Disclaimers: The prerequisite disclaimers.

Intellectual Property: The characters are wholly my own. Any similarities drawn between them and any persons, plants, or animals, living and dead, are figments of your imagination. However, some places and products mentioned in the story do exist. No infringement is intended. (Hey, look on the bright side! Free publicity! Yeah!)

Ratings/Language/Violence: R-rated. Generally, the language and violence is mild, as is the sex. However, at risk of spoiling some surprises, the story deals with sensitive issues like overbearing parents, youth violence, rape, and murder.

Sex: Love is expressed between two consenting ladies. If that bothers you, then for the love of God (or a higher being or beings, if any), get help.

Age: If this material is illegal where you live and/or if you are underage then find something else to do.

NOTES: Mickey is NOT the main character. Be patient and you'll meet the two leading heroines in no time at all. Also, this story takes place over about the span of a decade. If you want to see sign language, go to this web site. http://www.bconnex.net/~randys/

If you have any feedback, suggestions, or comments, please let the bard know at sarkel_bard@yahoo.com You are guaranteed a reply if you so wish. Constructive criticism is accepted J

I'd also like to thank everyone who helped. Thanks to Steph, Critic, Ink, and everyone else who has contributed.

Many people have asked me about my posting policy, so here's a rundown. I have a personal policy to post at least once a week, but if I am ahead of schedule or have extra time, I'll post more than once.

Part 4

"Sammy! Sammy! Wake up!" Allen shrieked as he excitedly shook his alien, who was snug as a bug under her bedcovers.

The sleeping figure protested as knees and elbows and hands poked into her firm body carelessly. "Gmph," Sam muttered as her eyelids fluttered open. There wasn't supposed to be another pre-dawn drill until after winter break.

Christmas! Sam wasn't religious but she simply adored Christmas. Presents, the junk food, the football games. Her blue eyes flew open as her brain revved into overdrive. She leaped out of bed, sending her messenger flying, her face as animated as the towheaded tot's.

"Santa Claus!" Allen cried, making the sign for the portly jolly man. He placed an upside down "C" on his chin and brought it down to his upper chest. "Santa Claus!" He jumped up and down and dashed to his sister, who had just stumbled into the doorway yawning.

Allison apparently had been victimized right before Sam, as her always picture-perfect strawberry colored hair bore an eerie likeness to a mad scientist's mane. She too loved Christmas, seeing her brother's face light up as he opened his presents. While their mother bestowed clothes upon clothes on her son, Allison was sure to give her brother a few real toys, like trucks, with what little money she could spare.

"Let's go get momma!" Allen practically dragged his sister downstairs so they could rouse their mother and her fiancé.

At the bottom of the staircase, Allison restrained the boy. "Allen, wait. We need to fix our hair and brush our teeth. Momma doesn't like it if we look like a tornado just hit."

He frowned then broke into a smile. "We hurry up then!" Brother and sister stepped into the hallway bathroom and made themselves presentable. Sam, on her way to the present laden Christmas tree, saw the bathroom door open and paused. She barely kept herself from strangling the blonde. The girl was so obsessed about her appearance! It was Christmas morning for Gods' sake. You were supposed to look like you'd just woken up.

The Albrecht siblings finished in no time at all and Allen bounced out, flinging the master bedroom door open. "Momma!" he whooped, jumping onto the colossal bed. "Wake up!"

Barry peeled open an eye. Susan's son was capering on the bed, his mission accomplished. The boy barely missed his jewels and the older man sat up immediately, not wanting any injury in that area.

"Hey buddy! Let's see if Santa came, eh?" Barry said, slipping out from under the covers and taking Allen in his arms. It had been a long time-too long-since he'd been awakened before sunrise on Christmas Day by ebullient children. A short shot of sadness pierced his heart as he remembered Norene and Lucas but the negative thoughts were pushed aside as Allen, alive and healthy, wriggled out of the lawyer's grasp.

"Allen! Whatever are you doing?" Susan grumped indignantly. She preferred to be awakened by Beauregard's snuggles and kisses, not some hyperactive kid with messy hair. She didn't want her Beauregard to think she had raised her children with no manners. "What time is it?" She rolled over in bed and looked at the clock-barely 6 a.m. "Go back to bed!"

"Oh, Susie!" Barry admonished gently. "Today's Christmas!" He couldn't wait to see Allen's face when the little guy saw the bike Barry had rigged up. Susan had been against the gift at first, saying it was too physical and dangerous, but he had won out at the end.

Barry's words managed to poke through Susan's sleep-filled brain. It wouldn't do to upset Beauregard although sometimes he was such a caveman. "Of course, Beauregard!" she exclaimed. "Just give me a few minutes to fix myself up."

The groggy man joined his daughter and Allison in the hallway while Susan smoothed out the boy's hair. "Merry Christmas!" He drew in both girls for a bear hug but Sam didn't hug back. She was still mad at her father for skipping out on the lights last night just because he was horny and he knew it.

He sighed. "Did you all have fun last night?" he signed, speaking at the same time.

Allison laughed. "Oh yes!" Sam kept her face still; she wasn't going to volunteer any information to her father.

Allen careened out of the master bedroom, looking like a perfect little gentleman. "Momma said she needs to curl her hair and drink some coffee first." He sat on the steps, disappointed. He rested his chin on his hand glumly. "I hate waiting for her."

Sam raised an eyebrow in question and Allison relayed the message. "Oh, brother!" Sam thought. "Fuck her." Christmas won't be any fun if we have to wait around for everybody to be "presentable."

Barry nodded. "Well, I'm sure she won't be long." Allison flinched; they wouldn't be opening anything until after eight o' clock if her mother adhered to her normal morning behavior. "Let me go talk to her, little guy." He headed back into the bedroom as Sam shook her head imperceptibly and leaned against the wall.

Barry returned in less than a minute. "Susie-poo needs some time, so let's get a head start on breakfast." Sam read her father's lips as Allen's face fell. "Come on." He headed for the kitchen. "I'll whip up the best pancakes you ever tasted."

Allison and Allen started to follow. The youth dragged his feet, his head hanging down. He kicked the wall and mumbled something. Sam didn't like to see the boy upset and besides, everyone had to be a kid sometimes, so she grabbed Allen's hand, smiling. She jerked her head towards the music room and led him to the Christmas tree.

Sam grinned and plopped on the floor, Indian style, and ripped open a present. Allen looked at his new friend, his eyes wide as saucers. This was too good to be true. He could open presents now? "Yay!" He followed Sam's lead and blindly grabbed a present meant for his sister, and immediately freed it from the wrapping paper. His nose wrinkled in disgust at the shiny make-up kit as Sam laughed. She reached for a gift with Allen's name on it and handed it to him.

"Where did Sam and Allen go?" Barry asked, in the kitchen.

Allison furrowed her brows. "Let me check." She padded down the hallway into the music room in time to see her little brother playing and laughing with abandon. She leaned against the doorway as a smile crept across her face. Rarely did she see Allen act so naturally.

"Allison Alexandra!" Susan barked behind her. "Are you responsible for this disobedience? And look at your robe! Couldn't you have worn the pink flowery one? There are men here; tie it and don't flaunt yourself in front of Beauregard. Honestly!"

Allison jumped at the sound and whirled around, guilt written all over her face. Her hands crept down the sides and she quickly tied her robe before her mother could go on another tirade about "indecency."

"Uh-oh." Allen heard his mother. He stopped opening his present and laid down the half-unwrapped box. His eyes opened wide as saucers again, but this time, they were filled with fear. His chin quivered at the terse voice. Sam felt the change in the atmosphere and set down her new computer game.

Allison gulped as steam came out of her mother's ears. "I… I just…"

"You just have no manners!" Susan snarled. "Why, I just ought to-"

"Susie-poo!" Barry rounded the corner. "What's going on?"

The older woman's face instantly softened. Beauregard would not understand. "It seems as if the children couldn't wait, Beauregard. Look at me!" she wailed. "I look horrible!"

Barry chortled. "Kids will be kids. Allen's only three. You look great, Susie. Come on, let's go in." He put his arm around Susan's waist and escorted her into the music room, Allison slinking behind them, deflated. Today was shaping up to be another normal Albrecht Christmas.

A few hundred feet of wrapping paper later, Allen was whizzing around the room with his new truck. Susan covered her ears and burrowed into her Beauregard. The children were being too noisy and active. Couldn't they quiet down for a single moment?

Allison sat on the floor staring at her pile of clothes and make-up kit. She hated getting clothes, period, especially for Christmas. It was all she ever got! Not only that, but she always had to spend the rest of the day modeling for various people like Aunt Jackie. She could become a professional with all the experience she had amassed modeling new outfits.

After studying her loot, she looked up to see Sam across the room, smiling like a cat who'd swallowed a canary. Sam was so lucky; she got fun stuff like a DVD player and games, collectibles, books, not just clothes. Things you could actually have fun with. Little did she know that Sam was thinking the exact opposite.

Clothes? I got clothes. That never happens. Daddy never gets me clothes or girly stuff. The influence of Susan, evil stepmother- to-be, is already permeating my life. Great. At least there were no more atomic pink shirts or lace involved. The disappointed young woman looked up to see an even more dejected blonde staring at her spoils of Christmas. Well, she had to admit she was better off than the Albrecht kids. Allen was acting like he had never gotten any toys before and Allison was surrounded by a fort of clothes. Yes indeed, she must consider herself lucky.

Allison had surprised Sam, though. Instead of getting her a book like 101 Ways to Braid Your Hair or bottles of perfume, the blonde had gotten her a coffee set. Sam had grabbed her boxes and torn through them, pausing at the last one, a neatly wrapped gift bearing a card saying "To Sam, from Allison." She'd opened it without enthusiasm, knowing the feminine girl's proclivities.

She opened the box to discover a ten-pound bag of coffee beans from The Addict, four two-pound variety packs of coffees and a mug featuring a kitten with its black fur sticking up, coffee dripping from its chin, saying, "Got Coffee?" She laughed at the coffee mug; it was actually funny, and looked up to meet Allison's beaming expression. Her younger companion grinned ear-to-ear and bent over to finger spell conspirationally with a sign thrown in here and there: "I picked it out myself. Barry told me that you down coffee like some people breathe air. I'm so glad you like it."

Sam returned the smile and thanked her future stepsister. She briefly felt guilty as the green-eyed girl proceeded to open a present from her father. Of course, Barry had bought the gift and put Sam's name on it; his daughter had no idea what it was.

The blonde was looking forward to Sam's gift; she needed a change from the clothes, clothes, and more clothes, and the tomboy definitely wouldn't buy clothes. If only she could get cool presents like Sam, but at least Barry had said Allison and Allen could play with his daughter's stuff. The younger girl discovered a lousy long nightgown roughly folded in the box and concealed her disappointment. The gift, decorated with flowers, lace, pink with lavender tones, reeked of her mother. Allison decided to give her new acquaintance the benefit of the doubt; the dark-haired goddess didn't exactly seem the type to know how to shop for other people. She hugged Sam quickly as she happily showed everyone the nightgown. At least Sam had gotten her something!

Sam groaned slightly as Allison displayed the gift. Go figure. She gets a lousy gift and thinks it's great. Her father needed lessons on how to shop for women. Maybe next time she'd pick the gift out herself.

Barry waved for Sam's attention. "That's not all, sweetheart. I thought it would be nice for you ladies to get to know each other better so I gave Susan $1,000 to go clothes shopping with you two girls when you go out to get your things for the wedding. Spend the day together and spend the money together. It'll be perfect quality time! It was all Susie-poo's idea!" Barry grinned, satisfied with himself. Susie-poo had assured him that a day shopping together was all Sam needed to warm up to her and Barry was inclined to agree. His daughter needed a mother, not a kindly part-time aunt with her own family and her own worries, and the rebellious teenager would realize that sooner or later. When Sam was home from military school, his Susie-poo would give her the feminine influence she needed. He was glad his new family was working out nicely, even if Sam was a bit sullen at times.

Allison plastered a smile on her face. Even more clothes. And what's worse, her mother would embarrass her in front of Sam while she pulled, poked, and prodded at her clothes to make sure they fit. She wanted to make a good impression on the dark-haired girl but somehow got the feeling that this was not the way to do it. This kind of adventure would just turn off Sam. Allison liked a causal wardrobe but her mother insisted on all the latest teen female fashions, picking out the most disgustingly feminine outfits.

On the other hand, she didn't complain. Barry had been nice enough to do this and her mother would be furious if anyone dared object. Besides, a day together meant time to get to know the dark-haired mystery before she returned to military school. Maybe she'd see Sam try on outfits and get more eye candy.

She'd tried hard enough to be discreet this morning. Why did Sam have to be so beautiful and so causal about it? She was dressed in shorts that showed off her shapely thighs. A smallish T-shirt emphasized her good points, and her hair was casually tousled. The goddess had left it alone despite several hard and blunt glares from Susan. When Allison sat on the floor across from Sam, the first thing she'd noticed were her legs. She'd spent most of the morning trying to avert her gaze and keep from openly staring. But it was so hard not to.

"Barry, thanks so much. That's really neat and I'm looking forward to that!" Allison reached up and hugged the new man in her mother's life, pecking him slightly on the cheek.

"Isn't Beauregard just marvelous!" Susan's face radiated with happiness as thoughts flew through her head. Samantha would be getting a desperately needed brand-new wardrobe and Allison could use a few more shirts and skirts for the spring season.

Sam rose and thanked her father stiffly. She hated to shop with a passion and with Susan and Allison it was going to be pure hell. She reminded herself again to contract the flu Wednesday night.

Sulky and unhappy, Sam marched to her room to hook up the DVD player and play the new games she'd gotten. Allen followed her to her room and stood in the doorway. The older girl sighed and let the boy in her room; he was already deprived enough. Who was she to keep him from playing with her games? Susan was an overbearing mother who never let her son have any fun. He'd exclaimed with delight at the new bike Barry had wheeled in from the garage but his mother had made him promise to follow a ton of rules before she'd even let him accept the gift. Life with Barry would be good for the kid.

Allison helped her mother and Barry tidy up the music room then went to get her brother and Sam for breakfast. She snuck up to Sam's room, hoping to catch a rare glimpse of her gentle side. As she watched Sam teach her younger playmate the tricks of the video game system, pride swelled in her chest as her baby bonded with the dark-haired girl. Sam would be a good mother someday. Certainly better than Allison herself was.

After breakfast, Sam went outside to shoot a few hoops with her new basketball. The snow that fell three days ago was finally melting, thanks to warm temperatures. It was a perfect sunny day.

Allen watched Sam through the windows, his nose pressed to the glass, an expression of longing on his face. The towhead hesitated for a moment then asked his sister a question. "Will momma let me play? Momma doesn't like it when I play outside. I want to play with Sammy."

Allison sighed and scooped the boy up in her arms. Their mother was in the bathroom, making herself "presentable" for the day. She'd be suitably occupied for a couple hours. Besides, Susan had ordered Barry not to let Allen ride the bike unless Susan was there to supervise so there was nothing for the towhead to do.

"Sport, you can play. We just won't tell momma." Allison looked at Sam through the window. She wanted to show the girl a thing or two about basketball. The dark-haired girl moved with catlike grace but she was far from perfect. Allison grinned as her future stepsister strutted around the driveway as if she was some kind of star. She'd get a smack in the face soon.

The Albrecht duo met Sam outside on the driveway as the green-eyed girl snatched the ball from Sam's hand. "We're playing with you."

Sam surveyed the girl from head to toe then signed, "My sweats and shirt?"

Allison shrugged. "Didn't think you would mind if I borrowed a ratty old pair of sweats. Come on." She tossed the ball to her brother and tried to teach him how to shoot the ball. Allison was ever encouraging but the poor kid was delusional. He sucked. That, plus he was short. Very short. Corny ran around chasing the ball, his tail thumping excitedly.

The taller girl became impatient and stole the ball from Allison in mid-air, dribbled furiously down the driveway, bouncing the sphere fluidly between her legs, then culminated with a resounding lay up very much like a dunk. The blue-eyed girl turned to Allison and grinned wolfishly at Allen's expression. The boy's mouth was gaping open at the skill and vertical jump just displayed.

Sam's face and posture spoke of superiority and disdain: Let's see you do that, Allison. It was only the second time in her life she'd managed to dunk the ball but she was not going to clue her blonde companion in on that. Allison just grinned and shrugged.

She took the ball from Sam's arms and positioned herself well beyond three-point range and a blink of an eye, had sunk a perfect trey, with Allen scampering after the ball. "Well?" she smirked, hands on her hips, her green eyes shining with satisfaction.

Sam narrowed her equally colorful blue eyes as the young boy handed her the rebound. No one was going to best her. She strutted to Allison's position and nudged her aside, smiling with aplomb. The dark-haired girl confidently shot the ball and immediately turned to her challenger, grinning derisively. Her shot was guaranteed to go in the basket.

A smug smile crossed Allison's face and the smirk disappeared from the blue-eyed girl's face as she turned to see Allen crowing: "Airball! Airball! Airball!"

Sam sighed and pointed to herself and at Allison then held up ten fingers. The blonde nodded in agreement. Sam wanted to play some one-on-one, first to ten wins. Allison was gonna kick Sam's ass and suppressed a grin from spreading. Would her opponent take kindly to losing or would she be sore?

Sam was thinking along exactly the same lines; playing against Allison was going to be so easy. Too easy. Sam played varsity basketball at Jackson and had about five inches on her shorter partner.

Allison started the battle with a quick dart and bounce through the tall girl's legs, catching her off-balance, and scored resoundingly. "Thanks for the help there, long legs," the blonde taunted clumsily. "How's the weather up there?" She bounced the ball to Sam who bounced it back. "Check."

Sam frowned at Allison, unamused, and pretended that she hadn't understood the younger girl's signs. In her concentration to repeat the message, the inexperienced signer fell victim to a steal. Before she could fully realize that Sam had lifted the ball right under her nose, the dark-haired girl grabbed the ball and slammed it right through the hoop. The scorer stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry.

Allison cocked a light eyebrow. She wasn't going to let Sam win. A few points later, the ball was in Sam's possession when Corny blocked Sam's dribble. The orange sphere rolled down to the blonde's feet. She seized the advantage and scored another point.

"Corny!" scolded Sam. "What do you think you were doing mister?" The yellow dog's enthusiastic gait stopped as he hung his tail between his legs, his mistress scowling at him. Allison skipped up to Corny and sat down, hugging him.

"You're such a sweetheart! Thanks for helping." Allison scruffled the dog's fur. She looked up to see Sam shooting bullets at both of them. The blonde giggled and sang out. "Nyah, nyah, nyah." The dark-haired girl simply rolled her eyes and petted the forlorn dog.

"It's ok, Corny." With those silent words the dog bounced back to his usual self, wagging his tail furiously.

They continued to play until finally they collapsed, out of breath, and sat down on the front porch, the match still undecided.

Sam gave a modicum of respect to Allison and turned to face her. She could hold her own on the basketball court. "You play basketball?" Sam pointed to Allison then pretended like she was dribbling an invisible ball.

Allison sighed regretfully and shook her head. "That's my momma for you." She positioned an open hand on her face, her thumb touching her chin, her fingers apart, to make the sign for mother. She shrugged resignedly and picked up a blade of grass, rolling it in her hand. "Momma doesn't want me doing 'unladylike' things like play sports." Allison punctuated the air with imaginary quotes. "Do you play sports at Jackson?"

Sam nodded and made the sign for basketball again and finger spelled the word football.

Allison smiled and leaned back, her breathing slowing. Barry's introverted daughter was turning out to be nicer than she'd originally thought. They sat in companionable silence, pondering entirely different things, while Allen dribbled the basketball on the walkway with Corny. The buxom blonde leaned back and enjoyed the brisk air and beautiful cloud patterns in the sky. Allen ran up to join his sister, clambering into her lap.

She pointed to a cloud. "Looks like a turtle. And that one… what do you think that one looks like?"

Allen wrinkled his forehead and shrugged. "Like a, um, race car…"

His sister smiled and pulled the boy in closer. "Do you want to be a race car driver or a fireman?"

Allen shook his head. "I wanna be the ice cream truck driver. That way I get all the ice cream I want."

Out of the corner of her eye, Sam watched her companions' unintelligible commentary on the clouds. When the blonde calmed down, she wasn't so bad. Allison waved for Sam and pointed to a fluffy cloud. "What do you think that cloud looks like?"

"A cloud." Sam studied the sky seriously.

Allison was puzzled by the blue-eyed girl's response. "Aren't you supposed to be an artist?"

Sam answered solemnly. "I'm practical. Not a dreamer like you."

Allison gazed at Sam curiously but then she heard Aunt Jackie's town car turn into the road. It had a fancy engine and roared around the corner of the street.

"Damn!" Allison leaped up. In the sereneness of the past few moments, she'd forgotten about the zillion clothes she was expected to model. "Come on, Allen. Let's shower and change." She mouthed to Sam: My aunt's here.

Sam arrived at the dress shop promptly at ten o' clock. Her attempts to get the flu had been in vain, and her father hadn't fallen for her "I'm sick; I can hardly get out of bed" ruse. She had driven at a turtle's pace, had left the house ten minutes late after her father pushed her out of the door, and had even graciously allowed little old ladies to cross the street. She'd even momentarily weighed the pros and cons of crashing Dino and getting herself carted to the hospital but had discarded that idea. So, here she was, right on time. At least she hadn't seen Allison and Susan since Christmas Day, instead hanging out with Paul as usual.

She was going back to military school on Sunday evening. Thank the Gods for small miracles.

Susan and Allison finally showed up ten minutes later, the older woman explaining that she'd run out of foundation and had to send Allison to the store to buy a new bottle. She refused to show her face in public without being properly made-up.

Sam smiled insincerely at Susan's rationale. Given time, she could get along with Allison and Allen, but she knew that never in this world would she and Susan Albrecht, soon to be Cannizarro become even the least bit friendly. Not a chance.

Allison wasn't looking forward to the little excursion either and hoped the torture would be over with quickly. One look at Barry's daughter told Allison that Sam was even more miserable than she. The blonde tried to make conversation but gave up after several rebuked efforts.

To their chagrin, they were still at the dress shop an hour later, while Susan continued to hem and haw over the style of the bridesmaids' dresses, as well as the color, fit, size, and shoes. She hadn't even begun to inspect the wedding gowns! The other bridesmaids, Feather and Jackie, were lucky they didn't have to put up with the decision making process. They would be stopping by later to get the dresses sized after Susan finally made up her mind… if she ever did. They'd been trying on dresses non-stop for an hour, modeling, walking back and forth, changing, while Susan and the consultants poked and pinned them.

Sam was ready to throttle her future stepmother just as she finally settled on the bridesmaids' dresses, which happened to be the consultant's first suggestion.

"Jesus Christ," thought the dark-haired girl as Susan excitedly began on the wedding gown. "Could have saved us an hour." She groaned in pleasure, taking pressure off her aching feet, as she sat down on the store's sole chair. This trip was quickly turning into a nightmare for the dark-haired girl. Sam thanked her lucky stars that she'd been able to avoid modeling clothes for Susan on Christmas, excusing herself to Aunt Julia's house. She'd no idea shopping could be this exhausting. Suddenly, doing a hundred crab drills in 110-degree heat during football practice looked mighty attractive.

Allison simply staked out a place on the floor, exhausted as well, but used to the routine, especially after the recent Christmas practice of modeling all her new outfits. She loved the gowns; they were full-length lavender garments with short sleeves, simple but elegant. Her dark-haired companion, however, was just glad there were no lace or ruffles.

"Still an honor?" she asked Allison sarcastically.

The blonde nodded enthusiastically as she rummaged around in her purse and extracted the notepad she'd gotten in the habit of carrying with her. "Ahhh… it is a lot of work but of course it's an honor! Being asked to participate in a wedding shows how important you are to the bride and groom. What a great opportunity to deck out and look nice! The dresses are so lovely. You look beautiful in your gown."

"Hmph!" Sam scoffed. "I'm thrilled. I'm being dragged all over town for fittings and special shoes, both of which cost a lot of money, not to mention the hair-do for the day of the wedding. I hate dressing up and wearing makeup! And it's not like anyone ever wears bridesmaids' gowns again," the pessimist retorted.

"The wedding's a one-time event so I guess all we can do is grin it and bear it. Personally, it could be worse. At least they're not having a grand, elaborate wedding. So, back to the subject. I am honored to be my mother's bridesmaid. Come on!" Allison patted her grumpy companion's leg. "Chin up!"

Sighing, Sam saw the witch come out of the dressing room wearing yet another dress and nodded politely at the spectacle. Another hour and half later and the trio was finally out of the shop, and not a moment too soon.

Since it was lunchtime, Susan decided to eat at the new place nearby, Bosun's Mate, which had opened a month ago. The interior was dark and subdued, decorated ship style with boating wheels, anchors, and hatches. Sam liked it as did Allison, but Susan complained at every turn. She moaned about the chilly temperature, the hostess's snarly attitude, their hard and uncomfortable seats, the sticky table, and the seating arrangements.

Before Sam or Allison could order, the domineering Susan had already ordered their selection. Lunch would consist of three glorious lemon waters and three fresh green salads.

Sam hated rabbit food and resented Susan's intrusion, determined to get a real meal the next time the waitress was in her vicinity. She didn't have to wait long and timed her move, quickly requesting steak, French fries, and soda before Susan could stop her.

Sam smiled smugly, gloating as her future stepmother became visibly agitated. "How can you eat that heart attack, Samantha? Honestly!" Susan shrilled as she fanned herself.

Allison couldn't stop herself from drooling all over Sam's dish as her lunch partners glared at each other with distaste and disgust. Their meal was quiet with an extra-large platter of tension on the side.

After Susan finished her salad, she excused herself to the facilities. "After all, a lady's got to keep the makeup fresh. Allison, you should visit the restroom before you leave." She eyed Samantha disapprovingly and decided not to say anything. Beauregard's daughter was nearly hopeless.

After her mother left, Allison gazed at Sam's food with what she thought was discreet longing and desire. To Sam, her younger lunch-mate's wish was all too evident. In a moment of pity, her stomach satisfied anyway, Sam pushed her plate across and smiled slightly at the blonde.

Allison thanked her benefactor with wide, adoring green eyes and a bewitching, grateful smile as she gobbled up a quick bite of steak. "Thanks so much, I'm starving! I owe you one!"

Sam studied Allison with a bemused expression as she shoveled as much food in her mouth as she could before her mother returned. Allison was turning out to be an okay sort-anyone who could equal her at the lunch/dinner table and on the basketball court couldn't be all that bad. They could be friends. But only if the blonde would just quiet down.

Susan returned from the bathroom, her clown paint freshly applied. Startled, Allison clamped her mouth shut, hoping her mother wouldn't detect the steak tenderloin inside.

"That salad sure filled me up!" Susan mouthed very carefully, rubbing her stomach exaggeratedly to make sure darling Samantha understood. "Mmm! Samantha, your stomach must be bloated!" The older woman turned to her daughter. "Why don't we splurge and get a diet soda? Or some fat-free yogurt? Of course, Beauregard will understand! After all, Samantha is returning to school soon."

Allison swallowed but said nothing.

Susan smelled a rat and noticed Samantha's plate in front of her Allison. "Cat got your tongue, Allison? What's in your mouth?"

"Nothing," the blonde mumbled, avoiding her mother's steely gaze.

The redhead narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her daughter. "Allison Alexandra, have you been following your diet?"

Allison's eyes widened. "Of course. Why?"

Susan frowned. "At the dress fittings, I noticed your dress size moved up a notch. The skirts Santa brought you for Christmas are a bit too snug, also. Explain."

Allison gulped. "Well, dresses, especially those fancy kinds, are always smaller than regular clothes. I mean-"

"Enough." Susan gestured for Allison to be quiet. "When you were a bridesmaid in Feather's wedding a few months ago, you were two dress sizes smaller. You looked good then. Now… Allison, honey, you're my daughter and I'm doing this for your wellbeing. Bluntly said…" Susan turned to the dark-haired girl; Samantha should learn about women's health, diet, and fitness.

She pointed to Allison and mouthed the word elephant grotesquely, using her hands to indicate a large animal. "Allison, you're on your way to becoming an elephant." Susan tittered. "Well, perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration but you get the picture."

Allison's face fell and tears formed in her eyes. No matter how many times her mother insulted her, each jibe smarted more than the last.

Hostility boiled in Sam. She wasn't absolutely sure what Susan had said but she could read lips fairly well and that, combined with Allison's expression, and a few gestures on Susan's part led her to conclude that Susan was accusing the beautiful Allison of being fat. Had she called her own daughter an elephant? What a nice mother Susan was. Allison was thinner than most young women her age and could stand to gain, not lose, a few pounds. If Susan didn't lay off, Allison was on her way to becoming anorexic. Even Susan herself was in good shape. Sam was just sick of a society so obsessed with weight and diets. She didn't see anything wrong with not having a so-called 'perfect' figure.

"Now, Samantha." Susan turned again to her future stepdaughter and gestured in the air as she mouthed for ideal comprehension. Samantha would be thrilled at her little surprise! "I have just the right diet plan for you. It'll work very well with your boarding school environment. I will call the dietician there and he should be able to modify…"

Sam's intense blue eyes glittered malevolently. Her future stepmother was suggesting she go on a diet? Not on her life. The dark-haired girl slammed her fist on the table, pointed angrily at Allison and made curvaceous lines in the air to indicate that the overbearing woman's daughter was just fine and pretty the way she was. Then she pointed at Susan, ballooned her cheeks out, and mimicked an extraordinarily heavy person, forming a semi-circle with her arms. Susan understood Sam's message perfectly-"Look who's talking, hmm?"

Allison smiled faintly. Sam had stood up for her.

Susan gasped and started to sniffle. "What did she just say? What did Samantha call me?" She directed her inquiry to the hapless blonde caught in between.

Allison knew the wrath of her mother and intervened the best she could. "We've all had a stressful day. Let's just-"

"You girls will never get husbands with attitudes like this!" Susan barked. "I'm just trying to help! I care for you both!" She began to shake.

"Oh, momma." Allison leaned over to comfort and appease the upset woman but Sam barraged right on.

"I…" She leant down to look Susan in the eye. She wanted to get the point across and quickly jotted down a few sentences on a soiled napkin and threw it across to Susan. "Do not need a man to justify my life. I never said I was in the market for a husband."

Allison shot a warning glance in Sam's direction. "Stop!" she mouthed, cutting her throat with her hand. The deaf girl was on the verge of permanently alienating Susan, if she hadn't done so already.

Susan wheezed even harder. "Allison! I'm just thinking of yours and darling Samantha's best interests. You know I love you. Don't you, baby?" she whimpered, holding onto her daughter for dear life. "Why can't Samantha understand?"

"Momma, momma. We all love you. It's been a long day." Allison rubbed her mother's back placatingly, knowing the mall would cheer her up. "Let's go shopping, all right?"

Sam leaned back confidently in her chair, knowing she'd made her point. She wished, though, that Allison would assert herself. Her mother had just called her an elephant, but here Allison was, rubbing her back and wiping her tears away. Why? They were all just fucked up.

The prospect of shopping indeed restored Susan's spirits. Haughtily, her nose in the air, she led her daughter and her fiancé's spawn of hell to a shoe store. Beauregard was going to hear of this! But first, she was going to spend his money.

Luckily for them, they found what they needed at the first shoe store and didn't have to go all over town in pursuit of the perfect shoes. Allison and Susan were in their element, shopping a whirlwind throughout the store, spending the $1,000. Susan was in far better spirits. The dark-haired girl had cooled down and dutifully followed the ladies from rack to rack as they went through clothes galore.

Susan picked out some revolting dresses and tight sweaters for Sam and implored her to try them on. Sam ignored the pleas and headed directly to the men's section to select clothes she liked. She picked out a few shirts and jeans and shoved them into the redhead's arms and walked off. The older woman turned into a statue, standing stock still; did Samantha wear men's clothing? The clothes weren't Beauregard's size!

Susan shoved the clothes back onto the shelves and pursued Samantha. She was going to straighten this travesty out! The irate woman tapped Samantha on the shoulder and the taller girl twirled around, anger flaring in her eyes. "Samantha. You know I meant clothes for you?"

Sam turned around without acknowledging the older woman. Susan swallowed and stomped around a rack of clothes, demanding attention. "Samantha. You need clothes and you are getting some today! And I am not getting you those, those men's clothing!"

Sam merely raised both eyebrows then shrugged. Suit yourself. Not like I need clothes at military school. Allison nervously followed the duo, hoping there wouldn't be another confrontation.

Her mother turned to her. "Allison, talk some sense into Samantha while I look at the cosmetics!" Susan paused at the make-up counter of the department store and struck up a conversation with the saleslady.

Allison groaned and Sam shot her a questioning look. "Mom always spends a minimum of half an hour at the make-up counters. Usually more. It's so terribly boring!" Allison wore an exasperated expression as the older girl rolled her eyes at the note. They stood aside and looked at some watches while waiting for Susan.

"Thanks for standing up to mom at lunch. You know she'll get really upset and tell your father on you? Mom can get really mean when she gets insulted. No one ever stands up to her." Allison looked up into Sam's eyes and smiled openly.

Sam sighed and wrote on the notepad. "Why don't YOU stand up to your mother? What's the worst that can happen?"

Allison gulped. There was plenty Susan would do but no one could ever know. "I should but I'd get in trouble. Grounded or something ya know? She is really a good person. She's just nervous about the wedding."

Sam raised an eyebrow at the comments but said nothing. Yeah right. Nervous my ass.

Susan jabbered on and on about whether or not she should get a moisturizer or a defoliator. Allison briefly summarized the conversation for Sam but eventually both of the reluctant shoppers became bored and anxious to get the hell out of there while they browsed the racks of purses and wallets behind the make-up counter.

After about 45 minutes of debating, Susan made a decision. They'd be finally getting out of there! Sam and Allison arrived just as the price total was displayed on the cash register.

$164.78. Sam gasped at the amount displayed. What an ungodly amount of money for two tiny bottles of makeup! Susan dashed the girls' hopes of escape as she picked up a nearly full sample bottle of perfume and tested it in the air, commenting on how nice, light, and airy it was. Both girls rolled their eyes and groaned knowing they were stuck for a while. They leaned on the counter as Susan raved about the perfume.

"It's Happy perfume. It's supposed to make you feel happy," commented the saleslady, hoping to make a nice commission off this woman.

Susan sniffed at the air and closed her eyes. "Ahh. So it does. Hmm. I just love it. How much?"

"It's $125 ma'am. You get a free vinyl bag with the logo on it." The saleslady displayed the bag and grinned as her customer oohed.

Allison groaned again. "Great. Just great. We're going to be stuck at the mall all day if mom doesn't just shut the…up. I wish she would have more consideration for others." Sam noted the omitted word and smiled.

"I have an idea." She winked at Allison and raised her eyebrow in question.

Allison sighed. "I'd do anything to get out of shopping but I don't want mom totally mad at me or you for that matter." However, Allison couldn't resist the mischievous look on Sam's face.

"Ok. Cool. What do I do?" She was grinning ear to ear.

"Chill. Act bored ok? Don't do anything. I'll take care of it." Sam took the notepad and put it in her pocket, not wanting any evidence for the witch to use against her. Just in case.

Allison removed the smile from her face and replaced it with a bored expression but her expressive green eyes continued to spark merrily.

Susan chirped at the saleslady. "I'll have to think about it. I've a dozen bottles at home but this is such a nice scent…" she wistfully sighed. "I'll be back! Girls, let's go to the junior misses department and get that lovely flowered shirt for Allison then to the ladies' department. Samantha will find something there." Susan waddled off with her shoppers.

As they departed the make-up counter, Sam discreetly slipped the sample bottle into Susan's purse and walked on ahead with a shocked blonde behind her.

Allison had half a mind to stop this craziness, to scold Sam, but a quiver of excitement ran up her spine. She was tired of being the same old, predictable, boring Allison. Now she could prove to Sam that she was cool and worthy of respect. She just hoped that her mother wouldn't figure out what had really happened or she would be in deep, deep, deep muck.

Sam noticed the slight look of worry on Allison's face. "Don't worry," she mouthed.

Allison nodded and squeezed Sam's arm excitedly. Oh great. There she goes, touching me again. ArrghSam's skin burned at the blonde's touch. She just hated it when people touched her or grabbed her without permission. The dark-haired girl jerked her arm loose and sighed. Allison wasn't learning.

They ended up at the ladies' department where Susan was adamant about feminine clothes and insisted that Samantha try them on. Finally, Sam gave up and agreed to a dress and two feminine tops. On their way to the cash register, Sam stopped by the shelf on which Susan had shoved Sam's earlier selections and added them to the pile.

As soon as Susan was ahead, Sam finger spelled to Allison: "You have…" She pointed to the dress and all the clothes Susan had chosen. "I don't want them."

"Uhh. Ok." Allison shrugged half-heartedly. She didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about the new additions to her wardrobe. "I wish I could dress like you."

Sam thrust one of the shirts she had picked out earlier into Allison's arms. "Take this.

You can have some of my old clothes too. They don't fit."

Allison beamed, locking her eyes with Sam's for a moment. "Thanks, I appreciate it." She turned quiet and her companion was dumbfounded. Allison had actually uttered a thank you that lasted only four words. Four words, out of Allison. Wow.

Susan stepped up to the cashier while Allison whipped out Susan's credit card for her, feigning excitement at the purchase of all the goodies. It wouldn't do for her mother to spy the perfume bottle. Once everything was paid for, they headed towards the exit, Susan trailing Sam and Allison.

Sam captured the blonde's attention and mouthed, "Showtime." They strolled causally out of the store with Susan following them as she studied the displays. As she stepped through the security posts, the alarm beeped. A grim-faced store security officer approached her. Sam and Allison continued on as if they weren't aware the alarm had gone off. Susan shouted out to the girls.

"Come back with me! They must've forgotten one of the tags on the clothes. ALLISON!" The older woman wailed. Her daughter finally paused as if she'd heard something.

"Sounds like some horrible beast calling out." The perky blonde squeezed Sam's arm gently then turned around. "Gee. It's momma. She's waving at us. Should we go back?" Allison had her eyebrows raised in question.

Sam paused in thought. "Wonder what she wants?"

Susan was rummaging through every article of clothing and had not yet discovered the offending item. Her daughter and future stepdaughter arrived just in time to see security speak again to the mortified woman.

"Ma'am. Go through the exit without the bags please."

The middle-aged woman walked through the security gate and heard another beep. She sighed. "I don't have any idea what it could possibly be!" Susan started to cry again. The duo could barely suppress their smiles at the petulant target.

The security officer cocked his head. "Sorry ma'am. I'll have to see your purse and check your pockets." The irate woman was horrified at this whole thing. Her a thief? Never! What would people think? She glanced around frantically and with relief, recognized no one.

Sam saw Allison was trying to contain laughter and shot her a warning look. The green-eyed blonde nodded slightly as she watched her mother be humiliated, taking a perverse thrill in seeing the older woman wallow in misery.

The officer located the bottle of perfume and ran it through the scanner. It came up as unpurchased. "Ma'am. We have to go to the counter where you got this and talk to the saleslady."

Susan's eyes widened as she saw the bottle. She hadn't put it in her purse and furthermore, she hadn't even bought it! But there it was, and the saleslady could remember her gushing over the make-up and the perfume. The look on the redhead's face was priceless.

Susan swallowed her pride and escorted the officer to the counter. The saleslady did indeed remember her enthusiastic customer, who vigilantly defended herself, looking the officer squarely in the eye. Her two fellow shoppers also vouched for the older woman's innocence. They hadn't seen Susan steal the bottle of perfume and knew she could never do a thing like that.

Finally, the matter was resolved. Susan bought a bottle of the perfume but she was fuming and utterly embarrassed. How had this happened? She'd convinced the officer it had been an accident and that the perfume must have just fallen in her purse. However, she knew better. Allison had a silly smile she was trying to hide and Samantha was acting too nonchalant for her comfort. Beauregard was going to hear the whole story as soon she got home. Susan knew she had to do something about Beauregard's wicked daughter, darling Samantha. Indeed, her troublemaking days weren't behind her at all.

Susan was quiet as the trio left the mall. "Allison, ride with me to Beauie's. I want to show him all the new things we got today and discuss the wedding. Samantha, Allison and I will see you shortly."

"Uhh-all right. See you later, Sam." Allison's chest tightened as she waved good bye. She never did well during one-on-one interrogations by her mother. But her mother was acting normally, as if the perfume incident had actually been an accident.

Susan popped open the trunk of her Pinto and lovingly placed the clothes inside. Sam sensed that Allison was tense about being alone with Susan and was highly capable of blabbing. The shorter girl met Sam's eyes for a second and told herself not to worry. The ride home was only ten minutes and she was strong. She could do it. This was another chance to prove her worth to her future stepsister.

As Susan slammed the trunk, Allison smiled at Sam with bravado. The taller girl watched her with narrowed eyes. You better not spill the beans.

Susan chuckled as she glanced at her watch. "Goodness! It's late. Beauregard will be getting worried. We'd best hurry. Come, Allison." Susan grasped Allison's wrist and opened the car door.

The dark-haired girl climbed into Dino and turned the key in the ignition. If the bimbo 'fessed up, no big deal. She had known that pocketing the perfume in Susan's purse was a big risk, but what did she have to lose, really? Everyone thought she was a troublemaker anyway.

Sam followed behind the Pinto closely on the way to her house. She could see the older woman gesticulating hotly at her vulnerable daughter but couldn't see much more.

Allison was weary of her mother's tirade. "What if people saw me? My God! What would they think? They'd think I was a good-for-nothing thief like Samantha! They'd think I was marrying Beauregard for his money. Gracious! And that little scene Samantha made at luncheon, calling me all those names! Honestly!" The verbal barrage continued for the ride home and Susan did not even have a chance to break down Allison's defenses. The blonde arrived at the Cannizarro home extremely nervous but very much in one piece.

Sam hopped out of Dino as soon as she pulled into the garage and helped the Albrechts carry the shopping bags in. Allison seemed fine; there was no evidence that she had been crying. Allison noticed the taller girl's careful scrutiny of her and smiled reassuringly.

"Hey!" Barry resonated when he saw that his women were home. "Y'all have fun today?"

Seeing Barry, Susan immediately began the water works. "Beauie-poo!" She threw herself in her fiancé's arms.

"Susie-pea. What's wrong, flower?" he asked concernedly. Searching for answers, he looked at the girls with furrowed eyebrows.

Susan's sobs grew in volume. "I just wanted everyone to have a good time! No one likes me!"

"Now, now," Barry soothed Susan and signed to Sam with one hand. "Allen's in your room playing with the game system."

Sam gaped at her father. What if the kid spilled soda or drooled over her stuff? Barry had no right letting anyone in her room! "Daddy!" she signed in protest.

"Susan and I need to talk, ok?" The hulking man hugged his fiancée closer and kissed the tip of her head. "Tell Barry-poo all about it and I'll kissy it and make you all better."

That was enough to drive the young women upstairs. They walked out of the living room, gagging at each other simultaneously.

At the top of the staircase, grabbing Sam's wrist, Allison made doe eyes at Sam and batted her eyelashes furiously. "Oh, I love you so much Barry-poo!" she sang.

"Not more than I, Susie-pea!" Sam signed, holding onto Allison and imitating her father.

"Whatever would I do without my darling baby Beauie-poo?" Allison giggled in baby talk as they walked into Sam's room. Sam's mellifluous laugh disappeared instantly once she saw Allen's coloring books all over her bed. He was coloring a piece of paper on her desk but the dark-haired young woman observed with chagrin that the towhead missed the paper half of the time. Her desk had gone from a handsome cherry wood to a tacky rainbow assortment of colors.

"Allen!" Allison chided. "Did Sam say you could decorate her desk?"

The boy spun around, surprised. "You're home!" He ran to Sam. "Gimme 'copter ride." He held his chubby arms out to the taller girl.

"Say again?" she asked.

"'Copter ride! Like Barry!"

Allison picked up her baby brother and lifted him over her head. "Don't you like my rides?"

"Barry better! And Sammy too. They're tall!" Allen nodded knowingly. "Please, Sammy?" he pleaded.

"Oh. Fine." Allison returned her brother to the ground, slightly hurt although the kid did have a point.

Realization dawned on Sam's face. She grabbed Allen and spun him around in the air above her head. The little guy made helicopter sounds and propelled his arms as he shrieked with delight. After a few rotations, his source of amusement plopped him back down on the ground.

"More! More! More!" the youth shouted, jumping up and down. Sam laughed at the kid's enthusiasm, about to pick him up for another round.

His sister slunk to the bed, wearing a hurt look, and began to collect the coloring books.

Sam figured she'd put the desolate girl back in a good mood. Grinning devilishly, she snuck up behind the blonde then lifted the lighter girl into the air, spinning her.

"Sam!" Allison shrieked, her fists pounding the weightless air as her legs flailed. "Put me down! You'll drop me or worse! Ahhh! Pleaseeeeeeeeee!" she begged.

Sam laughed and bounced the terrified victim up and down in the air.

"Please. You've proven you're strong enough. Now put me down!" Allison beseeched.

Allen jumped up and down. "Me! Me! Me! Me want plane ride! 'Copter ride? Sammy please?" He stomped his foot. "Allison's too old for that!"

Sam, out of breath, brought Allison down for a rough landing on the bed. Despite her pleas of distress, the blonde doubled over with laughter as tears swam down her face.

"Allen, no one's too old for 'copter rides," she clarified. "Although…" she looked at Sam and shook her head, amazed. The taller girl swooped Allen up for another round as Allison lay on the bed, collecting her composure.

Meanwhile, Susan ceased her sobbing but continued to sniff as her Beauregard's strong, masculine arms and chest comforted her. "Beauregard, I don't think Samantha cares for me. Every time I tried to help her today, she shot me right back down!" Susan honked a ball of phlegm into her tissue.

"Sit down." Barry guided Susan to the couch. "Tell me, baby."

"Samantha called me a lard ass!" cried Susan. "And said that you and I couldn't marry!"

"No! Why would she say that?" Barry was startled as he wrapped his fingers around Susan's hand.

Susan wheezed. "She said polygamy's illegal and that…oh, I can't repeat it! That… I was so fat it was like you were marrying three women! And what's worse, is… Allison was laughing and egging her on!"

Barry was taken aback. "Susie-pea," he murmured. "You're the most beautiful woman in the world. Sam needs to learn a few things about grace and social skills. I'll discipline her, believe me!"

"That's not all! Samantha said my butt could be used as a… a… rocket launching pad! Mind you, she used the "a" word, not the butt word. And, Beauregard! The girls framed me for thievery!" Susan wailed.

Barry squeezed the redhead's shoulder as he listened to the rest of her story. When his soon to be wife was finished, Barry was boiling with rage. Sure, he knew she was exaggerating a bit but he knew his daughter. She was back to her old tricks, and this time, her ways were too personal.

Allen's tongue hung out of his mouth as he concentrated on the task at hand. His face scrunched as he scrubbed Sam's desk. Slowly but steadily, the crayon marks disappeared.

Sam joined Allison on the bed, supervising Allen's work while she sat. "You're so good with him, Sam." Her younger companion turned on her side, using her elbow to prop her up. After the helicopter rides, Allison scolded her brother but he'd avoided any punishment. Sam had explained to the towhead that although her desk was very colorful now, and that his drawings were beautiful, she could see them a lot better if they were on a paper. She could even bring the paper back with her to military school.

Sam shrugged nonchalantly.

"You'd be surprised at how many people can't deal with kids," Allison said. "Will you really hang up his drawing? He would be so proud."

Sam hesitated a moment then rose and tidied up the mess Allen had made around the entertainment center.

"Let me do that," Allison offered, staying Sam's hand. "He's my brother."

Allison worked industriously while Sam watched the duo, hoping she could get some privacy soon. She could only hang out with them for so long before going nuts. As Allison bent over to pick up a box with crayons spilling out, Sam's eyes paused for a second as she devoured the sight. Allison had a very nice ass.

A booming echo sped through the house as the lights in Sam's room flashed furiously. "Allison, send Samantha Alice Cannizarro down! Get her down here!" Barry's voice was angry and tight.

Allison jumped and looked at Sam. "Your dad…"

Sam wore an indifferent expression on her face.

"Sammy's in trouble!" Allen gleefully cried.

"How can you act so casually?" the blonde asked in wonder.

"No big deal. I'm a troublemaker." Sam rolled off the bed.

Allison reached for Sam's arm. "I know you're a good person."

The military school student sighed. Allison's comment had touched her but she wouldn't let on. Allison didn't know what she was saying. "You don't know me."

The blonde stood in the doorway, listening to Sam descend the steps. She knew Sam was a good person. Everyone was… even her mother. She grinned wryly at the thought of Susan. Sam was about to find out just how calculating Susan Albrecht could be. "Good luck, Sam," Allison whispered.

She was looking forward to the summer, when Sam would be home from school. They'd become closer and perhaps Sam would let Allison in past those walls. Allison remained upstairs to watch Allen and waited for her turn through the wringer. She'd be in trouble as well, at least as an accomplice.

Barry cleared his throat and looked Sam squarely in the eye. He loved his daughter with all his heart but knew she was a problem that needed firm discipline to stay in line.

"Susan told me what happened today. Tell me your 'version' of the events. Don't leave out any details and tell the truth. It'll be easier."

Sam replied impassively. "I told Susan that I didn't appreciate her interfering in my life, that I wasn't in the market for a husband, and that Allison was just fine the way she looked and didn't need a diet. As for the perfume incident, I have absolutely no idea what happened. I was just as surprised as Susan was when the alarm went off and the security approached her."

"Susan claims that you framed her for shoplifting and that you called her lard ass and wide load among other things."

Sam swallowed. She couldn't believe her eyes. "I didn't call her a lard ass or wide load! Why would I frame her for shoplifting?"

"I don't see why Susan would lie to me. You have been known to lack in the department of tact and politeness. As for the shoplifting, does that really come as a surprise to you, young lady? I'm going to ask Allison for her version of the events. She's a good girl and won't lie or exaggerate." Barry puffed his chest out and gathered plenty of air.

"ALLLL…" He turned to Susan. "What's her middle name?"

The upset woman sniffled. "Alexandra."

Barry nodded. "ALLISON ALEXANDRA ALBRECHT! GET DOWN HERE!" He bellowed, his tone rising with every syllable, causing even his daughter to flinch. Sam waited for her accomplice apprehensively; would the priss lie for her?

Allison scampered downstairs, mortified that if Sam didn't already know her middle name, she would by now. She would never live it down. Al Al Al La La La. Arrgh! "Hi Barry," she said in a meek tone.

CONTINUED IN PART FIVE.

As always, e-mails are welcome at sarkel_bard@yahoo.com