.

After picking up the thinner line and putting it back in the box
she said, "Okay, kids!  Let's get with it."  Looking at the
children, she raised an eyebrow and with a grin and a wink said,
"Surely you're not going to climb dressed like that, are you?"

Then she looked up at the judge and said, "It's show-time again.
Although the girls will not be wearing bras, I think you'll agree
that it's at least six months to a year before they'll need
them."  Callaway just grinned and nodded.  He also winked his eye
that was away from the state's side of the room.

Meanwhile the spectators were amazed to see how quickly the small
children undressed, carefully folded their clothes and placed
them in neat piles on the table.  When they were stripped down to
their underwear, the boys were only wearing white jockey shorts
while the girls were only wearing very feminine-looking cotton
briefs.  Most had tiny pink bows on each side at the leg
openings.

Looking at Bobbie, Andy asked, "Teams, Mrs. Conroy?  Please, can
we do it as teams?"  The other children all cheered the
suggestion.

"Judge, what Andrea is asking is if they can compete as two teams
of five children.  It's what we often do in school.  While
normally we use two ropes at once, today I'll have to use a
stopwatch since we have only one."

Just then Roberta Kramer spoke up.  "Surely, Mrs. Conroy, you do
not expect those children to _climb_ that rope!"

"I don't?" Bobbie replied wide-eyed.  "What do I expect, then? 
It's really not very good to eat."

"But... But rope-climbing is only for boys and then only at the
high-school level.  In the primary grades we walk in circles--"

"We climb ropes," Bobbie interrupted.  "And as far as being only
for boys, why?  In our school we do not discriminate on the basis
of sex.  And we don't use race or sex norming, either -- whatever
on earth they may be.  The kids just climb the rope.  As far as
being done at the high-school level is concerned, I think I
already established that my kids are... precocious."

"But... but you climbed it yourself!" Kramer exclaimed.  "And...
and you're a _woman!"_

Looking down at her body, Bobbie pantomimed a great discovery. 
"Good grief!" she exclaimed.  "Who would ever have believed it."

Then with a disdainful look on her face she added, "Look, Kramer,
I gather you were impressed because I climbed the dumb rope.  Big
deal!  If my husband, Tom, were here he would have climbed it
_with me hanging on his back!_  And if he really wanted to show
off, he would do it one-handed.  I will concede I'm in reasonably
good shape _for a woman._  Compete with Tom?  There's no way. 
His arms would make at least four of mine and his shoulders are
about twice as broad."

With a little grin she added, "It works out pretty well, though.
The whole width of me fits comfortably across his chest.  That
way, when he has his arms around me, I am completely enveloped by
his glorious body while he mashes my tits against his chest."

As she made her last comment, Bobbie blushed.  Turning to
Callaway she said, "I apologize, Your Honor!  I'm afraid I got a
little carried away just then."

Speaking very softly but just loudly enough for Bobbie to hear,
the judge replied, "You love him desperately, don't you?  And,
Bobbie, on you it looks just great!"

"Thank you, Judge, and I sure do," she whispered in reply.  Then
turning her back on Kramer, Bobbie said, "Okay.  Which team is
first?"

Since the class had three boys and seven girls, one of the teams
had two boys -- Mike Morris and Charley Conrad -- while Kenny was
on the team with four girls, one of whom was -- of course --
Andy.

The other team went first and Karen Chan led off.  The small girl
-- just slightly smaller than her classmates -- went scrambling
up the rope using her arms and legs.  Reaching the top, she
touched the mounting hook and then slid down using the line
between her bare feet as a brake.

Callaway noted that, even though there were competing teams, all
the children on the floor cheered and encouraged each climber. 
Moreover, now that the children had stripped to only their shorts
it was apparent how beautifully tanned and healthy they allwere.

In spite of all being very sturdy little youngsters, he was
interested to note the femininity of the little girls and the
masculinity of the boys, in spite of only being six years old. 
With a shout, the last member of the team, Mike Morris, touched
the floor after almost dropping from the ceiling.  Barbara Conroy
hit the button on her stopwatch, and then announced the time to
the cheers of the children.  By now the spectators were crowding
around the railing to get a better look.  It was apparent that
they, too, were fascinated by the children.

When it was the other team's turn, Andy Cartwright was scheduled
to lead off, followed by Casey Jackson, Betsy Clifford and Cindy
Cartwright.  Kenny Clifford was climbing last.  As Andy prepared
to climb, he came up behind her and patted her bottom.  The judge
noted that she smiled warmly and then after quickly turning her
head towards him kissed him quickly full on the lips.

On the start signal the girl went flying up the rope with the
same agility he had seen Barbara Conroy display, although she did
use her legs in the climb.  It appeared to him that this team was
faster than the other.  Casey Jackson displayed the incredible
coordination that he would have expected from the daughter of an
All-Pro football player and a world-class sprinter.  Callaway had
remembered the televised game before the Super Bowl and
remembered that April Jefferson -- now Jackson -- could really
fly.  Then Betsy and Cindy climbed with the same strength and
agility the others displayed.

Finally it was Ken's turn.  He climbed exactly the way Barbara
Conroy had, only using his arms.  He, too, had remarkable muscle
development in his arms and shoulders for a small boy.  After
touching the hook he almost dropped to the floor.  The team's
time was announced and they had bettered their opponents by a
substantial margin.  While the people's attention was focused on
Barbara climbing the rope to take it down in the same manner she
had put it up, Callaway looked at Andy and Ken.

After seeing the people's attention focused on the ceiling, Ken
took Andy in his arms and melted his lips to hers.  When they
reluctantly parted, the judge saw Andy, who was facing towards
him, had tears in her eyes.  Although she was whispering and they
were out of his hearing, he could see her lips form the words,
"My darling, I love you so desperately!"

He could feel a lump form in his throat just watching the
adorable children who were so much in love.  And it was true:
they did have adult feelings and desires trapped in the bodies of
small children.

After putting the ropes away, Barbara quickly dressed and ran a
comb through her hair.  In a matter of seconds she looked as if
she had done nothing physical all day.  Then the judge saw
something that was both amusing and heartwarming.  After
dressing, the girls formed a little line in front of Bobbie. 
Each gave Bobbie her comb and the woman carefully combed out the
girl's hair and made any necessary repairs.  After finishing with
the girl's hair, in each case she took the small girl into her
arms, gave her a loving kiss and told her how beautiful she
looked.

As the girl stepped aside for the next in line, the judge could
see she had stars in her eyes. _Isn't there anything this woman
doesn't do?_ he wondered. _If it helps the children or makes them
feel better about themselves, she does it,_ he thought. _And
that's regardless of what it might be._*Chapter 20*

Meanwhile Roberta Kramer had been wracking her brain trying to
think of something else she could try.  By now it was even
starting to penetrate her head that she was losing the case. 
When the children were all dressed and standing around their
teacher, she said, "We still haven't seen Mrs. Conroy teach.  The
Department is willing now to concede that she does have
above-average pupils -- in intelligence, at least.  But can she
teach?  Why can't she demonstrate, Your Honor?"

As soon as the spectators heard the comment about teaching, they
broke up in uproarious laughter.  One woman, sitting towards the
rear of the room cracked, "She sure-as-hell can, lady.  But can
you?"  The remark triggered another burst of laughter, but this
time accompanied by applause and cheering so wild that Callaway
had to pound his gavel to bring the courtroom back to order.

While he was doing so he noticed that Bobbie and the children
were just standing together, not making a sound.  He was now
utterly astounded at the children's self-control.  With the
unidentified woman making a remark with which they so-obviously
agreed and yet to give no sign was truly remarkable.

When order was restored, he said, "Mrs. Conroy, I would like to
commend you -- but particularly your young students -- on the
remarkable display of self-control they just exhibited.  I
carefully noted that they did not make a sound, nor did they even
smile.  I am very impressed."  Then with a warm smile he asked,
"Are you willing to conduct a class for us?"

"Certainly, Your Honor," Bobbie replied.  Then turning to the
children she said, "Kids, the judge thought your behavior just
now was exemplary and he appreciates it.  I thought you were
wonderful, too!  Thank you so much."

Callaway carefully observed the reactions of the children as
Bobbie smiled so warmly at them: it was like watching flowers
blossom in the sun.  It was so obvious that the children just
lived on praise from the teacher who they so obviously adored.

Then dropping to her knees, Bobbie bowed her head and in an
instant all of the children were kneeling in a small circle
around her.  "Oh God," she prayed, "bless us this day in our
efforts to learn how better to serve you, our families and our
nation, we humbly ask in the name of your son and Our Savior,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen."  In addition to the children's
response there was a thunderous "Amen" coming from what seemed to
be all of the spectators in the courtroom.

"Good heavens! _What did you just do?"_ Roberta Kramerexclaimed.

"I said a prayer asking God to guide us," Bobbie answered dryly.
"What did you think I did?"

"But you can't do that!  It's criminal!" the woman screamed,
obviously beside herself with righteous indignation.  "This is a
public building!"

"So I noticed," Bobbie replied dryly.  Then with her eyes
flashing blue sparks she continued, "You're saying I can't pray?
Is that what I'm hearing?" Bobbie asked in a flat voice that
those who knew her immediately recognized as a danger signal.

"Of course you cannot!  Haven't you heard of the separation of
church and state?  You have just proven my point: You're totally
unqualified to teach _anyone!"_

"Do your counsel join you in that position?" Bobbie asked in the
same flat tone of voice.

"Of course they do!" Kramer proclaimed triumphantly.  Turning to
the three lawyers she asked, "You do, don't you?"

There were nods of acquiescence but Bobbie stifled a grin
recognizing that at least two of the lawyers were obviously
uncomfortable with what they had just done.  Turning to the
children she said, "Kids, take your seats for a few minutes. 
This is a disruption in our class but I don't think it will take
very long."

While the children obediently sat down, Bobbie rose to her feet,
raised her voice and called out, "Sandy Benson, I need you right
away."

As the woman came forward, Callaway again stifled a grin
recognizing her by her professional name, Sandra Harris.  He knew
her -- by some personal experience, but also by reputation -- to
be the finest trial lawyer in the state of California and one of
the very best in the United States.  He had never heard of her
losing a case in trial.

"Sandy, dear," Bobbie said in a tone of voice calculated to reach
the corners of the room, "I think I am the victim of a conspiracy
to deprive me of my civil rights.  Specifically, a conspiracy to
deny me the right freely to exercise my religion.  Would you care
to take the case?"

"Who do you want to get and for how much?" Sandy asked blithely.
"The turkeys at counsel table alone, or do you want to add the
State of California as a co-defendant?  They are State employees,
after all, and they are here today on official business.  It
would be easy to argue that they are acting in their official
capacities as agents of the State."

Pretending to think for a few moments, Bobbie looked up at the
ceiling and then said slowly and thoughtfully, "No...  I don't
think so, Sandy.  Just the turkeys."  Very brightly she added, "I
pay enough money to the damned state as it is and I'll be damned
if I want my taxes raised just to pay for the dumb judgment."

"Good thinking!" Sandy exclaimed.  "I always knew you were
smart."  Looking crestfallen she added, "That's the trouble with
us trial lawyers:  We sometimes get so carried away with the hunt
that we forget who has to pay the bill."

Then brightly she continued, "So you want a nice, juicy Federal
damage suit -- personal, of course -- against them as
individuals."  Appearing to remember something she added, "By the
way!  Such a judgment is like certain Federal tax liabilities: 
It doesn't even go away in bankruptcy!"  Now appearing elated,
she said, "I'll just get the names and addresses of a bunch of
spectators.  They will serve both as witnesses to Kramer's words
and as evidence that the denial of your constitutional rights
took place in a public setting which maximizes the personal
injury to you.  It's going to be _wonderfully_ expensive for
them!"

As Sandy turned, apparently to do what she had just announced,
Kramer, now sounding shaken, asked, "What was this little charade
I just saw?"

"Charade, Ms. Kramer?" Bobbie replied scathingly.  "No charade. 
As I said earlier today, the Constitution of the United States is
a very interesting document.  You really should read it sometime.
 Since you just abridged my right freely to exercise my religion,
you violated my civil rights.  Moreover, since you were joined by
three others, that creates a conspiracy.  That's all we need."

With a mirthless smile she added, "Kramer, you just made a
_terrible_ mistake!  You see, the premises we use for our little
school are the property of Clifford & Jamison _Attorneys at Law!_
 It is reputed to be the finest law firm in the state.  Your
colleagues might recognize my friend, Sandy Benson, better by her
professional name: Sandra Harris."

The instant she said the name there were looks of utter shock and
dismay on the faces of the attorneys.  Continuing, she said, "But
it gets even better, you see.  Laura Benson, Sandy's daughter, is
sitting here beside me.  So you could almost say that pursuing
this action for Sandy will be a labor of love because I know she
utterly adores Laura and would do anything -- particularly
including giving her life -- for her."

Now with an evil grin on her face, Bobbie continued, "But it gets
even better!  Another partner in the firm is Celeste Trang,
possibly the foremost legal collections expert in the country. 
Celeste just _loves_ to find money to collect on judgments!  On
one I know of, she has already collected $10 million on a $10
million judgment -- and the losers still owe $25 million!  Isn't
that great?  I don't know exactly how she does it, but it's all
very legal.  But of course, I'm not a lawyer, either, so what do
I know?"

Brightening she said, "Oh!  I almost forgot!  Celeste is Celeste
Trang Chan, the mother of Karen Chan sitting beside me... and my
sister!  I think her fees will be... affordable.  What do you
think, Ms. Kramer?"

Now she feigned a look of sorrow as she added, "Of course, the
mothers of eight of these ten children are also lawyers -- all
partners in the firm.  For example, Ken Clifford, here, is Ali
Clifford's son and firstborn.  She utterly adores him.  Then
Charley Conrad is the firstborn of Virginia _Jamison_ Conrad... 
And it goes on.  I think it's going to be great fun, don'tyou!?"

By now Kramer was looking as if she had eaten something that had
made her sick.  Going to the bench she asked Callaway, "Judge, is
this all true?"

"Is all what true?" Callaway asked pretending ignorance.

"These things that this woman just said?"

"Well..."  the judge began, raising his eyebrows, "Sandy Harris
_is_ probably the finest trial lawyer in the country.  I have
_never_ heard of her losing a case... _any_ case.  I have also
heard of Celeste Trang's... persistence.  It's sort of a joke
among judges, in fact."

Looking up at the ceiling he added pensively, "Of course, I guess
it's not nearly as funny to the people she's going after...  She
just keeps coming in, week after week, having found that assets
were transferred from one entity to another to avoid having to
pay."  Then he brightened and added, "She appeared before me one
time.  You know, I think she really enjoys it.  For her, it's
sort of like putting together a complex jigsaw puzzle.  She seems
to look at it almost as a form of recreation."

"What about... about the civil rights thing?" Kramer asked, now
looking as if she were about to vomit up her lunch.

"Oh, that's different," Callaway said brightly, "Bobbie Conroy is
exactly right!  The action of two or more people acting together
creates a conspiracy and, yes, Federal law does provide for
triple damages in cases of conspiracy to deny a person her civil
rights.  The free exercise of religion is most certainly
guaranteed in the Federal Constitution -- and in the State of
California's as well, by the way.  Whether you did abridge her
free exercise is a finding of fact left to a jury, but...  Ms.
Kramer, let's just say that right now I wouldn't give you ten
cents for _all_ of your assets.

"You see, subsequent to an illegal act, any sale or transfer of
assets would be undone, so if I bought something from you it
could be taken away from _me_ to satisfy a judgment against
_you!_  And as I said, Celeste Trang is terribly... persistent...
and extraordinarily thorough.  She wouldn't leave you with two
cents!"

Turning to Bobbie, Kramer asked gracelessly, "What do I have to
do to get you to call off your dogs?"

"Dogs, Ms. Kramer!?  You certainly do have a way with words! 
Referring to honorable members of the California Bar as dogs?" 
Bobbie shook her head sadly and said, "You really do have a
talent for digging holes for yourself, don't you?"

By now Kramer was a sniveling wreck and Bobbie decided that
enough time had already been wasted.  Briskly, she said, "Kramer,
you can do two things: First, get down on you knees and pray to
God -- loudly -- for His forgiveness, and second, while still on
your knees, ask the pardon of these young children who are trying
so hard to learn."

Then with steel in her voice she added, "Do it! _Now!"_

With a look of shock on her face Kramer did as she was told. 
Dropping to her knees she looked up and said loudly, "Dear God,
please forgive me for interfering with prayers directed to you. 
I am so sorry!"  At that instant there was an enormous flash of
lightning right outside the courtroom window immediately followed
by an ear-bursting clap of thunder.  The poor woman dropped flat
on the floor and began to cry, wailing that she had been a
terrible sinner and vowed to be better.  While she was still
prostrate, Bobbie turned to the children, winked, and held her
thumb up.  The kids grinned back at her.

When she rose to her knees, Kramer was still shaky.  She began to
get up when Bobbie reminded her of the second part.  Kramer's
eyes flared in anger, but she went back to her knees and
earnestly asked the children for their forgiveness.  By this time
they were attuned to the game so they spent a few moments
debating among themselves whether the apology should be accepted
-- whether, in fact, Ms. Kramer was truly sincere.  Finally, with
the appearance of greatest reluctance, they did.

When Kramer had returned to her seat, Bobbie looked up at the
judge and asked, "Can we get back to our school now?"

"By all means!" Callaway replied with a big wink.

Turning to Cindy Cartwright, Bobbie said, "Darling, it's your
turn to hold the flag today."  The beautiful green-eyed Eurasian
girl took the small flag out of its case and proudly held it with
her right arm exactly parallel with her body while the butt of
the flagpole was held tightly against her stomach with her left
hand.

Facing the spectators, Bobbie said in a voice that carried
clearly to the corners of the room, "Would you all please rise
for the Pledge of Allegiance?"  Turning back to face the flag and
standing erect, Bobbie put her right hand over her breast and
began, "I pledge allegiance to the flag..."  At that instant all
of the children chimed in together.  It was apparent that all of
them both understood and truly meant the words they were saying
as they continued, "...of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands: one nation, _under God,_
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!"

By the time they had completed reciting the Pledge tears had
appeared at the corners of Cindy's eyes.  Immediately, Bobbie
swung into _The National Anthem,_ but singing the almost-unknown
fourth verse, "Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand /
Between their loved home and the war's desolation! / Blest with
victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land / Praise the Power
that hath made and preserved us a nation. / Then conquer we must,
when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto: 'In God is
our trust.'"  The ten children singing together had truly
remarkable soprano singing voices and they sang with great
emphasis and feeling.  Clearly, they were not just singingwords.

By this time tears were streaming down Cindy Cartwright's face,
but she was still holding the flag as steady as a rock.  She was
looking at it with her eyes focused on the star field when
Roberta Kramer -- in spite of her experience of just a few
moments earlier -- screamed, "Stop it this instant!  This is
illegal and immoral..."

Ignoring the screaming woman Bobbie continued, "...and the star
spangled banner, in triumph shall wave..."  By this time all of
the members of the now-very-large spectator group had joined in
to sing and drowned out the woman's shrieks of protest, "...O'er
the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Before Kramer could say a word, Cindy Cartwright screamed, "You
idiot!  What do you think you were doing?"

"That song -- or at least that verse -- is immoral and illegal! 
It cannot be sung in the State of California."  Wheeling on
Bobbie she exclaimed, "I demand an immediate apology!"

"Oh?" Bobbie asked with her face bland.  "For singing _The Star
Spangled Banner?"_

"That verse," Kramer replied.  "It's illegal!"

"My, how quaint," Bobbie said pensively.  "You're saying that the
State of California has overruled the Congress of the United
States?  I guess you must be, though, because it was formally
adopted as our National Anthem... by Act of Congress!"

"Yes, it's been overruled," Kramer continued.  We did it just a
couple of years ago..."

"We?" Bobbie interrupted.  "Who's 'we'?"

"The California State Department of Instruction!" Kramer replied
proudly.

"Oh," Bobbie said in a very flat tone of voice.  Then looking at
Callaway with her eyes wide she asked, "Judge, I guess it's just
that I'm young and of course haven't graduated college or
anything, but... but judge, when did the Department of
Instruction get the authority to overrule an act of Congress?"

Replying in the same vein, Callaway looked embarrassed and said,
"Mrs. Conroy, you have put me on the spot!  I regret to say that
I am not aware of any such legislation.  Of course...  What they
are really doing, you understand, is arguing the right of
nullification.  But then I thought that was settled by the deaths
of over 600,000 Americans in the early 1860's...  But maybe I'm
wrong."

Before anyone else could say anything, Cindy Cartwright asked,
"Ms. Kramer, why are you so concerned, anyway?"

Recognizing that she had put her foot in it again, Roberta Kramer
took the out offered by Cindy's comment.  "Because, dear, you
were so obviously upset.  Those vile, militaristic words..."

Before she could finish Cindy had spun on her heel, gave the flag
to Mike Morris and went up to the bench.  Going around to the
point where it was open, Cindy stood before the judge, performed
the most graceful and elegant curtsy he could imagine and said,
"Judge Callaway, my name is Cynthia Cartwright and I am delighted
to meet you."

Taking her hand he brought it up to his lips and kissed it
gently.  As he did Cindy's eyes widened in amazement and
pleasure.  "Oh, thank you, sir!  That was so... so elegant!  It
makes me feel like a lady."

"Cynthia, it was supposed to make you feel like a lady because
you _are_ a lady!  Now what can I do for you?" he asked.

"Sir, may I be sworn in?  As a witness?"  Then with a little
smile she added, "And, sir, everyone -- all my friends -- call me
Cindy.  I hope you will, too."

Callaway looked into her large and brilliant green eyes and saw
the same goodness, purity and innocence he had seen in the other
children's -- along with the same intelligence.  He asked,
"Cindy, do you know the difference between telling a lie and
telling the truth?"

"Yes, sir, I certainly do."

Calling over the clerk, he asked that Cindy be sworn in as a
witness.  After escorting the little girl around to the witness
box, the clerk told her to place her right hand on a Bible and
said, "In the case now in hearing do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

With her eyes as big a saucers the little girl said proudly, "I
do!"

"State your name, please."

"My name is Cynthia Cartwright," the little girl replied to the
clerk's question.  Rather than sitting in the witness chair,
Cindy stood at the front of the box.

"Cindy, you are now duly sworn as a witness in this case,"
Callaway said kindly.  "Now what do you want to tell us?"

"It's... It's _that woman!"_ Cindy exclaimed.  "She tries to stop
us from singing _The Star Spangled Banner_ because she thinks I'm
upset!  Judge, it's not that at all," she exclaimed in a
surprisingly strong voice that carried to the corners of the
room.  Hearing the girl, all the chatter in the courtroom stopped
and in moments there was complete silence as the spectators
listened carefully to her words.  "There were tears in my eyes
because I love our flag so much!  It's the flag for which my
daddy suffered unbelievable tortures for _fourteen years!"_ 
Looking at Callaway she continued, "Can you believe it, judge? 
Fourteen years?  That's more than twice as long as I've been
alive!

"When he was very young -- just eighteen -- my father, William
Cartwright, was captured by the North Vietnamese.  He was leading
a band of Laotian irregulars that had just saved a battered
platoon of U.S. Marines.  He ordered his Laotians to melt away
into the jungle while he provided covering fire.  He had been
wounded so he didn't think he could make it anyway.

"When he was captured, they spent the first couple of weeks
trying to make Dad tell them where the Laotian base was.  He
wouldn't.  Then they tried to make him confess to germ
warfare..."

"We were doing it all the time back then," Kramer screamed.  "He
was a war criminal!"

Cindy looked at Kramer as if she were a strange bug crawling out
from under a rock but just continued, "...but he would not!  Then
they just wanted to break him!  They wanted him to denounce the
flag of our country -- the flag I was so proudly holding a few
minutes ago.  He would not!  For _fourteen years_ they tried to
break him, but could not!

"My mother was only ten years old at the time.  They thought they
could use my mother to break my father by embarrassing a grown
man in front of a very young woman.  While they were torturing
him -- often with red-hot tongs on his testicles -- and he was
screaming in agony, Mom would just concentrate and stare into his
eyes to let him know that she understood... and that she loved
him.  In her presence this torture continued for over three
years.  Dad didn't know that at least once a week Mother would
volunteer to be whipped mercilessly in his place.  I'm sure it
won't surprise you to learn that they cheated: they beat them
both.  Dad was kept chained to a wall by both wrists and never
freed.  He lived in his own excrement.  Mom had to wipe it off
him before she could even touch him.  Regularly, they placed a
red-hot knife blade between his lips so he couldn't kiss my
mother -- but he kissed her anyway.

"Since Dad was kept naked and Mom was always naked, too, they
tried to use her to arouse him sexually but allow him no relief.
Mom managed one day to get him inside her -- she wasn't even
thirteen yet -- and give him the relief he craved.  She was
beaten so badly she almost died for doing it.  Then Dad was moved
to Hanoi and Mom couldn't follow him so she made her way, alone
and naked, hundreds of miles through the jungle and then along
the China coast.  Finally, she swam over _ten miles_ through
shark-infested waters to reach Hong Kong.

Then -- I don't know how -- she managed to get to the United
States!  She didn't even know Dad's name.  She knew him only as
Bill.  But she knew that any country that could inspire a man the
way the United States inspired Bill, had to be a great place. 
She finally made it here.  Ultimately, she was admitted to the
University of Chicago where she graduated _summa cum laude,_ and
Phi Beta Kappa, majoring in economics.  Then she went to the
graduate school of business where she graduated number one in her
class after majoring in finance and banking.

"Taking a position with Chicago Trust Company, she went to work
in a then-tiny unit headed by a senior vice president, Cindy
Burke.  Mrs. Burke is my godmother and Mr. Burke is my godfather.
 I am named after her because my parents know that, had it not
been for her, they never would have been reunited.

"Anyway, Aunt Connie called Aunt Cindy one day.  It seems that
her husband, Chip, had a brother who had been lost in Vietnam. 
Finally, after fourteen years and after spending a great deal of
money, Chip had found him and got him home.  But he was in a
catatonic state.  He didn't know where he was nor who he was. 
All they knew was that he occasionally said a few words in a
language no one could recognize.  Since Mom speaks over thirty --
I have no idea how many more than thirty -- Aunt Connie asked if
Mom could come out here to Los Angeles.  Maybe she could help. 
Well, of course she did, and discovered the love of her life,
Bill Cartwright.

"They were married a week later.  A few weeks after that my dad
was honored at the Presidio in San Francisco: The President of
the United States presented him with the Medal of Honor, the
highest award for valor our country can bestow."

By this time tears were streaming down her cheeks but Cindy's
head was held up straight.  The courtroom was totally silent as
everyone hung on the girl's words.  Continuing, she looked at
Callaway and said, "It's a small world we live in, Judge.  I
mentioned that Dad had rescued a beat-up Marine platoon?  In
command at the time was Dan Burke.  It was Uncle Dan's life that
Dad saved."  Now the girl smiled through her tears and said, "I
guess we're a strange family, really.  You see, Ken Clifford is
my uncle.  Dan Burke is my mother's brother -- a son of Ali
Clifford's, and Kenny's brother."

Turning back to the courtroom Cindy held her head up proudly and
said, "That's why I was crying, Ms. Kramer!  Because the flag I
was holding so proudly was the flag for which my dad fought and
almost died.  The flag for which he suffered agonies of torture
for fourteen years!  The flag of the country that inspired my
mother to overcome unbelievable obstacles to get here and to
become a citizen!  Damn it!  It's the flag of my country and I
love it!"

At that the poor girl lost control, put her arms on the railing,
dropped her head and just bawled.  An instant later two
spectators rose and came racing forward.  The man was tall with
sandy hair and blue eyes while the woman was the most beautiful
Eurasian Callaway had ever seen.  She had glistening wavy
brunette hair and large eyes of the same incredible green as
Cindy's.  The man reached over the railing of the witness box,
lifted the girl up in his arms and held her tight.

"Oh, Daddy, I love you so!" the little girl wailed.

"Pumpkin, you have just made your mother and me so proud I can't
stand it!"  Lifting the girl's head so he could look into her
eyes he added, "My darling, you have just made those fourteen
years worthwhile!  You really did."

When the little girl looked into her father's eyes and saw the
love and sincerity there, she just beamed with pleasure.  Then
she dove back into his shoulder and hugged and kissed him. 
Holding the little girl in his left arm, he moved to his left to
stand before the bench and said, "Your Honor, my name is Bill
Cartwright, as you probably guessed, and this is my wife, Kathy.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to Cindy.  We hope she
didn't bore you too much or waste too much of your time."

Callaway reached over the bench and gripped Bill's hand and then
shook hands with Kathy Cartwright.  Speaking in a voice to carry
to the ends of the room he said, "Mr. Cartwright, I knew about
your case.  I, too, served in Vietnam, but certainly not with the
distinction you did."

Looking out at the spectators he said, "I, for one, consider
myself honored to have the chance to meet one of the foremost
heros of our country and certainly the man who has suffered the
most in its name.  I am honored and humbled."  When he began to
applaud, in an instant everyone in the room was on his feet and
applauding as well.

As Cartwright started to return to his seat still holding Cindy,
the little girl told him that she wasn't through.  Reluctantly he
put her down and she returned to the witness stand.

When the court returned to order, she looked at the judge and
said, "Sir, there's more.  I heard Ms. Kramer say that the United
States is an oppressive country."  Turning to the crowd she
raised her voice and continued, _"It is *not*!"_

Looking at Kramer she said, "The United States is the country
William Bradford, who became the first governor of the Bay
Colony, said 'is the City on the Hill.'  We are the beacon
shining brightly to people everywhere.  We are the model that
most of the world aspires to!  Look at China: In Beijing they
erected a model... _of the Statue of Liberty!_

"Ms. Kramer, do you believe that the United States is a racist
society?"

"Of course it is!" Kramer snapped.  "Everyone knows it is."

_"It is not!"_ the little girl exclaimed.  "There are certainly
people who are racists but our society is not.  'We hold these
truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.' Ms. Kramer, those words were written by Thomas
Jefferson in Philadelphia in 1776.  The Declaration of
Independence.  You should read that someday, too.  Please note,
Ms. Kramer, that he said, '...endowed by _their Creator!_  God,
Ms. Kramer.

"This nation -- Bradford's City on the Hill -- was conceived
_under God!_  Years later, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, another
president said, 'We highly resolve... that this Nation, under
God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from this
earth.'  Why did Lincoln say those words?  Because the United
States was unique!  If our form of government ended -- if our
country had died -- there would be nothing close to it left in
the world!

"Are we perfect?  Of course not!  Do we live up to the ideals
expressed by our founding fathers?  Certainly not all the time. 
But we try, Ms. Kramer!  We try!  Now why can't you and those
other idiots in Sacramento provide schools that will help
children to understand who we are as a nation, and what we are
trying to become?  What is this multi-cultural garbage, anyway?"

Kramer's eyes lighted up and she glanced triumphantly at Bobbie.
Now she had won... she thought.  "We have just one way of
organizing society.  It's certainly not the only way and not
nearly the best way..."

"What is better?" Cindy demanded.

"Well, in Africa, in Asia--"

"The ones who are educated are trying to be like us!" Cindy
interrupted.  "Look at China: Part of my heritage is from China
through my mother.  It was civilized when people in Western
Europe were still living in caves.  But what happened?  I don't
know, but I do know it stopped developing.  Their form of
government became oppressive -- and still is.

"Look at Taiwan: there, finally, they are trying to create the
elements of liberty that we take for granted here.  But the proof
is the incredible successes achieved by Orientals _here in the
United States!_  Why?  Because our society permits them to
develop to the limits of their ability -- and they certainly have
the ability.

"Ms. Kramer, while other nations strive to become like us, we
should be striving to do better -- to live closer to the ideals
we proclaim.  But to do that, our young people need to know what
those ideals are and how they came to be. _But you and your
friends won't let them!_  In fact, our schools are moving farther
and farther away.  Forget the Constitution!  Let's give out
condoms -- with instructions on use.  Really!"

Before she could continue, again the whole crowd was on its feet
applauding and cheering.  When they quieted, Cindy continued,
"After making love with my father, Mom tells me that the sequence
is God, the family, and our country.  That's the way I've been
brought up, and that's what Mrs. Conroy teaches us day after day
after day."

"Making love?" Kramer interjected.  "Do you mean to say you see
your parents... _fornicating?"_

"No, you fool!" Cindy replied heatedly.  "I see them making
passionate love to each other...  No!  I see them worshiping each
other's body..."

"But you mean _you're there?_  You _see_ it!"

"Yes, but that's only because I'm still too young to help.  Yes,
Ms. Kramer, I regularly watch my parents make love.  It's so
incredibly beautiful, too.  One morning after Mom recovered
consciousness -- her final orgasm is usually so severe she ends
up unconscious -- she held me tightly to her body that was still
so slippery with her sweat and told me that I had been created
that way.

"Dad had penetrated her and took her as close to Heaven as a
woman can be on earth.  Then, with God's assistance, one of Dad's
sperm linked with one of her eggs, and I was created.  She said
that it was the happiest moment of her life when she learned that
she was expecting me.  She dropped to her knees and thanked God
for His blessing.  You see, after being tortured for so many
years and with so much of it concentrated on his penis and
testicles, they couldn't be sure that Dad could still father a
child.  Well, he could and did, and I'm it.  Or at least, I'm the
first."

Kramer had been listening closely, alternately blushing and
glaring.  Feeling she was about to win her case she pounced. 
"Oh, this is wonderful!" she exclaimed.  "Now I can bring in the
social services people and have you taken from your parents. 
Never have I heard of an environment so detrimental to a child's
mental health!  It's... It's disgraceful!  And almost
unbelievable."

Cindy was standing and just watched the woman impassively.  When
she concluded, the little girl said quietly, but at the same time
in a voice that carried, "That would be very unwise."

Taken aback, Kramer looked at her with a frown and asked,
"Unwise?  Why?"

"For two reasons," Cindy answered.  "First, my daddy really loves
me -- almost as much as he loves Mom.  It's safe to say that he
doesn't respond well to threats to his family.  One day shortly
after they were married, the two of them were attacked on the
street by ten men.  One of the men clobbered Mom over the head so
hard with a piece of timber that Dad thought he had killed her."

"What happened then?" Kramer asked with a note of fear in her
voice.

"When the police finally arrived," Cindy replied, "Three of the
men -- including the guy who hit Mom -- were dead and the other
seven were all unconscious.  Later they did something really
stupid: they sued Dad for depriving them of their civil rights."

With a smile she continued, "The judge and Mrs. Conroy referred
to the case earlier, although they didn't identify it.  Mrs.
Benson represented Dad.  After possibly the shortest jury
deliberation in history, they came back with a finding for Dad in
the amount of $10 million.  Mrs. Chan is still collecting on that
one.

"The other reason, though, is my granddad.  You see, Mom's
father, Bill Clifford, is one of the wealthiest men in the world.
 It's fair to say that he reacts -- violently -- to any attack on
the family.  And in spite of being a great disappointment to him,
I _am_ a member of the family."

"Disappointment?" Kramer asked puzzled.  "How can you be a
disappointment?"

"Every time Granddad sees me he grumps and wonders why I can't
develop a valuable skill instead of wasting all my time.  Of
course he says the same thing to all the other kids so I don't
feel so badly."

"What skill is that?" Kramer asked, still puzzled.

"Spending money, of course.  He claims that it just piles up and
is burying him.  Sometimes he gets even though.  Mom will come
home screaming and it's the same thing every time:  She checked
the bank balance and found an extra fifteen or twenty million
dollars in the account.  Granddad -- or Grandmom -- struck
again!"

With a merry little grin she added, "Dad just yawns and says it's
a good thing Mom has an MBA in finance and banking, isn't it. 
She says he doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation.
He agrees while he's stripping off all of her clothes.  Then he
makes her forget all about it.  He's really neat!

"But anyway, I would leave things alone if I were you.  It could
get... painful."  Then looking puzzled she changed the subject
and asked, "Ms. Kramer, are you a lesbian?"

There was an immediate burst of laughter from the spectators and
Kramer blushed but said, "Why... why, yes.  I will not submit to
the rape of my body by a man."

"Rape?" Cindy asked.  "What do you mean?"

"Everyone knows that the only way a man can enter a woman is by
raping her!  Why at the Law School of the University of Michigan,
Professor Catherine MacKinnon--"

Cindy began to laugh uproariously and said, "I don't think I care
what she says.  As for rape?  That's the funniest thing I've ever
heard.  Tell it to my Uncle Chip!  My cousin Andy told us about a
time when her parents were cuddling in bed.  Uncle Chip was
caressing Aunt Connie -- she's a platinum blonde with gorgeous
green eyes exactly like Andy's.

"Anyway, Aunt Connie was writhing on the bed in unfulfilled
passion but Uncle Chip just said that, first, it was a known fact
that women are very slow to warm up and, second, it's also a
known fact that platinum blondes are particularly cold.  Since
he's really very large and her opening is small, he wanted to be
sure she was nice and warm and wet before he entered her."

With a cute grin she asked, "Wasn't he being considerate?  But
does that sound like rape?  Anyway, Aunt Connie just growled and
said she was already so hot she could ignite asbestos and if he
didn't get it into her right then she would cut it off and do it
herself!"

While the spectators howled with laughter, Cindy just shook her
head and said, "Maybe it was rape, but if it was, Aunt Connie
wasn't the victim!"  Again there was a burst of laughter.

Turning her attention back to Kramer, Cindy continued, "It's a
real shame, Ms. Kramer.  No wonder you have so many problems. 
You don't know the incredible joy of being loved by the man to
whom you have given your life.  You don't know how two people can
merge their bodies and create new life.  You don't know the
incredible thrill of feeling a tiny life growing inside you.  You
don't know the warmth and tenderness that comes from nursing a
baby at your tit.  You can't know what it's like for a child to
live on a baby's perfect food: his mother's rich, warm, sweet
milk drunk from a perfect nipple on a swollen breast.  The joy of
nursing while stroking your mother's tit and smelling the
sweetness of her body while she caresses you, sings to you and
loves you.

"My mother knows and the mothers of all my friends know, too. 
How do I know how sweet my mother's milk is?  Because I drain her
every day, the same way my friends do with their mothers.  It's
like licking the last of the icing out of a bowl, but so much
better.  I can't tell you what it's like for me to have my mother
cradle me to her breast and tell me how proud she is of me or of
something I have done.  It's what I live for, Ms. Kramer.  It's
what love is really all about.  Alternative lifestyle, indeed!"

This time there was just very warm applause from the audience.

Turning to the judge Cindy said, "Thank you, sir, for letting me
testify.  Now I'm going to be punished..."  Her eyes widened as
she realized what she had done.  Changing direction she said,
"Unless... unless... you're going to send me to jail first?"

"To jail?" Callaway asked, amazed at her comment.  "Why would I
send you to jail?"

"For contempt of court, I guess, sir.  That's why Mrs. Conroy
will have to give me a spanking now, too.  I disobeyed her."

"Disobeyed?" he asked.  "How?"

"Well, sir, before we came over Mrs. Conroy told us that we would
be meeting some fools from Sacramento and she told us to just
ignore what they said.  Well, I really did try, but not well
enough.  I called Ms. Kramer some names that are disgraceful for
a child ever to call an adult."

"Names?  What names?"

"I called her an idiot."  Then looking puzzled she asked, "Sir,
do you suppose she's a school dropout?"

_"Dropout?"_ Kramer cried.  "What do you mean, dropout!  I'll
have you know, little girl, that I will receive my doctorate in
June!"

"Honest?" Cindy asked, wide-eyed.  "In what?"

"In education administration!" Kramer replied proudly.

"Did... did you pay for it?" Cindy asked diffidently.

"Pay for what?"

"All your courses and stuff," Cindy replied.  "You didn't, did
you?"

"Of course I did!" Kramer explained.  "But why do you ask?"

"Oh, dear!  That's... that's too bad."  Then the little girl
brightened and said, "But maybe it's not too late.  I'll bet that
Mrs. Benson can sue them to get your money back.  I mean...  It's
just like stealing..."

"What is like stealing?" Kramer demanded, growing upset.

"Taking money for what you got.  Golly!  Mrs. Conroy only has
three semesters of college and she knows so much more than you
do...  I mean, with a doctorate aren't you supposed to be smart
and know a lot of things?  Ms. Kramer, you don't know
_anything!"_  At her last words the people in the courtroom
convulsed in laughter.

When she turned back to the judge to excuse herself, Callaway
said, "Cindy, wait one moment.  I have a question for you first.
Do you like Mrs. Conroy?"

_"Like_ Mrs. Conroy?  Of course not...  I love her...  No!  I
adore her.  We all do in pretty much the same way.  And she loves
us, too.  And she loves us all equally.  No!  That's not true,
either.  You see, her love for Ken and Andy and their love for
her is at a completely different level.  And I guess that's just
as well, too," she finished.

Puzzled, the judge asked, "Just as well?  Why?"

"Because they're different," she replied softly.  "If Mrs. Conroy
loved me the way she loves Andy, I would be dead.  Honest, I
would.  Andy and Ken are very special and can take it.  None of
the rest of us could."  Then she grinned warmly and said, "It
does create opportunities, though."

"Opportunities?" Callaway asked.  "What do you mean?"

"Andy and Ken are going to be married.  That leaves Mike Morris
and Charley Conrad for the six of us.  It's a good thing their
dads were both Marines, too," she said with a wonderfully warm
grin.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"Well, Marines always get the dirty jobs no one else will do. 
Moreover, Mike's dad was a SEAL and a Medal-of-Honor winner,
while Charley's dad was a Marine fighter pilot.  They used to fly
_in_ the rice paddies!  Not over them. _In_ them!  So they're
both used to tough assignments.  Their boys hold up pretty well,
too.  Their parents should be very proud."

"Hold up how?"

"Well," the girl replied with a wonderful little grin, "I thought
Ms. Kramer's comment about rape was sort of funny.  You see,
sometimes when Mrs. Conroy is out of the room, Ken and Andy start
to neck.  Well, that's our opportunity.  Three of us each attack
Mike and Charley and just hug them and kiss them all over.  The
poor guys try to keep three girls happy all at the same time. 
But as I said, they do pretty well!  Charley -- I'm in his harem
-- has learned to kiss so beautifully!"

With that she licked her lips and grinned at the little boys
sitting around the table.  The two boys slid down in their seats
while the girls all whistled, then jumped from their chairs and
mobbed the two boys.

Bobbie just said sharply, "Children!" and it came to a screeching
halt.

Then the judge said, "Cindy, what about that punishment?  Does
Mrs. Conroy spank you?"

"Oh, yes sir!  Whenever we're naughty."

"Ah, ha!" Kramer exclaimed.  "Child abuse!  I might have known!"

"Oh, dear," Cindy sighed resignedly, "Here we go again."  Looking
at Kramer she said, "It is most certainly not abuse.  It is
punishment and we ask for it."

"Ask for it?" Kramer asked amazed.  "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, take me for instance," Cindy replied.  "I was teasing Mike
Morris when I should have been studying.  When Mrs. Conroy came
back into the room, I told her what I had done.  Then I took down
my pants, pulled up my skirt, bent over her leg and she spanked
me.  When she finished I was crying hard, even though I hadn't
made a sound.  I thanked her for trying to help me be a better
child and a better daughter.

She held me in her arms, kissed away my tears and apologized for
hurting me.  She was crying, too, of course.  That evening, when
Mom came to pick me up, Mrs. Conroy told her what a wonderful
little girl I had been.  When we got home, without saying a word,
Mom took me to my room, stripped me and very gently put some
painkilling ointment on my poor buns.  She stripped, too, and
then lay on her back on my bed with me on top of her.  She
so-gently stroked my body and told me how much she loved me.  We
were both sleeping that way when Daddy came home.

"Now, to anticipate your next question, why do we ask for it? 
It's to be nice to our parents.  You see, Ms. Kramer, the closest
things to fights there ever are in our homes is over disciplining
us."

"Oh, I see!" Kramer exclaimed triumphantly.  "Your fathers want
your mothers to be the ogres."

Cindy just shook her small head disgustedly and said, "Well, Ms.
Kramer, I guess I have to give you points for consistency, at any
rate.  You're _always_ wrong!

"No, Ms. Kramer, it's exactly the opposite.  Our fathers ask to
punish us because they know our mothers get so upset when they
have to do it.  Our mothers, though, will be damned if they will
let our fathers be the bad guys if we disobeyed them.  Well, Andy
came up with the answer and its something we all do now.  Last
time, I took my pants down, went to Mommy, told her how much I
loved her and asked her to please give me my spanking.  When she
did, I kissed her hand and then kissed away the tears that were
flowing down her cheeks.  Then I thanked her for demonstrating
her love because I know it would be so much easier on her not to
do anything.  You see, whenever our parents spank us, it's much
harder on them than it is on us.

"I think our fathers have it the worst, though.  You see, our
mothers get some relief by crying.  When Dad spanks me, I can
sometimes see tears in the corners of his eyes, but that's all. 
I know that he is just ripping up his insides: he detests it!  So
I hug him and stroke him.  I tell him how proud I am to be his
daughter and how he is the best daddy in the whole world.  It
takes a lot longer for him to relax, though, because like all
men, he keeps his emotions inside."

Looking towards where she knew her parents were sitting she
added, "Judge, you can't know or believe how much I love my
daddy.

"You know, sir, most couples meet somewhere and begin to date. 
If the relationship develops, they become engaged and eventually
marry.  With my parents it was so different.  My mother watched
her lover being tortured day after day after day for three years
while she could only try to communicate her love through her
eyes.  Dad suffered torture for fourteen years!  Finally, they
reunited and got married."

Looking at the judge she said softly, "I know how my parents are
going to spend eternity, Your Honor.  They are going to be in
each other's arms just making love forever and ever and ever. 
They have had their hell on earth.  Heaven for them is a foregone
conclusion."

Then with a small smile she added, "It's time for my spanking
now."  This time there was just a total silence in the courtroom
as the people absorbed what they had just heard.  The only sound
was the sniffles of people crying.

Callaway said, "Wait, please!"

Turning to Bobbie he said, "Mrs. Conroy, could I intercede on
behalf of Cynthia Cartwright?  Remembering what she said about
Ms. Kramer, the only thing that comes to mind is that she called
her an idiot.  Under the laws of slander and libel, truth is an
absolute defense.  Now I don't think Ms. Kramer is an idiot.  A
moron, certainly -- perhaps an imbecile.  But not an idiot.  On
the other hand, Cynthia is not a trained psychologist and she is
directionally accurate.  Certainly close enough that a truth
defense would be effective.

"Would you please forgive her this time?  I have just heard the
most moving testimony of my entire judicial career.  Please? 
Will you let it go this time?"

"Yes, Judge, I certainly will," Bobbie replied with a warmsmile.

Before letting her go, Callaway picked the little girl up from
the witness box, set her down by his chair, took her into his
arms and kissed her.  Startled at first, she did not respond for
an instant but then returned the kiss with one of the purest
love, exactly like the kisses of the other children.

Releasing her, he kissed the back of her hand causing her to
blush again and said, "Cynthia Cartwright, you're a credit to
your parents.  And after all they have been through, they deserve
a little angel like you."

With a glow of pleasure, Cindy returned to her seat.*Chapter21*

When the judge declared the court to be in recess for fifteen
minutes, Bobbie took the opportunity to escort Cindy to where her
parents were sitting and then all four moved to an unoccupied
corner of the room.  Bill and Kathy looked at Bobbie expectantly,
while Cindy, who Bobbie was holding in her arms, appeared
apprehensive.

"I didn't want to lose a moment to tell you what a delight Cindy
is," Bobbie began.  "Furthermore, I can't tell you how moved I
was by her words on the witness stand this afternoon.  Looking at
you both together, I can tell that she is exactly right.  Your
trip to Heaven is truly assured."  Looking at Bill she extended
her hand and said, "I can't tell you how overwhelmed I am by what
you have suffered for our country, nor how proud I am to be able
to teach your daughter.  Not that she needs any teaching,
though."

Bill took Cindy from her arms, gave the girl to her mother and
then took Bobbie in his arms and kissed her.  His kiss of the
purest love almost destroyed the girl.  When he released her she
was dazed, but her eyes were glowing with love.  "I didn't know
the half of it, did I?  Mr. Cartwright, you're unbelievable!"

"The name is Bill," he replied with a grin, "and I'm not nearly
as unbelievable as you are!  I can't tell you what it means to us
to have Cindy coming home every day with her eyes just dancing
with joy.  Everything Kathy and I have tried to teach her, you
reinforce.  Beyond that, though, you introduce her to things that
would never occur to us.

"Imagine!  Our little girl, only six years old, talking about the
City on the Hill.  Mrs. Conroy, I cried!  And Cindy was right,
too.  I almost never cry.  But to hear my little daughter talking
about America as a beacon shining to the world caused my heart to
turn over.  I never knew those words, but it was exactly why I
never gave in!  And my daughter understands!  There are no words
for us to thank you enough, except to say it made all the
suffering worthwhile."

"The name is Bobbie, Bill.  And thank you."  Turning to his wife
she asked, "May I give you a kiss, too?"

Pretending to be flustered, Kathy's green eyes flashed and she
said, "Kiss? _Me?_  You're not... one of those strange women are
you...?"  Then with a yelp she gathered Bobbie in her free arm
and gave her a kiss exactly like Bill's.  When she released the
girl, she added, "And the name is Kathy, damn it!"

"Oh!  Okay, Kathy-damn-it.  I'll try to remember the next time."

Turning to Cindy, Bobbie held out her arms and said, "Okay, Imp,
it's time for you to go to work!"

With a wink at the adults she carried Cindy back to the table. 
While she was being carried, Cindy snuggled her face in Bobbie's
neck and told her how much she loved her.  Before putting her
down, Bobbie lifted the girl up so she could kiss her full on the
lips.  In an instant Cindy began to work her lips on Bobbie's the
same way Andy did and communicated the same inner purity, love
and goodness.  "I love you, Cindy," Bobbie murmured as she set
the girl on the floor.

"And I adore you," the little girl replied with the warmest look
Bobbie had ever seen.

Taking seats around the table, all the children sat up straight
and looked at Bobbie attentively.  The children all had notebooks
open on the table in front of them and fountain pens poised ready
to write.

Bobbie smiled at them warmly and said, "Kids, first, I want you
to know how flattered and impressed I have been by your behavior
all day today.  You have been perfect ladies and gentlemen." 
Then with a grin she said, "But how about if we get back to
normal now, shall we?  The name is Bobbie."  The children all
giggled and looked at Bobbie worshipfully.  Then she said, "The
subject today is the Constitution.  Mike, what was the
constitution for?"

With the judge's permission, the spectators had left their seats
and were now gathered in a circle around the table.  After
hearing what Cindy Cartwright had said, the people had decided
that these children were certainly worth listening to.

Mike Morris sat up even straighter in his chair and said, "The
preamble of the Constitution says, 'We, the people of the United
States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish the
Constitution of the United States of America."

They could hear gasps from the surrounding crowd at the way a
six-year-old boy could casually quote from the document itself.

Continuing, he said, "But really, Bobbie, it needs to be
considered in conjunction with the Declaration of Independence. 
Cindy quoted Jefferson's words: 'We hold these truths to be
self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.' 
Actually, Bobbie, in the first draft it said 'life, liberty and
property.'

"Taking the two documents together, the Federal government was to
provide national defense, and security to people and property. 
What our government provides is rule of the majority while
respecting the rights of the minority."

Looking around at the spectators, Bobbie asked, "What did you all
think of Mike's answer?"

"I think it was terribly incomplete," Kramer said.  "He didn't
talk about equality, for example, except very briefly.

"Perhaps it's because the documents don't, either," Bobbie
replied.  "In fact, the Declaration says it perfectly: 'all men
are created equal', but the equality is in the sight of God and
under the law.  That is the beginning and end of equality." 
Looking around she asked, "Anyone else?"

"Yes, Mrs. Conroy," Judge Callaway said.  "Michael Morris, I
think it was an outstanding answer... for a college student in an
advanced course on constitutional issues.  For a boy of six,
there are no words to express my admiration for the way you
answered the question.  Young man, it was perfect."

Mike beamed at the praise and his mother, Judy, standing behind
him whispered, "Darling, you have made your dad and me so proud!"
 The little boy beamed at the praise as his mother squeezed his
shoulder.

Then Bobbie asked, "The Declaration came during the Revolution
and the Constitution was ratified in 1789.  What else happened in
1789, Susan?"

Susan Carlson had brown hair and warm brown eyes.  But like her
mother's, Susan's hair was sun-streaked in colors ranging from
platinum blonde to brown.  It was utterly gorgeous as was the
little girl.  Quickly she replied, "The French Revolution,
Bobbie.  That was the year the Paris mob stormed the Bastille."

"Okay, Sue.  We had ours and they had theirs.  Were the results
the same?"

"No, Bobbie, they were not.  Their revolution resulted in the
king being beheaded.  Following was the Reign of Terror with
thousands of people losing their lives.  That dissolved into the
Directory and then came Napoleon.  As late as 1810, there were
guillotines in every town square in France with weekly public
executions.  In those days, to be executed it was only necessary
to be denounced.

"A man might be denounced, for example, by someone who owed him
money.  It was an easy way to get out from under a debt.  Even as
late as 1800 the whole process would take less than a week.  A
man would be arrested, tried -- if you could call it a trial --
pronounced guilty and executed all in less than seven days."

"Why the difference between their revolution and ours?" Bobbie
asked quietly.

"It was a totally different thing.  The French Revolution was
grounded on the principles of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Noble
Savage: the idea that man is naturally pure and good and only
governments -- or kings -- are evil.  Our revolution was grounded
in the belief that men are flawed -- we are not perfect.  Since
we are not, the Constitution is fundamentally a limitation on the
powers of government.  Moreover, it is set up with checks and
balances among the three principal branches of government: the
legislative that enacts laws, the executive that enforces them,
and the judiciary, that interprets them.

"In France, because of Rousseau's legacy -- since men were
thought to be perfect, restraints were not needed -- there was no
limit on the power of government and it almost immediately became
oppressive.  As the man said, 'All power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely.'"  Looking at Barbara the little girl
looked forlorn and added, "I am very sorry and I apologize,
Bobbie.  I can't remember his name, but I'll look it up tonight
and tell you tomorrow if that's all right?"

"That will be fine, Sue," Bobbie said quietly with a warm smile.
"Do you want to add anything?"

"Basically, Bobbie, it is as Mike said: the role of the Federal
government is to defend our shores from external enemies and take
steps to make the land safe for life and property.  That's really
all there is."

"Thank you, Sue," Bobbie said quietly.  Then turning to Callaway
she asked, "What did you think, Judge?"

"Wow!" Callaway exclaimed.  "That's what I think: Wow!"  Looking
at Susan he said, "Young lady, we have not been introduced.  Who
are you?"

Rising quickly from her seat, Susan, who was wearing a lovely
yellow pinafore with a big yellow ribbon in her hair, went to the
judge, made another exquisite curtsy, smiled warmly up at him and
said, "Judge Callaway, my name is Susan Carlson.  I am privileged
to meet you, sir."

"Susan, the privilege and pleasure are all mine," the judge
replied.  As he had done with the other girls, he took her
extended hand, bowed, and kissed the back of it.

Susan blushing with excitement and pleasure, said, "You are so
gallant, sir.  I don't know what to say!"

Callaway looked at the girl closely and realized how incredibly
beautiful she was.  Dropping to his knees he enfolded the little
girl in his arms and gave her a warm kiss.  Sue returned it with
the purest love.  Back on his feet he looked at her with great
warmth and asked, "In whose harem do you belong, Sue?  Mike's or
Charley's?"

With her eyes as big as saucers the little girl whispered, "I
love Michael Morris, sir."  Then she added, "Is that bad?"

"Are you Ken Carlson's little girl?" he asked rather than
answering her question.

"Yes sir, I am.  I am Ken and Kathy Carlson's oldest child."

"Are your parents here today, young lady?"

Ken and Kathy moved through the crowd to stand beside their
daughter.  The judge rose and said to the crowd, "Susan asked if
it was bad for her to like Mike Morris.  Folks, what you may not
know is that, while Mike Morris, Sr., has a Medal of Honor for
valor, Ken Carlson has _two!_  Major Carlson is the most
decorated military hero in the history of this country."

Extending his hand to Ken he said, "Sir, you cannot know how
honored I am to have you in this courtroom today.  I said earlier
that I served in Vietnam.  I vividly remember all the stories
about Carlson's Rangers."  They shook hands and then he looked at
Kathy.  "I also remember hearing all the stories about
Kathy-grams.  You're Kathy, aren't you?

"I hope you won't hold it against me... or my daughter, Judge,"
Kathy replied.

He just shook his head and said, "Then there is Katherine
Carlson.  Aside from authoring Kathy-grams which were letters
written in blue ink on blue paper and which inspired the most
brilliant performance in military history, Mrs. Carlson
personally rescued a man from certain death when a major sewer
line ruptured.  She did it by swimming in sewage and by using
superhuman strength to free his trapped foot.  Then she
singlehandedly set his broken leg, an act that orthopedic
surgeons rate as impossible."

Then he snapped his fingers and added, "Oh!  I almost forgot. 
Kathy took up the game of golf.  Within two weeks of playing her
first round she enters her first small tournament -- the LPGA
Kapalua Open -- which she wins by _fifteen strokes_ over the
finest golfers on the ladies' professional tour."

Looking back at Susan the judge said, "As the daughter of our
country's greatest hero and one of the most remarkable women who
has ever lived, yes, Susan, I think it would be all right for you
to like Michael Morris.  In fact, I think it would be great!"

He beamed at the girl who beamed back and then blushed red as a
beet.  Turning to her parents he said, "You must be so very
proud!  I absolutely cannot believe these children.  Your
daughter's answer was an 'A+' -- for a graduate student in
comparative governments!  What did you two think?"

Ken Carlson picked his daughter up and held her in his arms.  As
soon as he did she nuzzled his neck and kissed him.  "When I
first met Kathy I dreamed of holding her in my arms and
eventually making her my wife.  Then I dreamed of her being the
mother of my children.

"Frankly, Judge, never in my wildest dreams did I even dream of
fathering a girl like Susan.  All I can say is that I love her
almost as much as I love her mother.  Perhaps you can't fully
appreciate what I just said, but I think Sue does.  She knows
that for me the sun rises and sets in Kathy... and I love my
darling daughter as much!"

"Oh, Daddy, I love you so very much!" the little girl exclaimed.
Then with a look of apprehension she asked, "Did... did you like
my answer to Bobbie's question, Daddy?"

At that, to the amazement of everyone, Ken Carlson began to cry.
"Did I _like_ it?  My darling daughter, I was utterly stunned and
amazed!  That a daughter of mine could be so smart!  Honey, you
must have gotten all of your brains from your mother, because I
barely made it through school.  You couldn't have gotten anything
from me."

"No, Daddy, I got nothing from you at all," the little girl said
loud enough to reach the corners of the court.  "Just honesty,
integrity, love of God, love of country and an appreciation for
some of the truly incredible things you achieved.

"For example, Daddy, if it were not for you, Tom Conroy might not
even be alive and certainly his father wouldn't.  If it were not
for you, Karen Chan could not be alive because her mother would
have been dead long ago.  I could go on and on, Daddy, but I
won't.  You're just the finest father who has ever lived.  I love
you so very much and I so very much want you to be proud of me,
sometimes, too."

At that comment, Ken began weeping uncontrollably while at the
same time holding the little girl tightly.  Susan had her arms
around his neck and was hugging as tightly as she could.  "Be
proud of you _sometimes?"_ he cried.  "My darling daughter, I'm
bursting with pride!  You have honored your mother and me so very
much.  I can't tell you how proud we are to be your parents.  Be
proud of you sometime?  Darling, we're proud of you _all the
time!"_

Then pulling her away so he could look into her eyes he added,
"Maybe we have both learned something very valuable today, too,
Pumpkin.  Maybe we should tell you more often how wonderful you
make us both feel, how proud of you we really are, and how much
we love you."  After kissing her softly he added, "My darling
daughter, it would be utterly impossible for me ever to love you
more!"

Then Kathy said, "Kenneth, can I get into this act, too?  After
all, I knew her before you did.  She did spend the first nine
months of her life in the intimate confines of my belly.  May I
hold her, too?  And kiss her?  And tell her how enormously proud
of her I am?  And tell her that if she loves Mike Morris, she has
my permission to continue to see him?  May I?"

With a grin, Ken passed Susan to Kathy who hugged the little girl
tightly.  Then she whispered in her ear, "My darling Susan, I
have some warm milk in my tit waiting just for you.  I can't wait
to feel your mouth sucking at my nipple and drawing nourishment
from my body into your own."  Pulling back just enough to look
into the girl's eyes she asked softly, "Interested?"

"Oh, Mommy!  I can't wait!" the little girl screamed and then
dove back to nuzzle at Kathy's neck.

When the children were assembled again around the table, Mike
Morris gave Sue's hand a squeeze and she melted him with the
warmest, most loving smile he had ever seen.

Then Bobbie asked, "What about the second amendment to the
Constitution?  What does it say and why is it there?  Casey, do
you want to try?"

"Thank you, Bobbie," the black girl said quietly.

Then sitting up straight she said, "The second amendment notes
that 'A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of
a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall
not be infringed.'" Looking around at her friends, she continued,
"It's a very interesting amendment.  First, while most of the
Constitution provides limits, particularly on Congress --
'Congress shall pass no law...' -- the Second addresses the whole
nation: neither Congress nor the states may act.

"The clause is commonly misunderstood due, I think, to a lack of
knowledge of our own history.  Many people think that its words
about militia refer to what we now call the National Guard. 
That's not true.  The National Guard conforms with what in
colonial times was the _organized_ militia.  The _general_
militia included all men between the ages of fourteen and fifty
who were subject to instant call for military service.

"In my answer to your question, Bobbie, about the Southern
campaign, I mentioned Shelby and Sevier.  Nolichucky Jack Sevier
was a colonel in the general militia.  He had been elected by his
men who were the people living in the over-mountain lands.  The
men who wiped out Ferguson and his very well-trained Tories at
King's Mountain were farmers and trappers.  They had no uniforms
and assembled on Sevier's call.  But they sure got the jobdone!"

Looking at Bobbie she said, "The answer to the last part of your
question -- why is it there -- is, to me, the most interesting. 
The first thing an oppressive government must do is disarm the
citizenry.  As long as they are armed -- and the amendment says
the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed -- they
represent the ultimate defense against a tyrannical government."
Sitting up straight she said, "That's why I think so many of our
gun-control laws are unconstitutional... as well as being dumb. 
Let's face it: guns don't kill people, _people_ kill people."

Then she grinned and added, "It's always been pretty interesting
to me that in Switzerland the rate of crime -- particularly
against property and households, like burglary -- is practically
zero.  Personally, I don't think it's a coincidence that the
Swiss have universal military service for all men eighteen to
fifty.  And every man has an M-16 rifle with 100 rounds of
ammunition in his home.  The Swiss aren't too kindly disposed
towards a man breaking into a house at night.  If a guy did and
got gunned down by automatic weapons fire -- the M-16 will fire
on full automatic -- not only would nothing happen to the
homeowner, it wouldn't surprise me if he could successfully sue
the dead man's estate to recover the cost of cleaning up the
mess!"

With concern in her eyes Casey looked at Bobbie and asked,
"Bobbie, was that answer adequate?"

"I think it was outstanding, Casey," Bobbie replied warmly.  "And
I am so happy that your grandparents were with us today to hear
you.  I'm sure they are very proud!"

"I think that was the most ridiculous answer I've heard in my
life!" Kramer interjected.  "Why... why, it's the far side of
sheer insanity!  Any student in a public school giving such an
answer would immediately be sent to the principal and probably
suspended!"

"Rather than suspending the students who bring guns to school?"
Callaway asked dryly.  "That does sound about right, though. 
Suspend a student who dares to mention constitutional guarantees
but ignore students who are breaking the law."

Raising his voice he added, "Casey Jackson's answer was
absolutely perfect!  Her answer with respect to the militia and
an armed citizenry being the ultimate defense against tyranny is
also precisely correct."  Smiling warmly at Casey he said,
"That's the second 'A+' answer for you today, young lady. 
Congratulations!"  The girl, totally ignoring Kramer's comments,
just beamed with pride.

The discussion of the constitution, the French Revolution, and
the Declaration of Independence continued.  To his surprise,
Callaway found Casey Jackson defending the pragmatic approach in
the Declaration that failed to condemn slavery while Susan and
Mike fought for the idea that slavery was evil and should never
have been condoned.

Late in the discussion Casey said, "Please remember what Benjamin
Franklin said to John Adams who was fighting to keep the slavery
point in: 'We are mere men, John, not gods.  We are trying to
give birth to a new nation, something that has never been done
before in history.  The document is not perfect, but let us hope
it will be good enough.'"

Tears were flowing as she looked at Bobbie and added, "And it
was!"  Looking around the table with tears in her eyes she added,
"And we must remember the rule under which the Congress was
operating when it considered the Declaration: it could only be
adopted _without a single dissenting vote!_  Franklin was right,
of course.  There is no question that, had the slave reference
been included, Edwin Rutledge and South Carolina would have voted
no, and North Carolina would have, too.  There would have been no
Declaration, and there would have been no United States.  The
colonies would probably have responded favorably to peace
overtures.  Then where would we have been?"

Then she said, "Mrs. Conroy, earlier, when we recited the Pledge
of Allegiance, we said, 'one nation, under God, indivisible...' 
Well, I believe that the reason we became the City on the Hill
that Cindy described so beautifully is because we were conceived
as a nation with God's help!

"How could it be otherwise?  Do you realize what happened in
Philadelphia in June of 1776?  There were three men: John Adams,
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.  These three men were
engaged in a common purpose: writing the Declaration.  Again, our
lack of knowledge of history catches us up.  These men, each, was
equivalent to a Winston Churchill, a man of a century!  And yet
here were _three_ of them, in one place, at one time, doing one
thing.  The probabilities of its occurrence utterly blow the
mind!  It _had_ to be divine intervention.

"That's how this country got started, and it's why I love it so,"
she concluded quietly, then dissolved into tears.

Bobbie rushed to the girl's side, took her in her arms and held
her tightly saying, "Casey, I don't know what to say!  In spite
of what your ancestors suffered, to feel the way you do is
unbelievable.  It is also an enormous tribute to your parents...
and to your grandfather who gave his life in defense of our
country.  My darling, I can't tell you how proud of you I really
am!"

The spectators were silent as they observed the scene.  Then
Callaway said, "I really don't believe what I am seeing.  I am
seeing small children -- only six years old -- with the most
incredible depth and breadth of knowledge _and understanding_ of
our founding documents and how they came to be.  I am absolutely
certain that we wouldn't find nearly this knowledge if we tested
college students majoring in history.

"Mrs. Conroy, I am overwhelmed!  And Casey Jackson, you have done
it again!  I am utterly stunned and amazed. _Another_ 'A+'!" 
Looking at Bobbie he added, "Frankly, I think I've seen enough. 
I am a judge and have served for over twenty years.  Yet I feel
humble in the presence of you and your students.  Thank you so
much."

Glancing at her watch Bobbie saw that it was four-fifteen, and
said, "Okay, kids, you all heard Judge Callaway.  I guess that's
enough for today."  Then she smiled warmly and added, "And kids:
I can't tell you how proud of you I have been today.  No teacher
-- ever, anywhere, throughout history -- has had a class as good
or as dedicated as you are.  Thank you all so very much.  And I
love you all!"

Looking up at Callaway she asked, "Is there anything else, Your
Honor?"

"Yes, Mrs. Conroy, as a matter of fact, there is.  But first... 
Ms. Kramer, do you or your attorneys have anything else to add in
this case?"  Kramer looked at the attorneys and shook her head
dejectedly.  "I thought not," the judge said.  "I will announce
my decision when we reconvene tomorrow morning at ten o'clock.

"However, I have one favor to ask of all of you here who are not
connected with this case.  I'll ask the clerk and the bailiff to
pass out slips of paper to you.  On this paper I want you to
indicate _your_ decision: should this school be allowed to
continue?  All you need to do is write yes or no.  Yes means it
should be left alone; no means it should be shut down.  Would you
all do that for me, please?"

The people dispersed back to their seats, took the small pieces
of paper, wrote a word and turned them in.  Then, while the
bailiff and clerk were counting the slips a woman stood up.  She
was heavy and very matronly but with a very kind and interesting
face.  Her hair was auburn with a lot a gray in it, her eyes were
a startlingly brilliant green, and her features were very
regular.  "Your Honor!" she said loudly to be sure to get
Callaway's attention.

Looking up from his desk Callaway replied, "Yes, ma'am.  What can
I do for you?"

"Sir, I would like permission to address this court," the woman
replied.

"Of course you may," he replied.  "Please come on up."

With that the woman made her way down the center aisle, through
the gates separating the spectators from the participants, and
then up to the bench.  "Your Honor," she said, "could I be
sworn?"

"Of course," he replied.  Then he nodded towards the clerk who
put down her small stack of responses, picked up the Bible and
swore in the witness.

"Please state your full name."

"My name is Mildred Flaherty, but everyone calls me Millie." 
Turning to the judge she said, "Your honor, I was a teacher in
the Los Angeles schools for over thirty years until I retired a
few years ago."  Turning back to the spectators she continued,
"I'm here to talk about Barbara Conroy, while your people count
the slips representing the people's opinions.

"Judge, Barbara Conroy is the finest teacher I have ever seen. 
She may be the finest teacher who has ever lived.  What I saw
today was something I never even dreamed in my fondest dreams: a
group of children so motivated that they are in love with
learning!  What I saw was the most brilliant teacher on the face
of this earth."

Turning to face the judge she asked, "Did you see the look on her
face?  And the looks on those children?  Sir, she loves them. 
Honest to God, she does.  And they utterly adore her! 

"What I observed was unbelievable!  It was as if Barbara Conroy
was reaching into the heads of bright children -- incredibly
bright children -- and stretching their brains.  There is a love
of learning here!  The children _want_ to learn.  What we saw was
not rote memorization.  It was _knowledge!_  I thought I would
die hearing children discuss details of the Declaration of
Independence -- without even having the document to refer to! 
They know it!  They know it by heart!  When I heard that
beautiful black girl, Casey Jackson, arguing for pragmatism _and
for the continuing slavery of her own people!_  I cried!

"But there is so much more!  Every child is distinctive.  Did you
see how Mrs. Conroy handled that class?  She drew _every child_
into the discussion.  They were all involved!  Here were
six-year-old children debating the Constitution of the United
States!  They know so much more about it than I do, too, yet the
few things I do know agree totally with what they were saying.  I
almost bawled.  In my wildest dreams I couldn't dream of ever
seeing that happen.

"But it was so much more!  It was as if we were watching knives
being sharpened by being honed on a sharpening steel.  The knives
are the children's minds.  The steel is Mrs. Conroy's.  Judge, I
heard you say that she is only nineteen years old.  She is the
most brilliant person and most incredible teacher I have ever
seen or heard of.  This woman knows _everything!_

"Your Honor, I respectfully urge you to continue this school in
operation.  Moreover, I urge you to issue a permanent injunction
against the Department of Instruction ever again having direct
contact with this school or Mrs. Conroy.  Rather, any
communication to the school from the Department should come
through this Court.

"Sir, Barbara Conroy and her students are an utterly priceless
asset!  They are a national treasure.  Listening to these
children, suddenly, for the first time in years, I felt good
about the future of the United States.  For as sure as you're
sitting there, these will be our future leaders -- both male and
female.  If they are -- and I pray that they will be -- our
country will be in very good hands.  It will be in the hands of
the smartest, best-educated people on the face of this earth. 
Moreover, they will be people who truly _understand_ this country
and what things made it great.  They recognize the importance of
God and the family in our society.  And I am utterly delighted to
see that this small class of only ten students has two Orientals
and a black.

"But it is so much more!  Barbara Conroy takes children who have
had the finest upbringing I could possibly imagine and
_reinforces_ the lessons their parents have been teaching.  When
that little girl, Cynthia, told about asking Mrs. Conroy for a
spanking, I cried!  Honest to God, I did!  Here is a child, born
of two parents who suffered incalculable pain, asking to be
spanked!  Then I learn that these children are born of parents
who include the greatest military hero in the history of our
country; children whose parents are among the wealthiest in the
world; yet children of the most loving parents alive in the world
today.

"These are children whose love of God is real!  Sir, do you know
what I felt awhile ago?  I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit!
I really did.  When Barbara Conroy prayed for God's blessing on
her students, the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  I look at
them all and do you know what I see?  I see the purest goodness
on the face of this earth!  I see small children overflowing with
God's sanctifying grace!  I see children in whom God is actively
working to help them develop and learn.  It is said that we use
only 10 percent or so of our brains.  Well, maybe we do, but
these kids don't.  And Barbara Conroy certainly doesn't.

"And, sir, it all begins with their teacher!  As I said, I was a
teacher for over thirty years.  On my very best day I couldn't
get close to what she is!  She motivates, teaches, inspires and
loves!  It's as if she opens their heads and stretches their
brains.  You _do_ know, sir, that these children utterly adore
her?  They do!  And, damn it, she deserves it!  Judge Callaway,
all I can say is that Barbara Conroy is the very best teacher
alive in the world today and possibly the finest teacher who has
ever lived!  And that includes John Dewey and Socrates! 
Please... please, Your Honor!  Let Barbara Conroy continue to
teach.  She is a national asset of the first rank."

Then, with the warmest smile the people had ever seen she added,
"Of course, when she has children of her own...  With the
incredible love she has for her husband...  With her unbelievable
beauty...  Sir, aside from being the best teacher alive, Barbara
Conroy is the most beautiful woman alive! _Her_ children will be
taking over from these imps!  And when they do, we will be in
very fine, loving and capable hands."

With that, Millie lowered her head and left the witness box while
the spectators jumped to their feet applauding and roaring their
agreement with the things Millie Flaherty had said.

Looking up after reflecting on the woman's comments, Callaway
found the clerk waiting for him.  "Your Honor," she said, "here
are the results of your poll."

Looking out at the spectators he said, "Ladies and gentlemen:
your attention, please!  The results of our little poll: Yes --
keep the school open -- 187; No -- close the school -- none! 
That's zero, nada, nothing."  With the elation obvious in his
voice, Callaway repeated, "The vote was 187 to zero: Keep the
school open!  Thank you all for expressing an opinion.  The court
is now adjourned until ten o'clock tomorrow!"

Leaving the bench, Callaway caught up with Bobbie as she was
gathering up her things.  "Bobbie, could you do me a favor?" he
asked.

"Of course, Judge.  Anything."

"Could you come in a little early tomorrow?  Perhaps meet me in
my chambers at nine-thirty?  And would you please bring those two
little imps, Andy and Ken, with you?" he asked with a very warm
smile.

Then he added, "I can't tell you how much I love those two
children.  But Bobbie, your whole class...!  They are the most
perfect little people the good Lord has ever put on this earth."

Then after looking around to see that they were not being
overheard, he added, "And, even though this is a matter at issue,
I agree completely with Millie Flaherty: You're the finest
teacher alive in the world.  I am truly honored to have met you.
As well as looking forward to being alive for more than a week or
so."

With a warm wink he turned towards his chambers.*Chapter 22*

When the gray Clifford limousine pulled into the circular
driveway of the Cartwright mansion in Beverly Hills, Andy was
waiting outside with her mother.  While Bill Clifford remained in
the car, Ken jumped out as soon as Fred Clark opened the door. 
Ignoring the others he took Andy in his arms and melted his lips
to hers.  Then Ali got out carrying her youngest, Kristin, who
was just over one year old.

After kissing Connie warmly, Ali raised an eyebrow and looked at
her daughter skeptically.  "Are you sure you can handle it?  Is
your milk going to be good enough?  After all," she said archly,
"Kris is used to only the very best!"

Replying in kind Connie said, "Oh?  What about poor Andy?  Are
you sure she won't be poisoned at your tit?"  Then dropping the
pose she took Kristin in her arms and loved and kissed her. 
"Nursing your own sister!  I mean, Mom, really!  Isn't this
really... a bit much?"  Then with great warmth in her eyes she
said, "Mom, I love you so very damned much!"

Looking over to where Andy and Ken were still locked in each
others arms she said, "God, Mom!  I feel so badly for poor Andy
and Ken.  Would you please look at them.  If you were to mention
those two to any outsider and say they were in love, they would
think, 'How cute!'  But those two are truly in love in the most
adult way."

Looking into Ali's eyes she said, "And after what I saw this
afternoon, it looks like it's spreading.  Did you see Sue Carlson
and Mike Morris when court adjourned?  He gently squeezed one of
her ass cheeks and she just turned and melted into his arms." 
Then she glared at her mother and said, "You run the damned firm.
 Why didn't you plan better?  Why did you allow so many of us to
have girls as first children?"

"Darling Connie," Ali replied blithely, "I can't do _everything_
by myself.  After all," she continued airily, "I _did_ have a
little boy!"  But then she looked at Ken and said, "I really
can't wait, though.  We both know that our kids are not ordinary.
 Their children are going to be utterly spectacular.  And by the
way, daughter, for a first effort, you really didn't do too badly
with Andy."

The women warmly embraced again and then Ali gave Kristin a kiss
causing the little girl to just beam happily.  Dragging Ken and
Andy back to the car, they were off.  As they moved down the
driveway, Ali looked at her granddaughter and said, "Andy
Cartwright, I don't know about you."

With her eyes wide the little girl replied, "What did I do this
time, Kenny's Mommy?"

"Well..." she responded, drawing out her words, "for openers, you
put our lives at immediate risk."

Ali's words were stunning.  The little girl's eyes widened and
tears came to their corners.  "How did I do that?"

"Andy, what did you do when you finally came over to the car?" 
The little girl thought but couldn't think of anything.  She had
just gotten in.  "Darling," Ali said, answering her own question,
"you extended your hand to Fred who was holding the door and
said, 'Good evening, Mr. Clark.  Thank you so much for driving us
to the circus tonight.'  When you held up your arms, he picked
you up and you kissed him.

"Andy, you nearly knocked him down.  Now that you're getting
older you have to understand that your love -- undiluted -- is
really far more than most people can take.  Now look at him.  I'm
afraid poor Fred is still in a daze -- but he's driving the car.
Heaven knows, Los Angeles traffic is dangerous enough as it is
without being distracted, let alone trying to handle it in a
daze."  With a grin she concluded, "Now do you understand?"

Andy who was riding facing backward in a forward seat opened the
window separating the limousine's two compartments and said, "Mr.
Clark, I think I should apologize for kissing you the way I did.
Gram is afraid you'll lose control or something."

Fred adjusted his rear-view mirror to be able to see her without
turning his head and spoke into the tiny microphone he used to
communicate with the passenger compartment.  "I'm not at all
sorry, Miss Andy.  When Ali said we were picking you up this
evening the first thing I thought was, 'Oh, boy!  Maybe I'll get
one of Miss Andy's kisses.'  And I certainly did!  Young lady,
your kisses are in a class by themselves.  I do have a question
for you, though: When are you going to do something productive?"

"Productive?" she responded, puzzled.  "What do you mean?"

"Productive.  You know: useful.  Like marrying young Master
Kenneth back there.  That would be useful!  It would get him out
of my hair and you can just fry each other's brains with your
kisses instead of using them to destroy the world.  You two have
to get married, you know.  I am certain that there are no other
people your ages alive who could survive the intensity of your
love.

"And even though I'm a lot older than you two, I'm certainly not
blind.  The most wonderful thing is to see you kiss one another
and see the incredible level of passion you possess flowing
between you.  And this is on top of the purest love I mentioned
earlier.  Young lady and young sir, with anyone else, you would
be dangerous menaces!  But together?"  Clark just slowly shook
his head and let out a long low whistle.

"Oh, in that case..."  Andy turned towards Ken sitting beside
her, reached out her arms and in seconds was enfolded in his. 
They spent the rest of the trip just locked in each other's arms
with their lips together, separating very seldom and then only to
breathe.

"My, what a wonderful idea!" Ali exclaimed.  Turning to her
husband she said throatily, "Bill Clifford, I need you!"  As he
turned toward her he saw her unbutton her blouse and peel it back
to expose her perfect breasts now refilling with milk.  She had
nursed Kris just before dropping her off.  They locked in a
passionate embrace while Bill just gently ran his fingers over
all of her perfect body that was within reach.

Nearing the Forum, Clark announced, "Folks, we're almost there. 
You can break it up now."

Andy and Ken eased apart with sighs.  Seeing his parents locked
together he couldn't resist.  "Mom and Dad, what are you _doing?_
 Good grief!  Don't you realize there are impressionable young
children around?"

Easing away from Ali just enough to speak Bill Clifford replied,
"The answer to your first question is that your mother and I were
necking.  That's because there wasn't even time for a quickie --
it's all I could do.  As for the second part about impressionable
young children...  Who?  Where?"

Andy and Ken just giggled at his reply while Ali ostentatiously
put her clothes back together.

Bill and Ali Clifford were one of the world's wealthiest families
and he was quick to give her incredible investing skills credit
-- or blame -- for most of it.  He constantly teased her about
bombarding the family with ever more money when they couldn't put
a dent in what they already had.  With total assets of more than
$10 billion, the family investments were necessarily widely
spread.  One of them was the entertainment conglomerate that
controlled the circus; the Cliffords were, by a wide margin, the
largest single shareholders.  As a result, when Bill had called
his office and told his secretary he wanted four tickets to the
evening performance, it was a simple matter for her to call the
office of the CEO of the entertainment company, introduce
herself, and explain what was wanted.

As they pulled up to the main entrance, there was a delegation of
senior officials from the circus waiting to greet them.  When
introductions were made, a very well-built man with flowing
blonde hair was introduced.  It was Gunther Gabel-Williams,
renowned as the foremost wild-animal trainer in the world.  Of
particular note was the fact that he was almost alone in the
world in working with tigers as opposed to the far more tractable
and less ferocious lions.  Recognizing him, both Ken and Andy
were wide-eyed as they were introduced.  Again the Cliffords were
so pleased and impressed as Andy made a most graceful curtsy and
then extended her hand.  In the finest continental manner, he
kissed the back of her fingers bringing a blush to her cheeks. 
Ken bowed and then shook hands.  Already Gabel-Williams was very
impressed.

Because arrangements had been made to show the Cliffords around
backstage, they had arrived well before the evening performance
was scheduled.  After a tour, they ended at the cages where the
tigers were kept.  Earlier Gabel had ordered ten of the big cats
to be placed in a training ring available for him backstage so he
could give the children a private demonstration.  With the cats
in the cage, while he was preparing to enter he saw something he
had never seen before in his life: As Andy and Ken stood near it,
the big cats all came over to them and just looked at the
children lovingly.  Then he saw something truly remarkable: The
tigers were seated back on their haunches and looked exactly like
house-cats -- they even wrapped their tails around their
forepaws.  The two children had started at one end of the line
and apparently were introducing themselves.  Incredibly, it
appeared they understood the tigers and the tigers understood
them.

"Good evening, Prince," Andy said softly.  "My name is Andy and
this is my lover, Ken.  We are both so happy to meet you!"  The
response was a sound that Gabel had never heard: it sounded like
a purr!  The giant cats -- averaging about 600 pounds apiece in
weight -- were purring!  Of course, given their great size --
they were all males -- it was like no sound Gabel had ever heard,
but it was undeniably a purr.  Moreover, the names the children
were using were in several cases names Gabel used, but more often
they were names he had never heard.  It appeared that the cats
actually had names.  In addition to Prince there was Rudy, Will,
Fred, King, Charles, James, Ferdie, Sasha, and -- remarkably --
Lester!

Finally, when the introductions were complete Andy turned to
Gabel and asked, "Could Ken and I go into the cage?  They so much
want us to and we would like it very much."

Turning to Ali and Bill, Gabel shook his head and said, "I really
don't know what to say.  I am seeing something I have never seen
before in my life!  You see the way the cats are sitting?  I have
never seen them do that.  Never!  You, perhaps, overheard Andy
introducing the cats by name?  Prince, King, and Sasha are names
I use.  The others?  I have never heard them before.  It seems
that those children are actually communicating with tigers!" 
Shaking his head again he continued, "Twenty minutes ago the idea
of small children going into a tiger cage -- _and coming out
alive! -- would have seemed utterly ridiculous.  Now?  I'm
confident the cats will not hurt them.  Will you permit it?"

After talking to the children and getting their immediate
agreement that they would do absolutely everything Gunther told
them to do instantly, Ali and Bill reluctantly approved.  As the
door was opened, Ali moved backward against Bill's body and
whispered, "Darling, please hold me tight!  I'm so scared!"  Bill
put his arms around her waist and held her tightly against his
body.

Gabel was going to lead the way but Andy told him that it would
probably be better if he remained outside.  He could remain by
the door and give them instructions through the bars. 
Remarkably, when the cats heard what Andy said, they seemed to
visibly relax so Gabel-Williams did what she asked.  The two
children entered the cage and the door was closed behind them.

"Okay, guys," Ken said, "let's shake hands.  Okay?"  One after
the other, in the same sequence beginning with Prince, the tigers
came up to the children, sat down on their haunches and then
extended a giant paw.  Because of their great size, the children
needed both hands to shake it, but they did.

When they got to the last cat, Lester, and had shaken hands, Andy
cocked her head, looked skeptical and said, "Lester, are you
sure?"  The cat nodded its great head and seemed to smile. 
"Honest?" she repeated.  Again the great head nodded.  "Well...
okay, I guess."  With that Andy went close to the giant animal,
wrapped her arms as far around his great neck as she could reach,
hugged and then kissed him.  When she released him, but before
Ken could do anything, Lester dropped flat on the ground and
actually covered his head with his forepaws!

"Oh, it's not so bad, Lester.  You don't have to be so
embarrassed.  Hasn't a girl ever kissed you before?"  The huge
animal removed one of its paws which had been covering an eye. 
After looking at Andy for a moment, he quickly shook his head.

Ali and Bill were standing well back from the cage beside Gabel
and watching.  Gabel was awestruck.  "That is absolutely
unbelievable!" he whispered.  "Can you imagine?  That cat
actually asked your daughter for a kiss and then covered his head
in embarrassment when she gave him one!"  Turning to the
Cliffords he added, "I can now give you my personal guarantee
that no harm will come to those children.  In fact, you could
consider them to be safer than in church.  Those tigers love
those children and would guard them with their lives."

Andy and Ken were having a wonderful time.  Dropping to her
knees, Andy dove at Lester and kissed him again saying, "You big
sissy!  It's not so bad, is it?"  This time the cat rolled on its
back and just extended its paws in the air.  Again looking at him
skeptically, Andy said, "I don't know..."  Then she shook her
head and said, "Mommy wouldn't like it, I'm sure."  Then she
smiled warmly and said, "Oh, Lester, please don't cry!  Okay,
we'll do it."

While the cat continued to lie on its back they went to the door
and quickly stripped off all of their clothes except for their
shorts.  Andy explained, "Grandmom, he wants us bare but I told
him he would have to settle for this.  Okay?"

Ali, who was completely stunned by the events, could only shake
her head.  Now stripped down to just their shorts, the two
children went back to the tiger, climbed on its stomach side by
side and embraced each other.  Then, with the most incredible
tenderness, the huge animal wrapped its forelegs around them and
just purred.

"My God!" Gabel-Williams exclaimed in a whisper, "I didn't know
the half of it.  First, a tiger will _never_ get into the
position that one is in.  Never!  He has intentionally made
himself completely vulnerable and totally defenseless.  Now look:
he is holding those children to his breast -- and utterly loving
it!  As far as I know, this has never happened.  Ever!"  By this
time all of the circus people who could were crowding around the
cage and watching in stunned silence.

When they got off Lester, all of the other cats insisted on doing
the same thing.  Finally, when they were finished, Andy put her
hands on her hips and in her most imperious six-year-old manner
declared, "Well, this is a fine thing!  We come to the circus to
be entertained.  Instead, you guys have us entertaining _you!_ 
Now why don't you get off your dead rear ends and do something
amusing."

It was as if she had cracked a loud whip.  First Prince, using a
huge ball that is used as a part of the elephant act, jumped on
top of it and carefully rolled it in circles around the perimeter
of the round cage.  When he got off, the children were laughing
with glee and Andy gave him a warm kiss.

Then four of the cats got to their feet and stood close together
side by side.  Three more carefully and gracefully got up on
their backs followed by two others.  Now there was a 4-3-2
pyramid, missing its apex.  Prince was the last tiger left and he
looked at Andy wistfully.

"You're sure you can do it?" she asked.  The animal nodded its
head rapidly up and down.  With a lovely little grin Andy said,
"Well, okay, but you better not drop me!"

With Prince lying down on the ground, Andy climbed up on his back
and straddled his shoulders.  The big cat then climbed up the
first, then second, and finally the third layer of tigers. 
Because the animals are very large -- nearly four feet high at
the shoulders -- with them standing four high, Prince's great
head was well over sixteen feet above the ground; he was far
above the top of the cage which only extended ten feet up.  When
he stood still at the top of the pyramid, Andy stood up on his
back and extended her arms proudly.

Instantly there was thunderous applause from all of the circus
people surrounding the cage.  As experienced as they all were,
they were seeing something that had never been done before,
beginning with the creation of the pyramid itself.  But it wasn't
over yet.  At the top, Prince slowly backed up as far as he could
and then extended his forepaws in a bow leaving his haunches up
in the air.  Then the two below did the same thing, followed by
the three below them and finally the four at the base.  Because
of the angles downward, by the time the last tigers were in their
bow Prince's back was nearly vertical and Andy was sitting on the
back of his head with her legs around his neck.

"Unbelievable!" Gabel-Williams murmured, "Simply unbelievable." 
Then turning to the Cliffords he asked, "An idea has come to me
that seems almost ridiculous, but I must ask you anyway.  Would
you allow your children to perform tonight in the ring?  You see,
what we have been seeing is a first in history.  No person --
ever -- has seen what we have just seen.  It's never happened."

Then with a warm smile he added, "I guess I've been in the circus
too long.  We always think of our customers.  If we could let the
customers see your children and the great cats...  It would
utterly blow their minds!  Would you?  Please?"

"Oh, shit!" Ali muttered and then with a broad grin replied, "Mr.
Gabel, I have a confession to make.  You see, I was a motion
picture actress, so there's more than a little ham in me.  And
since Kenny's my son, he could have caught it, too.  The answer
is yes if the kids are willing."  Turning to Bill she asked, "Do
you agree, darling?  Or am I being completely crazy and stupid?"

Bill took her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "My
darling, we've known for a long time that those two are not
ordinary children.  They have extraordinary powers -- I guess
we're seeing more of them tonight.  I agree, darling.  We'll let
them."

By this time the tigers, after first straightening up in the
reverse of the way they had bowed, had slowly and gracefully
dismantled their pyramid.  When Gabel-Williams asked the
children, they were utterly overjoyed.  When Andy told the cats,
it was apparent that they were delighted, too.

After cocking her head and listening, she just shook it,
muttered, "Big babies!" and asked Gabel for grooming brushes. 
"They feel they have to look their best so Ken and I agreed we
would brush their coats.  May we?"  After some scurrying around,
large wire-bristle brushes were found and the two children
carefully groomed the giant cats who just lay flat on the ground
and purred while the children worked.

By this time the huge Forum was filling for the evening
performance.  After the opening music, the ringmaster introduced
Gabel-Williams.  The trainer, now dressed in a glittering outfit
of spangled white, stood in the spotlight and said, "Ladies and
Gentlemen!  Welcome to the circus!  Tonight, we are not going to
do our regular show.  Instead, you are going to see something
never seen by anyone, _ever!_  You are going to see two small
children, Andrea Cartwright and Kenneth Clifford, work with ten
Bengal tigers right here before you using the full scope of this
circus floor.  Frankly, I don't even know what they will be
doing.  I do know that earlier this evening those two children
had the cats doing things I have never seen them do before in my
life!

"There is one thing I can guarantee: you will be entertained! 
However, for your safety, because the tigers will be running
free, there will be riflemen spotted around the entire ring with
orders to protect the spectators at any cost.

"Finally, a few words about the cats: First, the Bengal tiger is,
with the exception of the very rare Siberian tiger, the largest
cat in the world.  The tigers you will see are all males and
weigh, on average, 600 pounds apiece.  Since I doubt if either of
the children weigh even forty pounds, you will see about three
_tons_ of ferocious cat being handled by about 75 pounds of
human.  Since we do not know what the children will do, we cannot
use an announcer.  Accordingly, I will also be your announcer
this evening.  Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Andy, Ken,
and their big cats!"

Gabel-Williams was sitting at ringside with the Cliffords.  Ali
clutched Bill's hand as the band struck up a quick march and the
spotlight moved to the corner of the ring.  There were Andy and
Ken with their golden bodies nearly bare but with their arms
out-thrust in greeting.  The two kids sprinted across the floor
and then did a series of incredibly rapid somersaults as if they
were trained gymnasts.  After making a complete circuit of the
circus floor to the wild applause of the crowd they ended up back
at the entrance.

Andy took a tiny microphone and said, "Good evening, ladies and
gentlemen!  I am Andy and this is my lover, Ken."  In spite of
their youth and small size, there was something about the two
together that prevented any snickering at her comment about Ken
being her lover.

"Now I would like to introduce the real stars of this show: the
tigers.  First, this is Prince."  The huge animal came out, made
a bow and began to trot slowly around the huge ring.  She
continued the introductions with Rudy, Will, Fred, King, Charles,
James, Ferdie, Sasha, and Lester.

By this time the cats were all trotting in a circle and Andy and
Ken moved to the center of the ring.  When Andy called them,
Prince led them over to the center where they formed a huge
circle around the children and then simultaneously on her order,
sat back on their haunches like house-cats.  Again, they neatly
wrapped their tails around their forepaws and just looked
attentively at the children.

Gabel announced quietly, "I have never seen what you are now
seeing before tonight.  They look exactly like house-cats, don't
they?  But they are anything but!  They are, in fact, perhaps the
most powerful and dangerous animals on the face of this earth. 
Now listen!" he exclaimed softly.  "I am going to ask that all
music and noise cease at once.  I want you to hear something no
one alive has ever heard: the sound of ten full-grown Bengal
tigers purring!  Listen!"

There were gasps from the crowd as they realized what the
incredibly deep sound they were hearing was.

Meanwhile, in the ring Andy grinned at the cats and said, "Okay,
guys!  Now it's time to entertain the paying customers.  What are
we going to do?"  She cocked her head and said, "Okay, that
sounds good."

Ken grinned at her and dashed off.  A few moments later he was
back followed by roustabouts rolling ten of the huge red balls. 
Fearfully, they positioned the balls evenly in a circle around
the ring.  Ken ran back, snapped his fingers and the ten great
animals rose as one and fell into line.  He then ran around the
ring.  Each time he reached a ball, the first cat in line moved
aside and sat looking at the ball.  When all the cats were
positioned, he returned to Andy's side at the center of thering.

She signaled to the bandleader who struck up a merry clown tune.
Instantly the cats jumped up on top of the balls and began to
roll them at increasing speed around the ring.  Andy and Ken then
ran around the inside of the perimeter of tigers encouraging each
one by name.  The animals seemed very excited and pleased.

Again Gabel-Williams announced, "Cats can't do what you're
seeing.  At least, I have never seen or heard of it ever being
done.  Could we have some applause?  They are really doing a
wonderful job!"  The applause burst like thunder as the tigers
were now racing around the ring with their paws going backward on
the balls so fast they were now only yellow blurs.

"Okay, guys, that's enough," Andy called quietly.  The animals
slowed the balls, stopped them and very gracefully dismounted,
returning to their circle at the center of the ring.  When they
were again seated, Andy went from one to the next, wrapped her
arms around his neck and kissed him, thanking him for the
performance.  Now the purring was so loud it drowned out all
other noises.

"I don't know if they are so happy because of what they did or
because of the kiss Andy just gave each of them.  Incidentally, I
am sure you have all seen those TV commercials, often involving
cars, with the super, 'Professional Drivers -- Don't Try This at
Home'.

"Well, Andy and Ken are not professionals -- or they weren't
until tonight -- but let me beg you: _Please_ don't ever try this
with a tiger.  Any of those animals could easily cut that little
girl in half with one bite.  But they won't because, believe it
or not, these animals absolutely adore these two children.  Why?
I have no idea.  But they do, and I'm sure you all agree."  Then
he called out louder, "What's next, kids?"

Again Ken went offstage and returned a few moments later, again
followed by roustabouts.  This time they positioned what appeared
to be a huge teeter-totter to the side of the center ring and
then brought out a large tub of water, about the size that an
elephant might stand on.  It was about four feet in diameter and
about three feet deep.  When the materials had been positioned,
he just grinned at Andy and winked.

The animals then recreated their pyramid.  When Prince lay down
for Andy to climb on his back, there was a gasp from the crowd. 
It continued as he slowly but gracefully climbed to the top with
Andy on his back quietly encouraging him.  Finally in position,
Andy stood up on his back and extended her arms.  There was a
huge burst of applause as she smiled at the crowd.  Then she
called for a drum roll.

Ali, who had been watching Andy, was amazed and impressed by her
aplomb.  When she called for the drum roll, Ali looked around and
saw that Ken was now positioned on the lower end of the
teeter-totter.  The high end was closest to Andy.  Her hand came
up to her mouth and she gasped as she realized what the children
were planning to do.  Before she could do or say anything, Andy
leaped from Prince's back while sixteen feet in the air.  Her
arms were upraised as she dropped.

The instant her feet contacted the board she bent her knees very
slightly just enough to cushion the landing but not enough to
dissipate her downward force.  As the board came down, Ken was
catapulted into the air.  To his mother's total astonishment, he
did a perfect two-and-a-half backward somersault, stretched out,
then rolled into a ball just before hitting the water in the tub.
 Landing like a cannon ball, he sent nearly half the water flying
from the tub in an enormous splash.  An instant later he leaped
from the tub and extended his arms.

That was followed instantly by enormous applause and by Andy
hurling herself into his arms.  "My darling," she whispered, "You
were utterly spectacular!"

The two melted into a passionate kiss, disregarding the fact that
Ken was soaking wet, and held it while the tigers dismantled
their pyramid and then gathered in a tight circle around the
embracing children.  At one point, Andy moved back in the circle
of Ken's arms just enough to use her fingers to comb out his
hair.  With a grin she said, "Now you're handsome again.  And you
can go back to kissing me.  Aren't you lucky?"

This time the tigers' purring became so loud it drowned out all
of the other circus noises.

"Utterly unbelievable!" Gabel-Williams exclaimed into the PA
mike.  "Please remember, ladies and gentlemen, that these two are
only _six years old!_  They are not professionals.  As far as I
know they have had no acrobatic training of any kind, and yet...
That was as good as any of our professionals could do. 
Furthermore, that pyramid of tigers is a first.  It has never
been seen in public before and is only the second time it's ever
been done.  The first time was just an hour ago right before this
show.  Aren't they wonderful!?"

Ken led the tigers back to the center of the ring.  This time
Andy grinned at Prince and said, "Okay, big guy.  Let's do it!"

The huge animal lay down on the ground and began to roll.  He was
followed by a second, a third and a fourth.  Then he rose and
leaped back across the bodies of the tigers rolling towards him
and got to the end of the line.  What followed were leaps of
increasing distance as two tigers began to roll for each one that
leaped, increasing the width to be covered by about five feet
each time.  Prince, who had begun, also had the longest leap,
covering nearly fifty feet in the air from a standing start
across all nine other tigers rolling rapidly in his direction. 
After that, he and each successive tiger joined the children so
each remaining tiger leaped across an ever-diminishing distance.

"My heavens!" Gabel-Williams murmured appreciatively.  "I hope
you understand what you have just seen.  You have seen a 600
pound tiger leap _fifty feet_ from a standing start.  To put it
into perspective, the human record for the _running_ broad jump
is just over thirty feet."

The tigers were now loping around the entire ring in a great
circle to the now-thunderous applause of the audience.  While
they were moving, Andy came over to Gabel Williams and whispered
something.  "They want _what?"_ he exclaimed.  Andy just grinned
and nodded, then returned to the center.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Gabel announced, "there will be an
intermission, with our famous clowns to entertain you while the
tigers get some rest and -- believe it or not -- a snack!  Andy
has ordered hot dogs and lemonade for all of them!"

The big cats arranged themselves in a tight circle around Andy
and Ken in the center of the ring.  Because the workers feared
the great cats, Ken went to the corner and juggled a large tray
and a big bucket.  Returning to the center he put down his
materials just as Andy said, "Now wait a stinking minute...  You
guys are going too far!"

Then she just cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.  The tigers
appeared to be laughing while nodding their heads.  On the tray
were twenty hot dogs along with mustard and relish.  There were
also very large pans similar to the water dish for a very large
dog.  Ken put one in front of each cat.  Then he and Andy started
moving around the circle in opposite directions, first fixing the
animal's hot dog with the amount of mustard and relish it wanted,
then carefully feeding it to him.  After feeding the hot dogs,
Ken carefully filled the dishes with lemonade from his big
bucket.  He had to get two more buckets before the cats had all
been served.

As Prince was being served his lemonade, another tiger moved in
his direction.  Andy, seeing the movement, exclaimed, "Rudy!  Get
back where you belong and wait your turn!  You should be ashamed
of yourself!"

The animal dropped flat on the ground and covered his head with
his forepaws.  Little Andy just looked at him with her hands on
her hips and then said softly, "Please don't cry, Rudy.  You're
forgiven.  I still love you!"

With that she went to the animal, lifted one of its paws off its
head, kissed him and then rubbed the back of its head.  With Rudy
purring again, she returned to feeding the tigers, and eventually
feeding Rudy.  Because he had tried to steal Prince's lemonade,
he was the last one to be served.

"Now I have seen everything," Gabel-Williams announced.  "Did you
see what that little girl just did?  She bawled out _a tiger!_ 
But that's not all.  The poor animal was so upset and
embarrassed, he covered his head with his paws.  I have never
seen that, ever!  Is that all?  Oh, no!  Andy then lifts his paw
from his head -- a paw with claws so big and so sharp they could
cut her in half -- and then kisses him, hugs him and says he's
forgiven!

"Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know what we are seeing but I can
assure you it has never been seen in the world before and may
never be seen again!  You're watching history being made tonight
before your very eyes!"  Although the clowns were performing
around the entire ring, the attention of the audience remained
focused on the children and the tigers.

With a warm grin at Andy, Ken said, "Since I cooked tonight, it's
your turn to do the dishes!"  The little girl laughed merrily,
kissed him lightly on the lips and then gathered up the tray, the
pans and the buckets and carried them back to the corner.

By the time she returned, the clowns had left the arena so she
said, "Okay, guys!  What now?"  Again she cocked her head,
listened and yelped.  "Sounds good!  Let's do it."

Again Prince led the way.  The tigers formed a line well spaced
out and began to trot around the perimeter of the huge arena. 
When they were spaced evenly around it, Prince, moving from one
corner, cut diagonally across the arena floor.  Reaching the far
corner he looped around the corner and then headed diagonally
across again, intersecting the moving line of tigers.  When he
was about to reach it, he leaped across, continued to the corner
again and moved up.  Now the tigers were moving in a huge figure
eight.  Once formed, they began to run faster until they were
bounding at great speed and leaping across the line at the
appropriate instant.

Andy and Ken were now standing inside one of the circles and Andy
again had a tiny microphone.  "Do you like it folks?  It was my
friends' idea.  If you do, could we hear a warm round of applause
for some great guys who are trying their best to entertain you."
There was another tremendous burst of applause.

Again the tigers formed their circle in the middle of the arena
and again Andy listened.  This time, though, she shook her head
and gave them her idea.  The tigers all grinned and nodded, then
all rose to their feet except for Prince and Sasha who both lay
down flat.  Andy got on Prince's back and Ken mounted Sasha. 
Prince led while Sasha positioned himself as number six in the
line of ten.  The tigers began to just trot around the perimeter
of the ring with the children on their backs.

After one full swing the two children rose and stood on the
animals' backs as they ran faster and faster.  Ignoring the
precariousness of their perch the children then stood sideways on
their animals facing out towards the audience and extended their
arms.  Then Andy began to blow kisses to the audience.

Ali, still clutching Bill's arm whispered, "Darling, aren't they
utterly unbelievable?  They are so good!  And it's not because
it's my son and granddaughter, either."  Then she kissed him
lightly and asked, "What do you think of having your
granddaughter as your daughter-in-law, anyway?"

"My darling, I couldn't be happier!  There is not a finer girl
alive in the world today than Andy Cartwright!  Besides," he
added with a warm grin, "I know how much my darling wife is
looking forward to her first grandchild also being her first
great-grandchild!"

"Sure am!" she agreed, giving him a passionate kiss.

In the meantime, the formation in the ring was changing.  Every
second tiger moved up until he was alongside the one ahead.  Now
they were racing side by side in pairs.  Andy and Ken each
straddled a pair so that they had one foot on each tiger. 
Remarkably, the animals moved in synchronized strides so to the
children it was just a wider but very stable back.  Then they
moved to three abreast, then four, and finally five.  With five
abreast, the two sets were exactly halfway around the ring from
each other.  This time there were huge cheers from the crowd as
Andy just dove across the backs of the great cats and ended
propping her chin on her elbows while she was sprawled across the
backs of three of the cats -- that was the limit of reach of her
small body, and only the tips of her toes reached the third cat
-- just grinning at the audience as she sped by.  For his part,
Ken just stood with his hands on his hips howling with laughter.

The five with Andy moved back to the center of the ring while
Ken's group continued to run.  Now he was back on Sasha and the
other four dropped back.  They then were in echelon with each cat
to the side of, and about five feet behind, the next ahead.

Again Ali's hand came to her mouth as she had a premonition. 
Clutching Bill's arm she softly cried, "Darling, Ken's not an
acrobat!"

"I know that, darling," he replied softly, "and you know that. 
The question is, does Ken?"

Just then, they learned.  After ensuring that all the cats were
in the appropriate position, he launched himself up in the air,
did an incredible back double somersault and landed perfectly on
the back of the trailing tiger, Rudy.  He did it again, and
again, and yet again to increasing cheers each time.  Now
positioned on the trailing tiger he said quietly, "Okay, guys! 
You know what to do."

The last tiger, Lester, moved up on the one ahead and at the same
time moved towards the inside of the ring.  Soon all of the
tigers were abreast with about five feet separating each one. 
Now Ken cheered them on to move even faster.  The animals were
really flying around the ring now.  Ken knew where his parents
were sitting and measured it off perfectly.  They were sitting at
the arena midpoint so, while just coming out of the curve ahead
of them, Ken leaped to the next, then ran, jumping to the back of
the third, to the second.  Then he launched himself into the air,
and, while leading Sasha perfectly, did another somersault and
landed with his feet planted along the animal's back.  Ken had
timed it perfectly.  He extended his arms just as he passed his
parents.  In the instant of passing it looked like his mother was
crying in relief.

For their finale, the animals formed another pyramid in the
center of the ring.  Only this time, when Prince lay down both
Andy and Ken got on his back with Ken sitting behind his love.

Reaching the summit, the people began to applaud but then stopped
as they realized that the act was not yet over.  This time the
bottom four tigers began to walk in a measured pace towards the
edge of the giant ring.  Then they began to walk along it and as
they did they began to move faster and faster and faster.  Soon
the four bottom tigers were bounding around the full perimeter of
the ring while their mates just stood in position quietly.

When they were running at full speed, Andy and Ken stood up. 
Instead of waving at the crowd, though, he took her in his arms
and the two melted in a kiss as they made another lap around the
ring.  Then the tigers carefully slowed their pace until they
were again walking.  In that manner they returned to the center
of the ring and stopped facing Gabel-Williams and the Cliffords
in their box.

Only then did Ali notice a small trampoline of the type used by
college cheerleaders.  It was round and only about three feet in
diameter.

After accepting the cheers of the crowd with his arm around
Andy's waist he whispered.  "I love you so much, my darling! 
Good luck!"

She kissed him, gave him a quick wink and jumped.  Landing on the
trampoline from her great height, she landed with terrific force.
 Catapulted into the air, she did a triple somersault with a
twist and then landed perfectly with her knees bent and her feet
planted.  In gymnastics it would have been a perfect 10.

Then she extended her arm toward Ken who did the identical thing.
 When he landed, without her moving an inch, he was standing by
her side.  Again the two melted together in a kiss.  This time
the arena was shaken by an enormous simultaneous roar from all
ten huge cats.

Again Gabel-Williams picked up the mike and said, "Unbelievable!
Earlier I said Andy and Ken were not acrobats.  Well, obviously I
was wrong.  They are, and great ones!  I want you all to know
what you're seeing.  You're seeing two young people who are
incredibly in love with one another, and ten huge tigers who love
them, too.  That's how they could do what they did.

"Now I want you to know why what you have seen can never be
duplicated:  Tigers don't get along with one another, let alone
with anything else.  They are lone hunters and range over huge
individual territories.  Unlike lions, they never range in packs.
 I have never known a tiger to like anyone or anything.  But they
adore these children.  Because of them they have done things
tonight -- that running pyramid, for example -- that after thirty
years of working with big cats I never even dreamed of.  Could we
hear it for wonderful people and a wonderful show?"

The applause thundered around the arena.  When it began to die,
the cats were still in position.  Again Andy picked up a mike and
said, "Please thank them individually, while the tigers take
their bows.  I, for one, think they deserve it.  First, at the
top of the pyramid, is Prince."

Looking up at him she said, "Darling, I love you!  Now take your
bow."  Again Prince did what he had done earlier in the cage:
With his haunches still high he lowered his forebody and rested
his chin on his paws.

"Then we have Rudy and Will," Andy said quietly.  "Rudy is on the
left.  And Rudy, I have forgiven you and still love you."  Before
dropping his forepaws, Rudy gave a little roar of acknowledgment
to the cheering of the crowd.  When they were in position, Andy
continued, "From left to right we have Fred, King and Charles. 
Aren't they great?"  Now only the bottom tier were standing
upright.

Andy said, "People, please give a particular cheer to these guys.
 Can you imagine running in step, at top speed, with about 3,600
pounds spread on your backs?  That's exactly what these wonders
did for your amazement.  Please give a huge cheer to, from left
to right, James, Ferdie, Sasha and Lester!  Guys, I love you
all!"

This time the roof of the Forum shook at a level even beyond the
Lakers winning the NBA Championship.  The building rocked.  When
the cheering died down, the tigers began to dismount.  When they
were all back on the ground the band began to play exit music,
but the tigers just sat upright, again back in their tight
circle.

Then Andy cocked her head again, put her little hands on her hips
and asked, "What is this, guys?  Blackmail?"  With a little grin
she said, "Oh, okay!"  Turning to Ken she said, "And this
includes you, you know."

With that they went over to the first tiger, Prince.  All of the
animals were again sitting up straight with their tails so neatly
arranged over their forepaws.  When the children reached the big
cat he rolled over on his back with his legs in the air.  After
the two children climbed on his chest Ken wrapped his arms around
his sweetheart and their lips merged in a torrid kiss.  From
beneath their bodies they could feel as much as hear the
incredibly warm purring as the animal wrapped his huge forelegs
carefully around the children.  Breathlessly they eased apart and
felt each other's warmth along with the body of the cat.  They
were lying on the silky-smooth pure white belly fur of the animal
and delighting in the sensation.

Ken and Andy grinned at each other, wriggled up on Prince's body
and kissed him on opposite cheeks.  With apparent reluctance, he
spread his paws to release the children who scrambled off him. 
Then Prince got to his feet and trotted off the arena floor
towards the exit after first kissing the children's hands.  Then
Ken and Andy repeated the process with every animal until the
arena was clear.  When they dismounted from Lester, the two
children were reeling, as much from the power of their kisses as
anything else.

Although the audience had been in the process of leaving, when
they realized what was happening, most stopped and just watched
the incredible display: The tigers refused to leave the ring
until they had a chance to hug the two children while they were
locked in passionate embrace.  Moreover, they seemed actually to
be kissing them back -- before leaving each animal had put his
mouth to the hand of each child.

When the last tiger left, Ken took Andy in his arms and kissed
her again saying, "My darling Andy, I love you so much!"  Andy's
eyes were just glowing with her love as she squeezed his hand. 
Then hand-in-hand they walked over to where Gabel-Williams and
their parents were waiting.

"Was it any good?  Did you like it?" Ken asked eagerly.  Andy's
eyes were just wide as if she expected to hear the worst.

"Words fail me!" Gabel exclaimed.  "Andy and Ken, as you know, I
am retiring in just a few days.  If I had an ounce of sense I
would retire right now, tonight!  What I have seen this evening
is the high point of a career of over thirty years spent with the
big cats.  Nothing like this has ever been seen before nor will
ever be seen again!  Nothing!  All I can do is thank you from the
bottom of my heart for giving me the priceless experience of my
lifetime."

He vaulted the railing, dropped to his knees and took Andy in his
arms.  When he kissed her, the power of her kiss of the purest
love almost knocked him down.  He could feel the girl exquisitely
working her warm lips on his and he just hugged her tighter.

When he finally released her he looked into her incredible green
eyes and almost drowned in the incredible depth of warmth, love
and purity that was flooding from the girl's soul.  "My God!" he
breathed, "No wonder!  Those animals recognize the power of God
Himself come to earth!"  Then he kissed Ken and received the same
feeling.  He was literally rocking from the shock.

Then he heard Andy quietly say, "May the good Lord bless you and
keep you.  May He make His light to shine upon you and keep you
safe from harm until He welcomes you into His arms in Heaven.  I
ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our divine
Savior.  Amen."

Looking at her he began to cry.  "This is unreal!  You actually
asked Almighty God to bless _me?_  My darling, I'm just an animal
trainer who's very lucky still to be alive.  Why me?"

"Because you're a very fine man and I like you very much," Andy
replied simply.  "But I didn't mean to hurt you and I certainly
didn't want you to cry..."

Getting back on his feet, Gabel returned to where Ali and Bill
had been silently watching and said, "You're blessed to a degree
beyond any family on the face of this earth!  To have children
like this is to be signally blessed by God Himself.  Thank you."

Then he shook his head and added, "I hope you noticed one thing:
With thousands of people watching these two kiss, there was not a
single snicker.  They must marry!  The power of their love would
kill anyone else alive.  I think what we are seeing is the
mutually reinforcing power of God Himself concentrated in these
two children.  These kids verge on being divine, and they may, in
fact, be.  Thank you."

Finally, Ali said, "Kids, you were absolutely marvelous.  Now do
you think you could get some clothes on?  Good grief!  You both
have spent the whole night in just your underpants.  And you,
Andy, didn't even have the decency to wear a bra!"

With the cutest grin Andy stuck out the tip of her tongue and
said, "Kenny's Mommy, I don't have any tits yet and probably
won't for at least six more months!  I think I'm still okay." 
Ali returned the grin and also stuck out the tip of her tongue
causing her granddaughter to laugh with glee.

When they were dressed and getting back in the car Ali asked Bill
to ride backwards.  "Darling," she said, "I'm going to sit in the
middle and have one of these urchins on each of my tits.  My poor
boobs are about to explode!"

Very casually Bill replied, "You should be happy, then.  You have
always complained about being small on top.  Now..."

Ali just giggled and climbed in the car.  She was in such a hurry
that she was ripping off her blouse at the same time.  Ken got in
on the other side and lay across her lap with her left breast in
his face, while Andy lay the opposite direction.  "Oh, boy!" he
exclaimed, "Mom, this is absolutely the greatest!  I have a whole
tit of my very own!"

In just a moment Ali felt what was, to her, the finest feeling in
the world.  While she held the two young heads she could feel
them filling up with her milk and all of her love that was in
it.*Chapter 23*

It was almost eleven o'clock and Bobbie Conroy was in agony.  Now
she realized that she had made a disastrous mistake at dinner
that night when with great glee she told Tom the story told about
Connie and Chip Cartwright and his efforts to ensure that her
body was well warmed up before entering her.  Tom had just nodded
at the story and grinned.  Only now he had been doing it to her!
Her body was writhing on the bed in unfulfilled passion and all
Tom did was grin.

"Darling, what an incredibly wonderful idea this was!" he
exclaimed, feigning seriousness but with his eyes gleaming with
suppressed laughter.  "I have been taking you for granted for so
many months.  Now I better appreciate the feminine perfection
sharing my bed.  Darling, you're exquisite!"

Bobbie suddenly screamed as Tom's rough fingers contacted her tit
that was now so unbelievably sensitive to his touch.  Continuing
to look thoughtful he said, "Gosh, you're really getting closer,
Honey.  Your nipples are almost firm enough already."

Again Bobbie screamed uncontrollably.  In fact, her nipples were
as hard as little pebbles and were distended from her tits to a
degree she had never experienced in her life before.  When she
suddenly jumped from the bed and headed for the door, Tom looked
astonished and asked, "Where are you going?"

Stopping, she turned on her heel and put her fists on her hips. 
Tom thought he had never seen her look more beautiful than she
did at that instant.  Her body was golden perfection as she
stood, as usual, with her shoulders back and her glorious breasts
so proudly upthrust.  "I'm going to get the knife I had on our
honeymoon," she replied in a flat tone of voice.

"What for?" Tom asked, puzzled.

"To cut off your cock so I can ram it in myself!" she exclaimed.
Then she looked pensive and asked, "Tom, do I need to cut off
your balls, too?  I mean...  Won't I need them for the glorious
spend to flood my insides at the end..."  Smiling brightly she
said, "Yeah, I guess I'll have to cut them both off."  Turning on
her heel again, she started to open the door.

"But honey!" Tom protested, "what will you do tomorrow?  I
mean..."

"Damn it, Thomas Gardiner Conroy, I don't give a damn about
tomorrow!" she screamed.  "If I don't do it, I won't _live_ till
tomorrow!"

While they were having their exchange the phone had begun to
ring.  Normally, when they began their nightly lovemaking they
ignored the phone and let the machine answer it.  On the
occasions when they forgot to activate it -- as they had tonight
-- they just let it ring until the caller gave up.

Tonight it just continued to ring so Bobbie answered it.  After
saying hello she heard, "Bobbie, it's Connie.  I don't give a
damn what you and Tom are doing but, for God's sake, turn on the
tube and watch the Eleven O'clock News on Channel 4!"  Before
Bobbie could say a word she heard a click as the line went dead.
She just looked at the receiver, shook her head and put it back
on the hook.

"What was that?" Tom asked.  "Some crank call?"  He had noticed
that the only word Bobbie had spoken was her initial hello.

"It was Connie Cartwright," she replied thoughtfully as she
retrieved the TV remote.  "She said to watch the news tonight on
Channel 4, regardless."  Activating the set, she climbed back on
the bed.  Tom had gathered up all the pillows and put them on the
bottom of the bed so they could lie on their stomachs and watch.

When she lay down beside him, he put his arms around her and
kissed her warmly saying, "Bobbie Conroy, you are my life, my
darling.  Can I apologize now?"

Before she could reply they both heard the headline news
announcement that preceded the eleven o'clock commercial break
and the news show itself.  The anchorman, Jack Johnson, on
camera, said, "Tonight's news focuses on some incredible
happenings today involving two small children and ten tigers, as
well as some remarkable events at the courthouse.  Please stay
tuned!"

With the cut to commercial, Bobbie's eyes widened and she
exclaimed, "Oh my God!  Tom, Ali and Bill were going to take Andy
and Ken to the circus tonight!  You don't think...?"  She began
to weep but through her tears stammered, "If anything happened to
those two angels..."

Tom held her close and whispered that he was sure everything was
all right.  He pointed out that Connie would have told her if
anything bad had happened.

She was reassured somewhat when the news show came on and she saw
that the anchorman seemed to be happy as he said, "In our top
story the people attending the circus at the Forum tonight saw
things never before seen by man in history.  Two small children
-- first-graders, only six years old -- performed with ten mature
Bengal tigers.  This footage is so incredible, I'll just let it
speak for itself."

"It's Andy!" Bobbie screamed as the first shot showed Andy coming
out into the spotlight followed by Ken.  She watched, thrilled,
as the children bounded across the circus floor.  Then they saw
Andy introduce the giant Bengal tigers by name.  Following were
some quick scenes: Prince leaping fifty feet across the rolling
tigers, then the end of the living pyramid, with Andy standing
proudly on top of the tiger's back.  Bobbie gasped when Andy
leaped and then watched as Kenny did his incredible backward
somersault into the tub of water.

"Can you believe that?" the anchor said with the incredulity
obvious in his voice.  "Those children are only _six years old!"_
 Then he said, "Fear?  What for?  Just watch this and see a
terribly frightened little girl..."

The scene that followed was the point at which the tigers were
running five abreast.  The announcer continued, "Those tigers are
bounding around the ring at nearly thirty miles an hour!  And
they are in a perfectly synchronized stride so their backs make
an almost unbroken platform.  Now watch..."

Tom and Bobbie laughed as they saw Andy take two steps and then
flop across the tigers' backs.  The last shot in the scene was a
tight close-up of Andy's face.  Her chin was on her hands and she
had the most adorable grin as the tigers beneath her flew around
the ring.

"Now," the anchor asked as the camera cut to him, "isn't that a
picture of the most terrified little girl you have ever seen?  I
mean, after all, wouldn't anyone be frightened to be on the backs
of _3,000 pounds_ of Bengal tiger?"

The show cut to commercials and Bobbie said, "My God!  What
happened, do you suppose?  But aren't they cute?"  She kissed Tom
warmly and said, "Darling, I cannot tell a lie.  I love those two
little imps nearly as much as I love you.  They are darling."

Coming off the break, the anchor was on-camera again.  "Was that
all?" he asked rhetorically.  "Oh, no!  Now watch this:"  They
cut to the scene of the children feeding the tigers and the
anchor continued, "Believe it not, these small children are
feeding giant tigers, _by hand!_  Good grief, these animals are
so big and their teeth are so sharp they could easily bite off a
whole arm!  But watch!  You see the tiger on the left of the
picture start to move towards the other animal's bowl.  Now look!
 There is that little girl with her hands on her hips _bawling
out the tiger!_  Does it work?  Watch.  What you are seeing has
never been seen before: that tiger is covering his head with his
forepaws.  He's ashamed!  Look!  The little girl lifts his paw
off his head -- a paw with claws so long, strong and sharp they
could cut her in half, by the way -- and _kisses him!_  It
appears that she is forgiving the animal!  Have you ever?"

The anchor continued: "We never have nor have any of the experts
we were able to reach before we went on the air tonight.  In
fact, we couldn't do as much as we would have liked because it
was so hard to get the experts to believe we weren't drunk,
insane, or fools.

"The universal reaction from the experts was that this is utterly
impossible.  They unanimously confirmed what Gunther
Gabel-Williams said at the Forum tonight: The Bengal tiger is the
most feared animal on the face of the earth.  Moreover, the tiger
does not like anybody or anything -- particularly including other
Bengal tigers!  In their natural habitat they roam -- alone --
hunting prey over large stretches of land that is theirs.  Yet
here we see ten full-grown male tigers, all in their prime,
moving together with a level of coordination that is truly
unbelievable.

"But there's more.  When we go to the circus and watch the
wild-animal trainer, what is the impression we get?  Why are we
there?"  On camera the anchorman, Jack Johnson, continued, "Deep
down inside we are wondering if the animal is going to perform...
or attack his trainer.  The impression this reporter carries in
his memory is seeing a big cat glaring balefully at his trainer
and then -- usually -- performing, but with great reluctance. 
It's being coerced.

"Now watch this!  This is near the end of the show."  The tape
rolled and showed the tigers in their moving pyramid starting to
run faster and faster around the ring.  The anchor said, "This is
an all-time first.  What you are seeing, in the opinion of every
single expert we consulted, is absolutely impossible!  There are
ten tigers, with the four on the bottom carrying _3,600 pounds of
tiger on their backs_ running at nearly full speed.  That means
each tiger is running while carrying a 900-pound load -- about 50
percent greater than his own weight!

"Now look at those animals!  Do they look baleful?  Do they look
reluctant?  No!  They look happy, excited, and proud.  Now catch
this!  Can you believe it?"  The shot was at the end with Andy in
Ken's arms with their bodies melted together in a passionate
embrace.  The camera showed Prince turning his huge head to look
up at the children on his back and smiling.  "Those children are
kissing and the tiger they're standing on is smiling!  I know
tigers can't smile, but that is what this cat is doing."

Then they cut to the end of the show with the tigers in their
pyramid.  Andy and Ken, arms around each other's waist, were
waving their free arms to the crowd.  "Have you ever seen such an
incredible display?" the anchor asked.  "Such incredible
self-assurance?  Now watch, but please remember that these
children are only six years old with no training in gymnastics or
acrobatics at all.  Incidentally, the tape you're about to see
has been reviewed by a couple of gymnastics experts, but more on
that in a moment.  Watch!"

The tape rolled with their last quick kiss and even showed Ken
patting Andy's bottom.  Bobbie gasped as she saw Andy's jump to
the trampoline, the aerial movements and the perfect landing,
then stayed on her so they could see Ken land exactly by her side
without her moving an inch from where she had first landed. 
"Folks," the anchor continued, "those movements were graded as
perfect tens if this were an Olympic competition.  The moves were
utterly perfect!"

The anchor reappeared on camera and said, "This last scene was
greeted with derision by the experts to whom we described it." 
Johnson grinned and interjected, "Boy, are we ever going to have
fun when we make them watch the tape and eat their words." 
Continuing he said, "We described tigers lying on their backs
with their paws in the air.  'Utterly impossible,' the experts
said.  'It is a position of total exposure and submission.  No
tiger could or would ever be in such a position, least of all
voluntarily.'  Well, we'll see.  This tape was the very end.  In
fact, the show was over and each of the cats had taken his bow. 
But they refused to leave the arena floor!  Just watch!"

"Oh, Tom!" Bobbie exclaimed, "this is so beautiful!  Can you
believe it?"  They watched as the children climbed on the belly
of a tiger, embraced, and were then wrapped together in the
tiger's own embrace.  They watched the children kiss the tiger,
saw him kiss each child's hand and then happily trot off the
floor.

The announcer was silent as the tape rolled.  When the segment
concluded, he was on-camera again shaking his head.  "Can you
believe it?  What you have seen are two small children, madly and
passionately in love with each other, who are loved, in turn, by
Bengal tigers!  Tigers who so much want to share the love these
two have for each other that they want the children to embrace
while lying on the animal's chest!  Then to seal this love the
animal uses his enormous forelegs to embrace the children!"

Looking at the camera the anchor said, "What you have just seen
was repeated _ten times!_  The children had to do the same thing
on each of the animals.  Did you see the tiger actually _kiss_
the children?  He did.  But finally -- and in stark contrast to
the baleful behavior I'm used to -- did you see how happy the
animal looked as he trotted out?  Did you?"  The anchor shook his
head and said, "But there is so much more!  We'll be back right
after this break."

"Darling, can you believe it?" Bobbie asked Tom as she faced him
and snuggled in his arms.  "Can you?"  Then she grinned and said,
"Tom Conroy, if you _really_ loved me, you would take me on the
chest of a tiger.  Will you?"  Her grin was the cutest thing Tom
had ever seen as she added, "It's really such a small thing to
ask, after all."

"Uh uh, no way!" Tom replied with a little grin.  "Did you see
those animals?  Do you want to create jealousy?  Hell, we would
have to do it on each of them and who do you think I am, anyway?
Superman? _Ten times?_  Impossible!"

Pretending to cry Bobbie sobbed, "But Tom, I thought you loved
me?"  Then gently cradling his heavy balls in both of her hands
she said, "And you really are pretty well... loaded."

When they broke the subsequent passionate embrace, Johnson
reappeared, this time with a female reporter, Joyce Collier,
beside him.  Turning to her he said, "Joyce, I understand that
your investigation turned... interesting."

The camera went in close on Collier and she said, "Jack, it
certainly did!  This has been the most incredible story I have
ever worked on.  The more we dug, the bigger and more amazing it
became.  Let me start at the beginning.  First of all, those two
children are Andrea Cartwright and Kenneth Clifford.  They are
truly beautiful children, too.  The story isn't ordinary, but the
children are like the kids next door, right? _Wrong!_

"Jack, it turns out that Ken is the son of William Harrison
Clifford and Allison McGrath Clifford.  'So what?' you ask.  So
they are just your normal garden-variety _billionaires!_  That's
with a B!  No one knows for sure, but their net worth is
somewhere north of _ten billion dollars!_  And some people we
talked to think it's substantially north!  They may be the
richest people on earth and that little boy is their son!  Here's
a picture we caught of them at the circus tonight sitting with
Gabel-Williams whose big cats the children were playing with."

The scene was at the very end of the night and showed the
children joyously embracing Ali and then Bill.  It showed Ali's
beauty perfectly.  "Is that all?" Collier continued.  "Oh, no! 
Not nearly.  Now we come to the little girl.  It seems she is the
daughter of Charles and Constance Cartwright.  Who are the
Cartwrights?  Well, they're poor."  The woman grinned and added,
"Comparatively poor, anyway.  We haven't found anyone who thinks
their net worth is much greater than _two billion dollars!_  But
there is hope," she added with a grin.  "You see, Connie
Cartwright is also the adopted daughter of Bill and Ali Clifford
so they might inherit some real money someday."

The camera pulled back to a two-shot.  Joyce Collier looked at
Johnson and asked, "Jack, can you believe it?  Those beautiful
little children playing with their little cats are from two of
the richest families on the face of this earth!"  When she swung
to face the camera it came in tight on her again.

She grinned and said, "But it gets better and better!  You see,
there is a case being tried in Los Angeles Superior Court right
now.  Those two kids are among ten students in the school that is
under attack by the state Department of Instruction.  Ann Henry
was at the courthouse this afternoon and has more on that story.
Ann?"

The camera cut to a pretty brown-eyed brunette.  "Thanks, Joyce.
Although I missed the spectacular show at the Forum tonight, I
saw one of my own at the courthouse this afternoon."

The camera came in tight on the girl as she continued, "This
afternoon I was given a comprehensive education in our
Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, the relationship
of our Revolution to the French Revolution of 1789, and the
meaning of our flag!  The educators were ten children, all six
years old.  I have never had such a moving experience in mylife!

"I saw a beautiful young girl bring tears to the eyes of every
single person in that courtroom as, after proudly holding our
flag while her classmates recited the Pledge of Allegiance and
sang the Star Spangled Banner, she told the court of the flag's
meaning to her.  Incidentally, it was the most heartfelt
recitation and singing I have ever experienced.

"But this little girl, Cynthia Cartwright, described how her
father was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese and tortured
continuously for fourteen years to make him renounce our flag. 
She told how her mother, as a very young girl, was forced to
watch as the man she had come to love was tortured day after day
after day for three years in her presence.  How, when her father
was moved to a prison in Hanoi, her mother made her way naked
through the jungles of Southeast Asia and swam ten miles to reach
Hong Kong.  Her destination was America, because any country that
could inspire a man to endure what that man suffered had to be a
wonderful place.

"The little girl described how her parents were reunited and were
married almost immediately."  Tears were in the reporters eyes as
she continued, "I saw a tall man hold this little girl tightly
and tell her how she had just made fourteen years of suffering
worthwhile."

The camera pulled back to include Joyce Collier in the picture as
Ann Henry continued, "Joyce, I saw the most beautiful couple
together I have ever seen with love flowing among them so
strongly you could almost see it.  Joyce, that man is Bill
Cartwright who was awarded the Medal of Honor, our country's
highest award for valor in combat.  He is also the brother of
Chip Cartwright, Andrea's father.  Cindy Cartwright and Andy are
cousins -- and in the same class."

The girl grinned and added, "And it is a small world, too.  You
see, her mother, Kathy, is also an adopted daughter of Bill and
Ali Clifford.  Like his brother, Chip, Bill is struggling along
with only about $2 billion of his own."

The camera came in tight on Ann Henry again as she continued,
"But there is more:  I said earlier that I had an emotional
experience.  Possibly as moving as Cindy Cartwright was a
beautiful black girl, Casey Jackson.  I listened to that little
girl quoting Benjamin Franklin at the Continental Congress
defending the failure to condemn slavery in the Declaration of
Independence.  She quoted Franklin talking with John Adams,
telling him that they -- the members of the Congress -- were men,
after all, not gods.  That the document was not perfect but it
was a start.  That their task was to create a new nation,
something that had never been done in all of history."

Looking directly into the camera she said, "That little girl,
whose own ancestors were slaves, told us all how our country has
grown and developed and improved.  She also referred to something
Cindy Cartwright had said earlier.  She referred to William
Bradford on the Mayflower writing about their new settlement as
the City on the Hill, a beacon shining out to the whole world to
proclaim freedom!"

The camera pulled back again to include Collier as Henry
continued, "Joyce, it was utterly unbelievable!  Those small
children -- none over six years old -- have the most incredible
knowledge I have ever encountered.  Incidentally, Casey Jackson
is a very interesting person, too.  Her grandfather, John Smith,
is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He was a defensive
end for the Green Bay Packers.  Her grandmother, Mary Smith, is
the richest woman in Chicago.  Her father, Ron, is the perennial
All-Pro safety for the Bears and a shoo-in to make the Hall of
Fame himself.  Her mother, April, is now executive vice-president
of a bank that -- guess what?  -- the Cliffords recently bought
here in Los Angeles.

"It also turns out that the parents of these ten children have no
less than _four_ Medals of Honor among them.  Remember, please,
that it is the highest award for valor our nation can bestow! 
Four medals and ten children.  Just imagine!

"Oh, one more thing: Where is this school, you wonder?"  With a
grin she answered her question, "On the premises of Clifford &
Jamison, attorneys at law.  It is perhaps the only major
all-female law firm in the state and possibly in the whole
country.  Managing partner?" she asked.  "Who else?  Allison
Clifford!"  The camera pulled back again and she commented, "It
is a very small world, isn't it?"

With the camera back tight on Ann Henry she continued, "But now
we get to the question of who runs the school.  That is
fascinating, too.  You see, the woman who teaches that school,
the woman who has instilled a level of knowledge and
understanding in these children that boggles the mind, is Barbara
Conroy.

"Who, you might ask, is Barbara Conroy?  Well, she is nineteen
years old and the most incredibly beautiful blue-eyed blonde I
have ever seen in my life, with a body any man alive would kill
for.  However, she is also loved...  No...! worshiped by these
children.  She is their inspiration, motivation, and I could go
on and on.  Suffice it to say that the love of the students for
their teacher and her love for each of them was a marvel to
behold.  But back to Barbara Conroy.

"We're still assembling details, but this is what we have so far:
First, her name is Barbara _Bradley_ Conroy.  So what?  So she is
the daughter of Evangeline and Edgar Bradley whose net worth
_rivals the Cliffords!_  Actually," she said with a broad grin,
"Some of the people we talked to didn't think the Bradleys have
even reached ten billion yet, but all agreed their money was
growing and growing very fast.

"Her brother, Ken, is the perennial All-Pro wide receiver for the
Bears and another shoo-in for the Hall of Fame.  Her sister,
Cathy, Ken's wife, was the woman featured on Bob Costas' famous
Super Bowl show the year the Bears utterly destroyed our Raiders.
 She starred in the Pro Bowl that year and was its MVP as well,
while becoming the first woman ever to play professional
football.  Then we have her other sister, Kris Bradley, the
singer."

The camera pulled back to the two women and Ann said, "Joyce, can
you believe this?  The interrelationships among a handful of the
most extraordinary people in this country?"

The camera pulled back further to include Jack Johnson who shook
his head.  Then the camera came in close on Johnson who
concluded, "Folks, that's about all we have for now.  But I have
to agree with what Ann Henry just said: We have witnessed some
incredible behavior from some truly incredible people...  And the
show continues tomorrow morning at the courthouse!  Now stay
tuned for the sports and weather following these messages."

Bobbie reached out and used the remote to silence the set. 
Snuggling closer in Tom's arms she wondered, "I guess the shit is
really going to hit the fan tomorrow, isn't it?"

Tom just shook his head and said that he was going to go down to
the courtroom later in the morning himself.  Then with a frown he
added, "Oh, hell!  Now I have to start all over to get you warmed
up.  And I was really getting close, too..."  He was startled as
Bobbie slipped out of his arms and headed for the door.  "Where
are you going now?" he asked.

"To get that damned knife, you fool!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, hell!" Tom said dryly, "I guess I'll just have to take you
while you're dry.  I mean, it is getting late..."

With a yelp, Bobbie dove from her position near the door all the
way to the bed.  In an almost continuous motion she rolled on her
back, spread her legs wide and said in a deep, sexy voice,
"Well...?"*Chapter 24*

As Bobbie made her way through the corridors of the courthouse,
it felt wonderful to have Andy on her right and Kenny on her
left, both holding her hand tightly.  The thought of these two
incredibly brave and resourceful children holding on for
protection was amusing.  Knowing them, though, Bobbie was certain
they were doing it because they knew that she liked it and it
made her feel good to hold their hands.

Finding the door to Judge Callaway's chambers, before knocking
she dropped to her knees and hugged the two children closely.  "I
love you two so very, very much," she whispered.

Without saying a word, Kenny wrapped his arms around her neck
tightly and began to kiss her.  She could feel his warm lips
moving on hers and felt again the tremendous power of his love. 
Easing aside, he made room for Andy who did the same thing. 
Finally, while still encircled by Bobbie's arms, Ken took Andy in
his arms and kissed her.  Bobbie just slowly shook her head as
she saw the same love, but now coupled with an extraordinary
level of passion, flow between them.

Finally easing out of their embrace, Andy looked at Bobbie with
her brilliant green eyes shining and said, "Bobbie, there are no
words to describe the way Kenny and I feel about you.  The best I
can do is to say we utterly adore you, but even that isn't very
close.  Do you believe me?"

"Yes, my darling," Bobbie replied.  "But you two make me feel so
humble!  I can't be worthy of the love you feel for me, but God,
I love the feeling!"

"Bobbie, you're so incredibly good," Ken interjected, "you have
no clue how good you really are!  It's a stinking shame,really."

Bobbie just shook her head, got to her feet and knocked on the
door.  Hearing a response from within, she opened the door and
stuck her head in.  John Callaway was sitting on his sofa with a
vibrantly beautiful young woman sitting beside him.

Seeing Bobbie, he jumped to his feet and rushed over to greet
her.  "Bobbie, I'm delighted!" he exclaimed.  Then he saw Kenny
and Andy hand-in-hand diffidently entering the office.  Taking
them over to the sofa he said, "Kelly, it's my great pleasure to
introduce Andrea Cartwright.  Andy, this is my love, Kelly
Callaway."

Kelly was stunned at the incredible beauty of the little girl
standing before her.  Today Andy was wearing a lovely white
blouse with a green pinafore in emerald green that exactly
matched her eyes.  She made a beautiful and graceful curtsy,
extended her hand and beamed saying, "Mrs. Callaway, it is a real
honor and privilege to meet you."

Kelly took the little girl's hand and was amazed at the strength
Andy had in the grip of her small hand.  Then she reached out,
pulled Andy close and kissed her.  

Coming on the heels of nightlong lovemaking with John, the
incredible power of Andy's kiss was more than the woman could
take.  She felt an unbelievable flow of the purest love through
her body and then it was as if her circuit breakers overloaded
and all tripped at once.  The next thing she knew Andy was
kneeling on the sofa beside her with her arms around her neck
crying.  Kelly opened her eyes, shook her head to clear it and
then asked dizzily, "What happened?"

"Andy Cartwright happened, darling," Callaway replied.  "I warned
you about the power of her kisses, but I guess our vocabulary is
inadequate.  I said her kisses were powerful, but I guess there's
powerful, and _powerful,_ and _*powerful!*_  Isn't she
something?"

"She is utterly unbelievable!"

Andy had stopped crying when Kelly revived.  Now kneeling on the
sofa beside the seated woman, Andy held Kelly's head between her
hands and turned it so they were face to face.  Then, without a
word, she stared into the woman's eyes.

Kelly stared back and was initially frightened by what she was
seeing.  She was looking deep into the most incredible depths of
purity, love and goodness.  It was as if she was seeing the
purity of the child's soul.  She remembered hearing the phrase,
"drowning in a person's eyes."  For the first time in her life
she understood what the phrase really meant.

Finally, Andy pulled back and her eyes lost their staring look. 
The little girl looked so happy as she said, "I'm so happy for
you, Kelly...  Oh dear!" the little girl exclaimed.  "I'm so
sorry!"

"For what?" Kelly replied, genuinely surprised and startled.

Andy shook her head sadly but then brightened and said, "Bobbie
will give me my spanking before we go into court so I guess it
will be all right.  Please accept my most sincere apologies, Mrs.
Callaway."

All Kelly could do was to shake her head in utter bewilderment. 
She had no idea what this beautiful little girl was talking
about.  Recognizing the problem, Andy explained, "I called you by
your Christian name, Mrs. Callaway.  For a small child to call an
adult -- a widow and the mother of two beautiful children -- by
her Christian name is utterly unforgivable.  I promise never to
do it again!"

"I told you, darling," John Callaway explained.  "These people
live by a set of standards that are truly unbelievable.  If we
can't talk her out of it, before we go into the courtroom this
morning you're going to see this adorable little girl take down
her pants -- very pretty, feminine ones, too, I'll bet -- go up
to Bobbie and ask her please to give her ten spanks, very hard. 
Then she will pull up her skirt to bare her lovely little bottom,
lay over Bobbie's leg and wait.

"When she has received ten hard spanks without making a sound --
and believe me, Bobbie is very strong -- she will climb down,
kiss the hand that Bobbie spanked her with, express the wish that
Bobbie didn't hurt it on her firm bottom, and then thank her for
helping her to be a better little girl.  There will be tears
rolling down her little cheeks, but she will climb up and kiss
away the tears flowing from Bobbie's eyes.  Then Bobbie will hug
her, kiss her, tell her that she loves her and express the hope
that she never has to do it again -- it hurts her too much." 
Turning to Bobbie he asked, "Right?"

With a very warm smile Bobbie shook her head and said, "Judge,
you're a very perceptive man.  You have our little script down
perfectly."  Then looking warmly at Andy she added, "And you
can't believe how painful it is to spank a little angel!"

Kelly looked into Andy's eyes and said, "Darling, I am going to
ask for a very big favor.  Please?  The young woman who saved the
life of the man I love -- who, with God's intercession,
eliminated a lethal malignant brain tumor -- can call me
absolutely anything she wants.  Anything!  But I would be
overjoyed and filled with pride if I could believe that the young
woman likes me enough to be my friend and call me Kelly.  You
see, Andy, I owe you my sanity if not my very life itself.  Could
you, please?  Could you bring yourself to call me Kelly?"

Andy was bewildered and looked at Bobbie for guidance.  "Darling
Andy, you heard Mrs. Callaway.  She very much wants to be your
friend and friends do call one another by their first names. 
Honey, I'll speak to your mother, but I'm sure it will be all
right.  And honey, I really can't spank you today.  I just can't!
 Please?"

Andy wheeled around again and beamed at Kelly.  "Oh, Kelly, I'm
so happy!  You make me feel so... so adult.  It's so great!"

Kelly was looking at her and slowly shaking her head.  Then she
said, "Now, darling Andy, you were starting to say something when
you interrupted yourself.  What was it?"

"Last night was so great for you, wasn't it?  Such utterly
spectacular lovemaking!"  And shaking her head slowly she added,
"And your body!  The judge played it like the keys on a piano,
didn't he?  And enter you?  Were you pleased that you had the
last of your virginity to give to him?  I'll bet you were. 
Kelly, I'm so happy for you!"  Then the girl's expression changed
and she said, "But you're not going to thank me in the end,
though!"

Now it was Kelly's turn to be puzzled.  "What does that mean?"

"It means that Jack was looking down on you two from Heaven last
night!  You made him so utterly, exquisitely happy!  You can't
believe how miserable you have made him, seeing you suffer so
much night after night after night.  Darling Kelly, Jack shared
your torments.  He desperately wanted to communicate with you,
but couldn't."

Kelly's eyes had widened in amazement.  She couldn't believe what
she was hearing.  Then she asked, "But what does that have to do
with not thanking you in the end?  I don't understand."

"It's simple, Kelly," Andy replied with her eyes wide but full of
suppressed laughter.  "You're going to spend eternity between
Jack and John.  When one finishes the other will take you, and it
will just go on and on and on."  Shaking her head in feigned
sadness she added, "Your cunt is going to be terribly sore!  And
eternity is a very long time."

Kelly appeared thoughtful but then brightened.  "I know!  I can
be the meat in a sandwich.  I find I adore being taken in my
rear, so..."

She grabbed Andy in her arms and hugged her while the girl and
the woman laughed merrily at the joke.  Then she pulled Andy away
and pretended to glare, "But you're only six years old!  You're
not supposed to know about things like that!"

Ignoring the comment, Andy asked, "What did Kirsten and Jamie say
when they found you in their grandfather's bed this morning? 
I'll bet they were happy!"

"Jack," Kelly asked, "is there _anything_ this little girl
doesn't know?  Anything at all?"

"If there is, it can't be too important," he replied.  Then to
Andy he said, "The answer to your question was that they were
delighted.  I had just taken Kelly again and we were lying naked
on the bed with our bodies still slick with sweat.  My hand was
cupping her gorgeous tit when the two girls came in.  At first
they were frightened because they had gone to Kelly's room and
found the bed hadn't been slept in.  When they asked Kelly how
she felt, this sexy little witch stroked her slit a couple of
times and replied, 'Marvelous!'  Now, young Miss Nosy, does that
answer your question?  Or do you need a blow-by-blow account?"

"Oh, Judge!" Andy exclaimed feigning exasperation, "of course
not!  Kelly can give me a blow-by-blow account any time in the
next day or two.  Besides, we don't really have the time now for
her to give me all the lovely juicy details!"

Everyone howled with laughter at Andy's reply.  Then Kelly asked,
"Jack, how old is Andy, anyway?  Six going on sixty?"

Then Ken, who had been sitting quietly asked, "Is it my turn
yet?"

When Kelly looked at him, Andy moved away and Ken stood before
her, bowed and said, "Good morning, Mrs. Callaway.  My name is
Kenneth Clifford and I am truly delighted to make your
acquaintance!"  When Kelly lifted him up beside her and kissed
him, even though he tried to reduce the power of his kiss, it was
still too much for her and knocked her out again.

When she revived, Jack was shaking his head in amusement and
said, "Darling, you're doing at least one thing right.  When you
kiss these kids you're sitting down so at least you don't fall on
the floor and hurt yourself.  And you know what?  I am absolutely
certain that Kenny tried hard to reduce the intensity of his
kiss.  You did, didn't you, Ken?"

"Yes sir, I certainly did.  But not enough, obviously.  Mrs.
Callaway, I apologize.  I certainly hope I didn't hurt you in any
way.  Will you forgive me?"

"No!" Kelly replied flatly.  "I will not!"  She saw the look of
hurt in the boy's eyes and could see tears in their corners. 
Then with her warmest smile she added, "I won't until you call me
Kelly!  And _keep_ calling me Kelly."  Looking at him with love
in her eyes she said, "Can we please avoid a repeat of all that
garbage I just went through with Andy?  Please?"

"Kelly Callaway, I love you very much," Kenny said.  Then he
asked, "May I look into your eyes, too?"

When he did she felt a repeat of the sensation she experienced
with Andy.  The only difference was that this time the eyes were
as blue as the Pacific Ocean.  When he stopped staring he beamed
and looked ecstatically happy.  "Kelly, I am so happy and pleased
for you both!  You are going to have such a marvelously happy and
long life together.  And Kelly, with all that you have suffered
since Jack's death, it couldn't happen to a finer person."

Glancing at the clock Jack found it was five minutes before ten.
Now he was sitting on the sofa with his arm around Kelly and
asked, "Darling, now we come to the important question.  It's why
I wanted them to come in this morning and wanted you to be here,
too.  Darling, what can we do for two little imps who, in less
than twenty-four hours, literally saved my life and created the
indescribable level of happiness I found in your arms.  What can
we do?"

Looking at the children Kelly's eyes were wide as she said,
"Jack, it's simple, really.  What do you children want?  My right
arm?  A tit?  Both of them?  A steak cut from my bottom?  It's
pretty trim, by the way, with very little fat.  What would you
like?"

Then tears appeared in her eyes as she continued, "The truth is,
darlings, we will give you anything or do anything for you that
is within our power to do.  Do you understand?  Absolutely
anything!  Now what would you like?"

The two children looked at each other.  Andy nodded and Ken said,
"You have already done enough.  Andy and I see the joy you two
share and the love you feel for each other.  That's enough and
more than enough.  You can't know how wonderful we both feel to
have been able, in a very small way, to help you.  Thank you for
providing the opportunity."  Andy just nodded vigorously in
complete agreement.  "However, there is just one small thing..."
Ken added.

"What is it?  Anything!" Kelly replied.

Looking at Callaway Ken asked bashfully, "Sir, could we watch you
kiss... Kelly?  Please?  Could you?"  Dropping on the sofa the
judge pulled the girl to him and began to work his lips on hers.
Kelly's love for him and her instantly-aroused passion were so
obvious.

When they finally parted, both were breathless.  When Callaway's
breathing had returned to normal he said, "That reminds me!  I
have a bone to pick with you two imps!"  The children instantly
looked upset and asked what they had done.  "You caused me to be
burned on my thigh!  Badly burned, too.  I'll bet the burns are
at least second-degree."

Andy saw the gleam of suppressed laughter in the judge's eyes so
she was no longer upset, but she played the game.  "How did we
cause you to get second-degree burns, sir?"

"Andy Cartwright, have you ever heard a woman referred to as a
hot cunt?"

To his surprise Andy vigorously nodded her head and said, "Of
course!  It's the way Dad refers to Mommy all the time."  Then
with the cutest little smile she added, "I tell Ken about it,
too.  Just because I'm a platinum blonde doesn't mean I can't be
passionate.  My hair is the same color as Mom's and she sure has
a hot cunt."  Then she grinned again and added, "But yes, sir.  I
have heard the term."

"Well," Callaway continued, "I have heard the term, too, but
until last night I never knew exactly what it meant.  You see,
between rounds of lovemaking we would fall asleep.  Kelly always
slept with my thigh in her crotch.  The pain from the fire in her
cunt always woke me up and then we would go at it again.  But
this morning I have burns all over my thigh.  Now what are you
going to do about that?"

"That's easy," Andy replied.  "But it's not us, it's you.  The
only thing that can keep that fire under control is an awful lot
of warm cum flooding Kelly's love box.  Ideally, it should be
stuffed full all the time.  It's even good for making her
constantly wet and slippery to take you inside.  Now what's the
problem?"

Suddenly, Kelly dissolved in tears.  Spinning on the sofa she
hurled herself into Jack's arms and cried inconsolably.  Like
most men, Callaway was useless in the presence of a woman's
tears.  Bobbie jumped from her chair and sat on the sofa next to
Kelly.  Using her strength she pulled the woman away from Jack
and pulled her to herself.  Placing Kelly's head on her shoulder,
she gently stroked the woman's shoulders while she crooned in her
ear.

Callaway was utterly amazed to see Bobbie literally wiping away
the stress from Kelly's body.  He could see her slowly relax,
kiss Bobbie's neck and then lift her head.  When she did, Bobbie
was about to kiss her when Kelly recoiled and said, "You stay
away from me, Barbara Conroy!  I've been unconscious twice
already in the last thirty minutes.  And Jack warned me that the
power of your kisses is at least twice as great as the two kids!
Now that I've experienced their power I know damned well that
your kiss would literally kill me!"

"No, it won't," Bobbie replied casually.  "You heard Kenny: You
two are going to have a long and happy life together.  You'll
survive."  With that she brought the woman's mouth to hers.

For Kelly, it was almost unbelievable.  Although she was
resisting, she found that Bobbie was so strong that she just felt
her lips on hers.  The kiss was the most unbelievable thing she
had ever experienced.  Obviously, Bobbie was controlling her own
power.  But at the same time she felt the most incredible depth
of the purest love she could ever imagine.  Then as the kiss
continued, she could feel her body filled with the purest joy!

She felt ecstatic as Bobbie relaxed and let her draw away.  "I
think that will hold you until you get Jack in your bed tonight,"
Bobbie said softly.  "Then you'll feel the same joy but coupled
with the ecstasy of your cuming together.  The feel of his
glorious cum pulsating into your throbbing vagina!  Oh, Kelly,
I'm so happy for you!"

Kelly slumped back against the sofa and let her head loll to the
side.  "I'm sorry, Jack," she said weakly.  "I give up!  I have
just had the most incredible experience of my life!  Can you
believe it?  This woman just filled my body with the purest joy.
She honest-to-God did!  But how?"

"By being one of the most extraordinary people alive in the world
today," he replied with a grin.  Then extending his hands to help
her up he said, "Come on!  We have to get this show on theroad!"

As Bobbie, accompanied by the children, left the office, she was
surprised to learn that Kelly was coming, too.  The woman said
that, since she was desperately in love with him, it was only
appropriate for her to find out what he did for a living.  When
she asked where the two girls were, Kelly replied that they were
spending the day with a neighbor.

"It was really funny this morning," Kelly said with a grin. 
"When I went over to ask Doris if she could look after the girls,
she just looked me over carefully.  Then she shook her head and
said with a wonderful gleam in her eyes, 'Kelly, you've been a
bad girl!'  She shook her head and continued, "Bobbie, I don't
know what's come over me, either.  Before today, if anyone had
said what Doris did I would have turned as red as a beet and gone
to hide in the corner."

"What did you do today?" Bobbie asked.

With a wonderfully lascivious smile Kelly replied, "I told her,
'On the contrary!  I have never been so good in my life.  Jack
never had it as good as John did last night!'  Wasn't that an
awful thing to say?"

"Why was it awful?" Bobbie asked blandly.  "It was true, wasn't
it?"

Kelly laughed gleefully and followed them into the
courtroom.*Chapter 25*

Bobbie and the two children were sitting at the same table when
the bailiff called for them all to rise promptly on the stroke of
ten.  John Callaway emerged from his chambers and went to the
bench, but did not take his seat.  Instead he made an
announcement: "Last night there was quite an exchange of phone
calls among my colleagues of the judiciary, including a rather
elaborate conference call.  The result of all this discussion has
been a decision that, effective immediately, we are going to
begin our court sessions in a slightly different manner than we
have done in the past.

"All sessions of the Superior Court of the State of California
will now open with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to
the flag."

Coming down from the bench Callaway walked in front of it and
looked out over the crowd.  As he expected, while Bobbie, Andy
and Ken were together at the table, the rest of the children were
standing in a row immediately behind them.  He said, "I would now
like to request Miss Susan Carlson, Miss Cynthia Cartwright, and
Master Michael Morris, Junior, to please come forward!"

Looking apprehensive the three came forward and stood in front of
the judge.  As he fully expected, the two girls were exquisitely
dressed, and Mike looked extremely handsome.  He suppressed a
smile when he noticed that Sue Carlson's hand was being held
tightly by Mike.

Addressing the spectators Callaway said, "We are very fortunate
today to have with us three children with rather extraordinary
parents.  Those of you who were here yesterday know all about it,
but for the benefit of the newcomers, I would like to introduce
these young people to you."

He asked them to face the audience and he introduced each by
name.  Then he said, "Why did I invite these three children up
here this morning?  Because, you see, the fathers of each of
these children has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest
award for valor in combat our country can bestow.  In the case of
Susan Carlson, her father, Kenneth, has been awarded two!

"I think it only appropriate, therefore, to ask these children to
lead us in the recitation of the Pledge to the flag their fathers
fought for so bravely and so well.  Following the recitation, I
am going to ask all of Mrs. Conroy's students to come up here and
join in singing our National Anthem.  While this is not an
ordinary part of our new procedure -- most of us can't sing -- I
know that these children _can_ sing, and they sing beautifully."
Looking down from the bench he asked, "Kids, are you ready?"

Tears came to the corners of his eyes as he watched the small
children wheel to face the flag in the corner of the court and,
standing at strict attention, place their hands over their
hearts.  Then in unison in voices that carried to the farthest
corner they began, "I pledge allegiance to the flag..."  To his
pleasure, Callaway could hear the voices of what sounded to be
everyone in the room pick up, "...of the United States of
America, and to the republic for which it stands: one nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Then the remaining students joined with Bobbie standing behind
them.  They began, "O say can you see..."  Callaway was amazed
again at the incredible beauty of their singing and the fervor
they put into the words.  Many of the spectators joined in,
although not nearly as many as had recited.  Finishing the first
verse the children swung immediately into the fourth.  Now they
were the only ones singing -- no one else knew the words.

When they finished he said, "Could I have a round of applause for
a beautiful, heartfelt recitation and lovely singing.  Most
impressive to me personally, though, is the sense that, to these
children, neither the Pledge nor _The National Anthem_ are merely
words.  They are words that these children know and believe in. 
Would that there were more of us that did!"  The spectators
cheered as, blushing, the children returned to their places and
sat down.

After returning to the bench and calling the court to order he
asked if there were any last comments before he announced his
decision.  Roberta Kramer rose from her seat and said that the
State would like to call one witness: Barbara Conroy.  Callaway
was surprised at the move, but agreed.

Bobbie was surprised as well but rose from her seat, was sworn
and took her seat in the witness box.  After stating her name to
the clerk, she waited attentively for the first question.  Now
sitting on the raised platform, she had a good view of the
courtroom for the first time.  She noted that, first, every seat
was taken, and second, the back of the room and side aisles were
thronged with what appeared to be news reporters and other media
people.

Kramer began her questioning with a series regarding the business
practices of the little school, including paying bills and
writing checks.  Bobbie had no idea where she was going or what
point Kramer was trying to make, but she answered the questions.
She said that to the extent there were any business matters, she
took care of them personally.

Hearing the answer she was waiting for, Kramer pounced.  "Mrs.
Conroy, do you know you are guilty of criminal behavior?  You
are, you know.  And did you also know criminals cannot teach? 
They cannot!  Mrs. Conroy, I am delighted to tell you that you're
through and the school is closed.  That's the end of it!"

Seething with scarcely-suppressed rage Bobbie asked as calmly as
she could, "Would you kindly explain how you came to that
remarkable conclusion?"

"You failed to pay withholding taxes on your salary, Mrs. Conroy!
 You did not pay the school's portion of the taxes, either.  Mrs.
Conroy, that is criminal behavior!  You're finished!"  Kramer
triumphantly returned to her table and sat down.

At that point Sandy Benson jumped to her feet and came forward. 
Bobbie was still sitting in the witness chair at a total loss
with respect to what to do next.

Standing before the judge Sandy said, "Your honor, the state has
accused Barbara Conroy of criminal conduct.  Under the
circumstances, it appears that she needs professional
representation and I would like to appear on her behalf, if I
may?"

"Miss Harris," Callaway said using Sandy's professional name, "I
think that would be a fine idea.  And from personal knowledge I
can only say that you are the finest, most highly-qualified
lawyer in the state of California to do it."

"Thank you, Your Honor, for your very kind words," Sandyreplied.

Then to Bobbie she asked, "Bobbie, may I be your lawyer? 
Please?"  Bobbie was so upset all she could do was to nod
vigorously.  "I have some questions of the witness on
cross-examination, Your Honor," Sandy continued.  Callaway just
nodded.

"Bobbie, how much are you paid as the teacher of these children?"
she asked softly.

"I am the highest-paid teacher alive in the world today, Sandy,"
Bobbie replied, proudly sitting up straight in her chair.  "No
one receives more than I do!"

"What is your compensation?" Sandy asked softly, yet in a voice
that carried to the corners of the room.

"I have ten of the best, the most wonderful students in the
world.  Every morning, when I enter the classroom I see children
who are alert, intelligent, totally prepared and so eager to
learn, it causes my heart to flip!  I have a group of students
who individually and collectively I adore!  I have students who
like me..."

Looking the expressions of utter shock on the faces of the
children she shook her head and changed it, "Who love me!"

Looking at Sandy she continued, "You were here yesterday, Sandy.
What is it worth to hear Casey Jackson citing Benjamin Franklin
in the Continental Congress in 1776?  (And doing so perfectly, I
might add.)  What is it worth to hear Susan Carlson brilliantly
compare our founding with the French Revolution?  Sandy, it is
priceless!  It is utterly priceless!  I am the highest-paid
teacher in the world," she repeated proudly.

"How much are you paid in money?" Sandy asked quietly.

"Money?  What money?  What on earth would I want money for?"  She
looked at Sandy and shook her head.  "Sandy, you know me better
than that.  As a matter of fact, I have a bone to pick with Aunt
Ali!"

Looking at Sandy she grinned and added, "Would you believe it?  I
got a call from my mother last night and it seems that she and
Dad worked out some dumb merger deal or other with Bill and Ali.
Anyway, somehow Ali is now my mother's sister and Bill is now my
father's brother, so now she's my aunt and he's my uncle."  Then
she grinned and added, "Isn't that neat?  I think that might make
Andy and Ken my nephew and niece, but I'm not really sure.

"Anyway, the reason I'm teed off at Aunt Ali is that she's been
shooting off her big mouth to Mom.  Now she is doing to me what
Ali's been doing with her sons and daughters for years: Every few
weeks she'll wire in another ten or twenty million dollars to my
bank account.  Sandy, it's very frustrating -- particularly when
I'm only nineteen and don't handle big numbers very well."

"Why is it frustrating?" Sandy inquired.

"Oh, I guess it's not really -- particularly now that I forget
about trying to balance my checkbook.  Now all I do when the
statement comes is to look at the final balance.  If the number
has eight digits in front of the decimal and its first numeral is
a five or larger, I just throw it away."  She grinned at Sandy
and said, "I withdraw my comment."

"Bobbie, how much money are you paid to teach the school?" Sandy
repeated.

Looking puzzled, Bobbie replied, "Sandy, I already answered your
question: nothing.  I'm not paid a penny."  Then she grinned,
"Isn't that neat!"

"It sure is!" Sandy agreed.  Then turning to Kramer she asked,
"Since you are our resident expert, Ms. Kramer, what is the
correct withholding on compensation of zero dollars?"

"Before answering that question, Your Honor, would it be possible
for me to ask the witness a few more questions?" Kramer replied.

Bobbie agreed so Sandy moved aside and took the chair at the
table where Bobbie had been sitting.  Looking at Bobbie, Kramer
asked, "Let me go over a couple of points.  I'm confused.  First,
what are you paid as the teacher of these children?"

"I already answered the question once, Ms. Kramer, but I guess we
have already seen that you're a slow learner.  I am the
highest-paid teacher in the world.  Let me show you what Imean."

Turning to where the children were sitting she asked them to come
forward and stand by the judge's bench in two rows.  When they
did and were looking at her expectantly, Bobbie continued,
_"That_ is my compensation.  Just look at them!  Never in history
has a teacher had students as wonderful as mine.  Have you ever
seen such eagerness?  Have you ever seen children whose
appearance and behavior so reflect the work of loving and
attentive parents?  Parents with deep values -- belief in God and
our country -- that they have worked so hard to instill?

"It is so incredibly wonderful!  It begins with two wonderful
people who love each other passionately and deeply who merge
their bodies to create a new life.  It continues with the woman
bursting with joy as she feels the tiny new life ripening in her
body.  Following the birth, there is the nursing and nurturing of
the infant, training the tiny child to walk, to talk, and then to
read.  At the earliest age, the child is taught to love and serve
God!  Then after years of selfless work to mold and shape the
child, the finished product -- a beautiful six-year-old -- is
delivered to me!  Can you imagine?  I am entrusted with not just
one.  I am given ten at one time!

"Look at them, Ms. Kramer.  Just look!" Bobbie demanded.  "These
children are mine!  They are given to me to educate and develop,
building on the foundations their parents created.  Every day I
come in and see these shining faces.  Has any teacher in history
ever had such a remarkable group of young people to work with?  I
don't think so.  They give me such incredible joy!

"Kramer, how do you suppose I felt yesterday afternoon?  I was
hearing from my students a depth of _understanding_ of what we
have been doing.  I can't tell you how wonderful I felt.  And do
you know what?  They do it for me!  Honest to God they do.

"You know, one thing has been troubling me.  How do these
children achieve at the levels they do?  As we both found out
yesterday, their achievement is remarkable.  Well," Bobbie said,
with the warmest smile anyone had ever seen, "I think I know.  It
was a comment Millie Flaherty made yesterday about the Holy
Spirit.  As I reflected on it, I realized that she was exactly
correct.  It comes back to the children and their families,
though.  They are so pure and loving and full of Divine grace
that when we ask God for his support and guidance, _He hears us!_
 He really does.

"And He sends down the Holy Spirit to work among us.  I need not
tell you about the infinite powers of Almighty God, the Creator
of the whole universe.  God does rain his blessings down on these
children!  No wonder they accomplish what they do.  With the
direct help of Almighty God, it's easy.

"But back to compensation.  These children -- the utterly
magnificent creatures that they are -- _are my_ compensation, Ms.
Kramer, and I am rich!  I have the love of not just one child.  I
have _ten!"_  Bobbie grinned and looked around the room.  The
expressions on the children's faces were ones approaching
adoration: they utterly adored her.

Then she continued, "I don't stop there, though.  I keep on top
of the women at C&J to keep rounding those bellies to keep me
provided with raw material.  Since every morning the place is
full of women whose tails are dragging but who have looks of
ecstasy on their faces, I have to believe they are really trying
their best."

Then looking at Kramer she asked, "But don't you think that if
they made love often enough that they could sort of shorten the
time of pregnancy?"  There were howls of laughter that were
concentrated among the children's mothers as well as other
Clifford & Jamison staffers in the audience.  "I mean, after
all..."  Bobbie continued, "If a single episode of lovemaking can
produce a child in nine months, shouldn't nine episodes produce a
child in one?  I mean...  The arithmetic is pretty simple.

"But to state it again, these darling children who I adore are my
compensation, and I'm grossly overpaid!"

"But... but what about the bills?  What do you live on?"

Bobbie raised her eyebrows and shook her head in exasperation. 
"Ms. Kramer, I have to agree with something Cindy Cartwright said
yesterday: you don't know _anything!_  Let me keep it simple: In
answer to one of Sandy's questions I said that my bank balance
has eight digits and the first is a numeral that is a five or
larger.  To make it more simple, that's a sum of money greater
than fifty million dollars.  At just 4 percent -- and I do a lot
better than that -- it produces two million dollars a year or
nearly $40,000 _per week!_  Now how much do you think Tom and I
can spend?  After all, a person can eat only so much."

Then she giggled and added, "You know, it does get funny, I
guess.  You see, Ms. Kramer, my husband and I were married in
February and immediately left on a six-month honeymoon.  The
night of our wedding -- in fact, while the party was still going
on -- we were dropped off a boat lying off a small island in
Hawaii.  We were both completely naked as we swam ashore with a
few matches, three knives, some fishing line and a couple of
hooks.

"There we stayed for the next six months.  If we couldn't find
it, catch it, or make it, we didn't have it."  With a warm smile
she added, "You know, there is no better way to start a marriage.
 Tom and I know absolutely everything there is to know about each
other.  It's funny, now, sometimes.  We'll be together
communicating for a half hour or so and suddenly start to laugh
when we realized that neither of us had spoken a word.  We're so
attuned to each other, we really don't need to.

"But back to my point.  When we returned a couple of months ago,
I learned that we had made far more than a million dollars on
interest alone.  There we were, completely cut off from
everything, but we made over a million dollars anyway.  Isn't
that neat?

"To anticipate your next question, Clifford & Jamison provides
all the facilities to me free.  Beyond that, anything I want --
books, or equipment, or computers -- I buy.  What's the big
deal?"

Kramer was in a state of shock.  She could only murmur, "A
million dollars?  In only _six months?"_

"Ms. Kramer, unlike some of the other families you learned about,
Tom and I aren't rich.  But we have all the money we need to do
what we want to do.  Besides, we proved to ourselves that we can
not only survive, we can thrive, on no money at all -- on just
our own hands and brains.  So I guess that's our security."

At that point Sandy rose from her seat and returned to the
witness stand.  Picking up where she had left off she said, "Ms.
Kramer, I have established that Mrs. Conroy's salary is zero and
she has explained it in detail.  You previously stated that she
is guilty of criminal behavior because she failed to pay the
Federal government and the State of California the taxes on her
salary.  Since her salary is zero, I am asking you again what the
correct withholding taxes are on a salary of zero.  It's a simple
question.  Why don't you consult that pile of documents on the
table behind you?  I'll bet you'll find the answer in there
somewhere."

The children had retaken their seats and Bobbie suppressed a
smile as she saw Laura Benson wriggling on her chair in glee. 
She had learned that Laura's favorite form of entertainment was
watching her mother take apart a hostile witness.  And it was
clear to Laura that Kramer's blood was going to be all over the
floor very soon.

"I'm waiting, Ms. Kramer," Sandy reminded her testily.  "We don't
have all day.  What is the withholding on a salary of zero
dollars?"

"Nothing," Kramer murmured.

"I can't hear you," Sandy said.  Then she turned to the judge and
said, "Your Honor, would you please instruct Ms. Kramer to speak
up so that the clerk can record her answer to my question."

Callaway did and Kramer nearly shouted, "Nothing!"

"Gee!" said Sandy.  "What do you know about that?  Having
listened to Mrs. Conroy's earlier answers -- she paid nothing in
withholding taxes -- it is now clear that she is in full and
complete compliance with the law.  The law asks for nothing and
that is the amount she has paid."

Now glaring at Kramer, Sandy continued, "Ms. Kramer, you will be
receiving papers from my office this afternoon.  This has gone
far enough!  All day yesterday you were impugning my client. 
This morning you publicly called her a criminal!  That is a
slander, Ms. Kramer, and this time I will not allow my client's
kindness towards you -- for what earthly reason she displays such
kindness, I don't know -- to stop me from pursuing this case."

With a devilish grin Sandy added, "And you know what?  It's going
to be great fun!  You see, Ms. Kramer, you have just made a
disastrous mistake.  When you deal with Barbara Conroy you're
dealing with the kindest, sweetest, most generous, most giving
person on the face of this earth!  But I am the total opposite,
Ms. Kramer, and from now on you will be dealing with me!  I can
hardly wait!"

Turning to the bench she said, "I wish to apologize to the court,
Your Honor.  My preceding comments were out of line and out of
order.  Please accept my sincere apologies."

"The court heard nothing for which an apology is indicated, Miss
Harris.  All the court heard was a brief and factual recital of
what is in store for Ms. Kramer."  Then, seeing Kramer crumpled
at her table in fear, he turned to Bobbie and said, "You are
excused, Mrs. Conroy.  Thank you."

Turning back to the court as Bobbie went back to her seat at the
table he asked, "Does anyone have anything further to add?"  One
of the state's attorneys shook his head as did Bobbie.

"Since there is nothing further, this court finds for the
defendant, Barbara Bradley Conroy and the Clifford & Jamison
school.  The California State Department of Instruction is hereby
permanently enjoined from any direct contact with the school or
with Mrs. Conroy.  Any communications to them are to be sent in
care of this Court.  Only if we determine that whatever is
requested is _absolutely essential_ to the State will such
communications be forwarded."

Glaring at the state's table, he asked, "Do I make myselfclear?"

Although one of the attorneys acknowledged, Kramer had not given
up.  Rising to her feet she said, "Your Honor, we will move for a
stay of your order pending our appeal to a higher court.  The
Department cannot allow such an order to stand!"

At that point a man who had been seated in the far corner of the
room rose to his feet and declared loudly, "The Department can
allow it to stand and it will!"  Coming forward to the barrier
separating the parties from the spectators he said, "Judge
Callaway, my name is James Perkins.  I am the new Superintendent
of Instruction of the State of California.  I respectfully
request permission to address the Court."

"Welcome, Mr. Perkins," Callaway said.  "You are most welcome to
speak."

Turning toward the crowd while standing in front of the Judge's
bench, Perkins was amused to see Roberta Kramer looking very ill.
 He began: "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jim Perkins.  I am
the Superintendent of Instruction in this state.  And, I regret
to say, I am the boss of the department in which Ms. Kramer is
employed.

"Yesterday and this morning I witnessed the most egregious case
of bureaucracy run amok I have ever seen or heard of in my entire
professional career.  I cannot tell you the embarrassment I
suffer knowing that this persecution was done in the name of the
organization I head.  All I can do is humbly apologize."

Turning to Bobbie who was again seated at the defendants' table
he asked, "Mrs. Conroy, will you please accept my deepest and
most humble apologies for what my unit has been trying to do to
you?"

"Of course, sir, but there is nothing to forgive.  As I'm sure
you heard, I learned a great deal myself, and I think my kids
did, too.  But thank you, Mr. Perkins, for your kind words."

Turning again to face the crowd Perkins was shaking his head, "My
department was trying to close Mrs. Conroy's school.  Well I, for
one, agree totally with what Millie Flaherty said yesterday
afternoon: Barbara Conroy is certainly the finest teacher alive
in the world today and may be the finest teacher in all of
history!  I saw the most incredible academic performance from
some of the most remarkable young people I have ever had the good
fortune to encounter!

"Never have I been so inspired!  The understanding that these
children display is unbelievable.  And I stress the word,
understanding, because isn't that what education is really all
about?  It's not learning names and dates and places.  It is
understanding what happened and the significance of what
happened.

"To hear what I heard from six-year-old children made me want to
cry."  Looking around the room he said, "Is Millie Flaherty here
today?  If she is, would she please stand?"  The woman was
present and stood up.

Grinning at her, Perkins said, "Damn it, Millie, you're much too
young a girl to be retired!  I need someone who knows what
teaching is really all about working with me in Sacramento. 
Could I persuade you to give up your flowers for a few years and
come to work for me?  You would be replacing Ms. Kramer and would
be in charge of the curriculum for the California schools.

"I heard what you said and I liked what I heard.  I agree that we
have become tied up in multicultural garbage.  Can you imagine
trying to teach children about the Hindu culture, for example,
when they don't have the first clue about their own?  Ridiculous!
 And some of the books!? _Daddy's Roommate_ and _Heather's Two
Mommies_ in a first-grade reader!?  Homosexuality and lesbianism
_in the first grade?_  What utter insanity."

Smiling now he continued, "Millie, I know we're not like Barbara
Conroy and our students aren't like hers, but we have to make do
with what we've got.  And frankly, I am appalled at how little we
do have.  Do you know what's so funny?  I'm going to say
something that will get the NEA on my back in an instant: It's
not money.  We have tons of money!  It's how we spend it and what
we spend it on.  Millie, I need your help.  Will you help me? 
Please?"

Tears were flowing down the woman's cheeks as she stood there
looking at Perkins but she just nodded her head continually. 
When he finished she said, "Sir, the answer is yes.  In fact,
it's hell yes!  But I hope you will permit me to consult with
Mrs. Conroy -- hell, consult with Bobbie.  Bobbie Conroy is the
very best there is!  We both know it and maybe she can help."

Then she raised her head proudly and said, "However, Mr. Perkins,
you may want to reconsider your offer.  You see, sir, because of
all of the help provided by the ACLU and people like Ms. Kramer,
we cannot even mention God, let alone ask for his support.  Sir,
unless we can find a way to get around that, I think I will have
to support a voucher system:  Give the parents money to be used
to educate their children anyplace they want.  It may be the only
answer."

"And you may be absolutely right, Millie," Perkins agreed.  "That
may mean that you and I develop a voucher program."

Then he turned back to Bobbie, smiled warmly, and said, "And,
Bobbie Conroy, I agree with something you said this morning:  You
certainly are overpaid!  My God!  To be able to come into class
in the morning and see children like these!  To be able to watch
them grow and develop.  To see their joy, to hear their
laughter... yes, and to kiss away their tears!  It's far too
much.

"But is that all?  Bobbie Conroy, what about the love?  What
value do you place on the adoration of these children?"  He shook
his head and exclaimed, "Damn it, Conroy, you're the most
overpaid teacher in the history of the profession!  What do you
have to say to that?"

Rising to her feet and facing the crowd, tears were streaming
from Bobbie's eyes but they were tears of happiness.  "Mr.
Perkins, what can I say?  It's absolutely true.  Fair
compensation might be about two minutes of love in a year's time
from one of these imps.  But being drowned in a constant flow of
love, all the time, from all _ten?_  You're right, sir.  It's far
too much."

Then looking at her students she said, "My darlings, thank you. 
You make me the happiest person on the face of this earth!"  Then
with a grin she said, "Now how about if we blow this dump?  I'll
even spring for ice cream."

The entire crowd was on its feet cheering the outcome of the
trial and Bobbie.  While this was going on the children pressed
around her and, one after the other, she picked them up, kissed
them, loved them, and thanked each one.

To be continued...

* * *

Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome.  Let
me hear from you.  morg105829@aol.com 

*Barbara* (c) 1994, 2001 by Morgan.   morg105829@aol.com  

All rights reserved.  No part may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying,
recording or by any information and retrieval system, without the
written permission of the author.
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