Resa’s FABULOUS FASHION SHOW…

The sign for Resa’s Fashion Show is up and running.  Her shows are always a hit and a wonderful way to end the entertainment.  The tension is building, as Halloween approaches.
Everyone has arrived and everything is in place.  The Hens and the Baking Committee are busy making sure that everyone is full and happy…and there are plenty of treats between meals.  The Housekeeping Committee is also quite busy, making sure the accommodations are fresh and beautiful.

But the Sewing and Costume Committees are always thrilled when Resa is visiting, because she takes time to teach them tricks of the trade.  The chicklets are eager to learn and Resa is the perfect teacher.

903…The End

903 went to a quiet corner, between a couple of trees, and opened herself to the Star Council.  3 stayed with the Star Eaters, who waited patiently for her return.  It wasn’t long before she walked back to where everyone was standing.

“They said no, didn’t they,” said the Star Eater, knowingly.  “They want you to kill us.”

“I told them I wouldn’t do it and that they’ll have to fight me, if they want to get near you.”

“It won’t help.  They’ll just keep sending stars to exterminate us,” said the second Star Eater.

A body fell next to 903, bounced three times and cracked the cement.

“You okay?” asked 903, smiling and nudging the guy with her toe.

There was a lot of groaning and a quite a bit of swearing but the man finally rolled to his side. “There HAS to be another way of landing.  Seriously, this is barbaric.”

“Yeah, yeah,” snickered 903.  “Mars, the great red warrior, moaning and groaning about a little fall.”

“He actually fell quite a distance,” said 3, nervously, staring at the planet come to life.

“Who do you want me to kill?” asked Mars, looking around.

“No one,” said 903.  “I want you to help me protect two Star Eaters.”

“The Star Eaters are dead,” he said, brushing dirt off of his legs.

“Not the two behind you,” she said.

“Like I’m going to fall for that one”  he said, stretching.

“Seriously,” I promised to protect them.  “I want stars to volunteer to give them some of their energy, so they can live.  I want to remind everyone that it’s insane to exterminate an entire species just because we can.”

Mars, looked at the two Star Eaters, then he looked at 903.  “That’s a joke, right?” he asked softly. “They were eating all of you and now you want to protect them?  They would have killed you and all life in the universe.”

“I gave them my word.”

“I’m in,” said 107 happily, smiling at everyone .  “Can you guys eat dead stars?  There are a lot of dead stars, you know brown and red dwarfs.”

“We can eat them but since they are DEAD there’s no radiation and that’s what keeps us alive.”

“Oh, I know,” said 3, eagerly.  “Is it the radiation, or is it the the star’s energy that you need.”

No one spoke.  The two Star Eaters, mumbled to each other and said, “radiation.”

“How often do you have to feed?” asked 903.

“Depends.  We can eat well over a thousand stars in one day,” said the second Star Eater. “That would last us two days at the most.”

“Wait,” said 903.  “A thousand stars a day, EACH?”

“Yes.  Each.”

“We need a new plan,” said 903, quickly.  “Can you eat the radiation stars give off, without touching us?”

“Maybe,” said the Star Eater.

“That’s good, because if you eat that many stars a day, you’ll have to go into deep space and eventually, in a few billion years, you’ll starve to death.  How about supernova’s? They are loaded with radiation and they still happen every now and then.”

“Oh, yes, that would be lovely,” they agreed.

“So, basically we just have to find new sources of radiation for you to eat.  And, luckily enough, space is filled with radiation.  All we have to do is figure out how to…”

“Can you just absorb radiation?” asked 3, hopefully.  “I mean, can you just drift through it and let it flow into you?”

“We’ve always just eaten stars,” said Star Eater.  “I suppose we might already eat the radiation we drift through, now that you mention it.”

“Then you can simply float through the universe and absorb the radiation around you.  If you can get close enough to a Black Hole you’ll be set for life.”

“But we’ve always eaten stars.”

“Oh please,” snapped 903.  “Don’t make me kill you right this minute.   Because believe me, if you start talking about tradition and rituals and all the other useless beliefs that destroy life, I won’t be able to help myself.”

“I guess we never thought about eating any other way,” said the second Star Eater.   “We just did things the way they’ve always been done.”

“That is one of the most dangerous things anyone one, or anything can do,” hissed 903. “All of this death could have been avoided it you would have just taken a minute to ask yourselves if THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR FOOD WITHOUT CAUSING HARM!”

“We just did what Star Eaters always did.   I’m sorry our species killed so many of you.”

“Yeah, me too.  Because of your eating habits you forced US to kill all of you, so that we could survive.  How stupid is that!”

“Oh, I love it when things work out nicely,” said 107, kissing two kittens she was holding in her arms.  “See, now everyone can be happy and alive.”

“Look,” said 903, staring at the Star Eaters,  “go deep into space, at least for awhile.  I’ll talk to the Star Council and make them see how insane this whole thing has been.  If you have any problems you know where my star is located, right?”

“We know where to find you,” said the Star Eaters.

“Then go and if you start eating stars again, I’ll come for you.”

“Have a good life, tiny star,” said the Star Eater.  “Shine brightly.”

“Hide and I’ll let you know when you can return to the solar system.”

The Star Eaters blended into the sky and disappeared.”

“That was nice,” said 3.  “You did good 903.”

“There are only two of them left,” said 903.  “And what did all the killing accomplish?  All anyone had to do was look at things in a different way.”

“Can we stay on earth for a week or two?” asked 107, excitedly.

“Yes, let’s stay,” agreed 114.

903 shook her head.  “Sure, why not.  Hey,” she yelled at Mars.  “You up for a little vacation?”

“Absolutely,” he said.  “I think we should stay a month, I hardly ever get out.  Besides, you are looking GOOD, 903.”

“Not a chance you airless planet,” she teased, shoving him into a lamp post.

“Never hurts to try” he chuckled.  “So, TINY STAR,” he laughed out loud, “now that you called me here to do absolutely nothing, where can I get a chocolate shake?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

903…25

“I can’t bring them back,” said 903, “but I can try and keep you alive.”

“We were kept alive for payback,” said the first Star Eater.

“Are you sure?  Maybe you were hidden so that you could begin again.”

“Have you ever been on Warvin Sar, tiny star?”

“Once,” said 903, pushing the memories away.

“The pits of fire, the mountains of ice, the pools of death, the guards, the overseers, the…”

“…the Sa,” whispered 903.  “Yes, I saw them.”

“We lived with them all this time,” said the second Star Eater.

“I can’t change that but I can give you a future.”

“How?”

“There are only two of you,” said 903.  “I will go to the Star Council and set up a plan were all of the stars will give you a little of their energy, when you need it.  There are so many of us, that if you take from different stars, the rest of us can regenerate and keep feeding you.”

“They won’t do it.  They will kill us.  YOU will kill us.”

“I won’t,”  said 903.  “Not unless you force me to do it.  If you keep eating the stars, all life will disappear.”

“And?”

“Did you suffer through Warvin Sar just so you could die?”

People walked by 903, chatting and enjoying the day.  Seagulls screamed as they sat on top of The Bean and children ran around, jumping, laughing and fighting.  No one noticed what was taking place.

“Wouldn’t those who went before you want you to keep your species alive?  Die for revenge and you will be lost forever.”

“The tiny star has a point,” said the second Star Eater.

“It’s up to you,” said 903.  “If you choose death, I’ll do it now and I’ll make it “quick.”

“Listen to her,” said 3, coming out of the bushes.  “She’s trying to save you.”

“Small living thing,” said the Star Eater, staring at the rat, “you trust the tiny star?”

“I do and she’s not all that tiny,” he said smiling.  “It will be good to have you back.”

“Talk to the Council,” said the second Star Eater.

903 nodded.  “I give you my word that if they do not accept the proposal, I will fight on your side.”

The sky rippled, the clouds disappeared and reappeared.  “Done,” said the Star Eaters.

 

903…23

“We got all of the Star Eaters,” said 903, looking at 3.  “Every single one of them.

“How can you be sure?” he asked, grooming his tail.

“If they were any left, why wouldn’t they have acted before now?”

“I don’t know,” said 3, “but it’s possible they hid one or two young ones in a different dimension, or in an unknown area of space.  Maybe they even hid them on a planet somewhere.”

“I suppose that could have happened,” admitted 903, rubbing the back of her neck.  “But what do they hope to accomplish?

“Maybe they’re after revenge,” said 107.  “I would be, if you wiped out my species.”

“Do you think they’re hiding in the paintings at the Art Institute?” asked 114.

903 looked at her feet.  “I don’t know.  I don’t know anything except that I’m drawn to that place.”

“Oh look,” said 107, excitedly.  “Kitties.”

A line of cats was walking toward 107, their tails high and their eyes focused on her.  107 sat on the sidewalk and held out her arms, “Come to me my beauties.  Let me love you.”

“Well, she’s out of the picture for awhile,” said 3, watching the cats cover 107 from head to toe.

“It makes her happy,” said 903.  “She can’t have cats at home, so she likes to come here and play with all the animals.  It’s good for her and for the animals.”

“I’m going to buy some postcards this time,” said 114.

“Why?” asked 903.  “You can’t bring them home and you don’t have anyone you can send them to, right?”

“Maybe I can hand them out to people walking by,” he said delightedly.

“Star Eaters don’t have a true form of their own, so look for any disturbances in the sky,” said 903, “or in the general vicinity.”

“Will do,” said 3.

“How’s Petal?”

“She’s good but the kids are driving us both crazy.  They keep wanting to go off on their own but they forget to hide while they’re moving around.”

903 smiled.  “I’m happy for you 3.”

“Did you feel that?” he asked.

“I did,” answered 903, turning around.  “Look at the sky.”

3 looked up and saw a gigantic ripple move in front of the stars.  “A Star Eater and it’s huge.”

“I’ll be right back,” said 903, taking off toward Millennium Park.  She shoved her way through the crowd, ran under The Bean and jumped over a bench.  The thing was moving toward the water.  “Hey,” she yelled.  “You.  Star Eater.  I want to talk to you.”

The vibration stopped. “What do you want tiny star, in a meat suit?”

“I want to know why you’re doing this?”

“You killed my entire species, except for two of us.  We know what you did.”

“I’m sorry,” said 903.  “We tried to talk to them.  We begged them to stop eating the stars but they refused to listen, refused to even consider an alternative.”

“What alternative?  We eat stars so that we can live.”

903 stared at her hands and shook her head.  “It was them or us.”

“Now it’s your turn, tiny star.”

“Isn’t there a way to stop the this?  Is there anything I can do?  Anything we can do together?”

“You killed our species.  You forced the others to abandon us on Warvrin Sar, because they knew you would never willingly go there.   It took this long to regain our strength, since we had no family to feed us.”

“You were on Warvin Sar for billions of years?”

“Yes,” said the Star Eater, reaching out for 903.  “Warvin Sar.  Do you know what it’s like there?  Have you been there?  Every minute in that place, is like eternity.”

“Look,” said 903.  “I have one last question.”

“You mean one last question before I eat you and then move on to your friends?”

“Yes.”

“What is your question?”

“Yes, tiny star,” said the second Star Eater, what would you ask all that is left of our race?”

“Do we have to be enemies?”  asked 903.

“I’ll answer your question, if you answer mine, tiny star,” said the first Star Eater.  “Can you bring the ten million Star Eaters you killed, back to life?”

 

 

903…21

Thoughts poured into 903.  Orion’s belt was gone, so were the handles on the Dippers.  Messages of stars disappearing, or going dark, kept coming flooding into her mind.  903 sorted through everything but kept thinking about Chicago.  She kept telling herself no one, or no thing, would put something so dangerous on a planet the stars couldn’t even see. A planet so small it was all but lost on the spiral arm of the Milky Way. But she couldn’t let go of the idea.  She sent a thought to 107, telling her she was going back.  She hadn’t heard from Ricki, no one had.  She asked some of the gods but they were busy fighting among themselves and didn’t know anything.  She asked the beings on other planets, in other galaxies but no information was forthcoming. She was out of options.

Just as she was about to throw herself to earth, she heard 107 and 114 say, “I’ll meet you there.  I’m starting to like having a body.”

She landed hard, again.  903, lay on the ground and groaned.  There had to be a better way to land.  There just had to be.  She heard 107 hit, then 114.  “I absolutely hate this part,” moaned 107.  “Me too,” sighed 114, rolling over and wiping the blood from his nose.

“I heard you falling,” said 3.  “Get up, people are starting to notice you laying there,” he said standing on 903’s back.   “Van Gogh’s Starry Night is dark.  The stars are gone.  I head the curators  talking about it, when I was in the basement of the Institute.”

903 groaned again, popped her shoulder back into place and closed her eyes.  “That’s crazy.”

“I think it’s a Star Eater,” said 3, nervously.

“It can’t be a Star Eater, we got rid of all of them eons ago.”

“I think you missed one,” said 3.

 

 

903…20

903, looking for answers,  turned her attention to the planets in the local group.

She sent a thought to Mercury, asking if he knew anything about the dying stars.  He responded immediately, saying that all he wanted to do was COOL OFF.  He said he was trying to move into a new orbit in order to escape the unreasonable temperatures pouring off the star he was circling.  He also said that he was not happy about the fact that human artwork and mythology showed him as a messenger with tiny wings on his shoes.  “Like I would ever run around delivering ANYTHING.  Let’s see the little worm-like humans try to live on MY surface, after they destroy YET ANOTHER PLANET with their insanity.”

“I know you aren’t a messenger, Merc,” said 903.  “Chill out!  Oops, sorry, I mean calm down.  Just let me know if you see anything, okay?”  Mercury said he would but only because she asked nicely.

Venus said to tell everyone she loved them, then she blew kisses at 903.  In between love poems and instructions on the best ways to make red roses last longer, Venus said that she didn’t know anything at all about dying stars.

Earth laughed and told 903 that if she found what she was looking for, to send whatever it was to her.  She said the humans who lived on her surface would either kill it, or figure out a way to turn it against each other.  “If they finally annihilate themselves I’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep.  And yeah, yeah, I’ll keep an eye on the sky.”

Mars told 903 that he hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary but that if she wanted to start a war, she could count him in.

Jupiter said he wasn’t feeling well, Too much gas, besides, he didn’t think what went on in the Universe had anything to do with him.  However, as a personal favor to her, he said that he would watch for any strange occurrences.

Saturn told 903 that there was a disturbance in his rings but he couldn’t tell her exactly what he meant by that.  He said he wasn’t happy that the nits on Earth named a car after him but there was little he could do about it.  He asked 903 for advice. with regard to eliminating the human race.  She told him she would get back to him on that but if he was in a hurry, he might want to contact earth herself, since they both wanted the sam thing.. He said he thought of asking earth’s star to move closer to them. 903 said that would certainly do the trick.

Uranus starting yelling immediately.  My NAME IS URANUS.  It’s pronounced, YOUR AH NUS.  I’m so SICK and TIRED of those idiot earth boys mispronouncing my name and then laughing about it that if I could, I would tear out their vocal cords.  WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM?  903 said that she understood but that she had come to chat for an entirely difference reason.  Uranus said she heard that the Dark Matter was upset about something but other than that, she didn’t know a single thing.  903 told Uranus that she could call herself anything she liked.  She told her that she didn’t have to accept the name the humans gave her because they didn’t have anything to do with what went on in the sky.   In fact, she said, humans don’t matter at all, so what would you like us to call you?  Uranus thought for a moment and said Kali, since she was a killer Goddess and would certainly take care of the brats.  It was settled and 903 said she would spread the word and tell everyone Kali’s new name.  Kali told 903 she would start to watch the sky more carefully and keep in touch.

Neptune told 903 that he got a new trident.  He said that he loved it, since it was larger and heavier than his last one.  903 said she was happy for him and then explained her reason for getting in touch with him.  He told her that nothing had come to his attention recently but that he would keep her advised.

Pluto was furious.   “Why ask me?  I’m just a DWARF planet,” he hissed  “What did big old Jupiter have to say?  Anything?  Go ask the REAL PLANETS and see what you get from then.  At least some HUMANS fought for me, that’s more than I can say for any of YOU! Even if I did know something, I wouldn’t tell YOU.”  903 said she was sorry about  his demotion but said that there was little any of them could do, since it was the crazy earthlings who kept changing things all the time.   903 told Pluto that humans didn’t know anything about the planets and that maybe he shouldn’t take what they said so seriously. Pluto told 903 he was sorely disappointed in her.  She said that she only meant that all the stars STILL thought of him as a REAL PLANET, so what difference did it make what a few scrawny, unimportant humans, with the life span of a sneeze, actually make?  Pluto thought about that.  Then he thanked 903, saying that he agreed wholeheartedly.  He said he would ask around and if he heard anything he would get in touch with her right away.

903 knew the planets had attitudes but she thought they would be a bit more helpful than they were.  She was so frustrated she sent out a giant flare.  Then she settled down and thought about what she was going to do next.

903…19

The crowd grew thinner as they made their way around the buildings.  Finally, there were only a few people left.   Fireworks lit up the black sky and delighted shouts could be heard from the crowd.

They walked to the edge of the cement, lake water splashing against their feet and legs, and stood in a line, next to each other.  They didn’t say goodbye. They didn’t say anything. They simply closed their eyes as gold and silver motes slowly made their way out of their bodies and began drifting into the night sky.  Once freed from their human hosts, their lights burst into the night, brighter and more beautiful than any firework and the stars flew home. The bodies they vacated, crumpled to the ground, asleep.

903’s star was intact.  She moved into it and began shining.  107 and114 did the same thing.  Rickie went to a meeting and promised to telepathically pass on what he learned when it was over  (It’s the only way stars can communicate, since there’s no sound in space and stars are light years apart).

903 was restless.  She was a war star and wanted to know who she needed to fight, in order to stop stars from being extinguished.  She didn’t like waiting and she didn’t like just hanging around, so to speak.  She sent out a thought to other stars, asking if they had any ideas, about what was killing stars, and a flurry of thoughts shot back at her.  She quickly sifted through them but came up empty.   Most of the stars thought the universe was dying and there was nothing they could do to stop what was happening.

903 sent the same thought to the asteroids.  They told her they killed the dinosaurs, something they ALWAYS thought immediately.  903 said maybe they did, maybe they didn’t but there were more pressing matters to think about at the moment.   The asteroids said that some of them were being pushed out of orbit and hurled at specific targets but they didn’t know what was doing it.

Someone, or some thing, was playing with the astroids, thought 903.  “How very interesting.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

903…18

“That’s a big ferris wheel,” said 114, with admiration.  “Humans are always trying to get closer to us.”

“It’s so crowded, it’s hard to walk,” laughed 107. “Shouldn’t be a problem getting enough energy to take off.  OH! cotton candy,” she shouted, pushing her way to the end of the line.

“Look,” said 903, staring at a poster.  “There’s a fireworks display at midnight, the perfect time to leave.”

“The humans are so excited,” said 114, closing his eyes.  “I’m absolutely drunk on all of this energy.”

“It’s sad,” said 903.  “They have no idea what they’re made of or how powerful they are.  They can’t see past the tiny world they have made for themselves.  Well, if their star is taken out, they’ll all be dead in 8 minutes.  Frozen to death.  That’s how long it takes the rays of the sun to reach the planet.  If the sun goes out…no star, no life.”

“I’m positively stuffed,” sighed 107, draping her arm over 903.  “Food and so much LIFE.  I’m giddy.  I want to dance,” she said, trying to twirl around in the tightly packed crowd.  “I’m trying to hold in my light but it’s getting harder, I just want to let go.”

“So, once the fireworks get going everyone’s attention will be on the night sky.  We can take off without a hitch,” said Rickie.

As they walked through the crowd, they touched those they passed, the pulse of human energy sending shivers of delight through their borrowed bodies.

“Wrong,” whispered 903, grabbing Rickie’s arm.  “That guy’s wrong, not supposed to be here.  Something’s not right.”

Rickie made his way through the crowd and snagged the guy by his upper arm.  the man turned and smiled, his eyes a swirling mass of colors.  “Oh,” giggled the man, “a Starling, how delicious.”

Rickie moved his hand to the man’s neck and squeezed.  “Go ahead,” said the man.  You’ll kill the human but you won’t touch me.  I’ll just jump into someone else. I know you won’t kill all these yummy people.”

“What are you?” hiss Rickie.

903 walked up behind the man and tasered the aura around him. A small rock fell to the ground and lay still.

“Kuiper belt,” said 903, pushing the rock with her toe.  “Someone is using the the bits and pieces of the Kuiper to attack and kill the stars that are close enough.  This guy took a side trip and picked up a human for a little fun.”

“It’s almost time,” said 114.  “Let’s go.”

“Someone started shouting at the crowd over a loud speaker, working them into a frenzy.  The energy level spiked, fireworks started going off and Rickie, 903, 107 and 114 made their way around the buildings to the edge of the water.

 

903…17

“What about the bodies on the cement?” asked 903, looking over her shoulder.

“What about them?” said Rickie.

“Are we just going to leave them there?”

‘Yes, along with the thousand others who are on earth right now.  Once we fix things, they’ll be able to return.”

“You mean IF we fix things.”

Rickie looked at her and nodded.  “The rat has a big light.  He’s a good star.  I shouldn’t have threatened him.  He was only looking out for those he loved.  That’s what I’m trying to do too.”

903 stopped. “Wait, YOU love us?”

“I love all the stars,” he said softly.  “I overreacted because when he said no, I knew I couldn’t protect him from harm and that made me mean.”

“I’ll be right back,” said 903, running across the lawn in Grant Park.  She grabbed the guy by his throat and told the girl to run.  She punched him in the face a couple of times, smiling when she heard his nose break.  “Why were you hurting her?” she asked, punching him with every word.

“That’s enough,” said Rickie.  “You’ll kill him unless you stop.”

“I hate guys like this,” she said, dropping him and kicking him a couple of times for good measure.  “I think he has 3 broken ribs, maybe a punctured lung as well.  I feel a lot better now.  Maybe I will have a pretzel after all.”

“You need to take it down a notch.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I can help you with your rage.”

“I’m war, it’s kind of what I am, don’t you think?”

“Good point,” said Rickie.

“Come on, let’s catch up with the others.”

903…16

“So, 3?  What’s your idea?” asked 903.

“Wait,” said Rickie, holding up his hand. “3, I’m rescinding your life sentence.  You can come home with us.”

“No way,” said 3, running behind 903′ foot.  “I won’t go.  I won’t leave Petal and the kids.”

“You don’t have a choice,” said Rickie, glaring at him.

“He does,” said 903, calmly. “You can’t make him go back.”

“I can.”

“You mean you can try,” said 903, suddenly cleaning her fingernails with tip of her very sharpe knife.

“If he won’t come back, I’ll make sure he can never again be a star.”

“So,” said 114, “it doesn’t seem as if you’ve changed all that much, does it, Enforcer.”

Ricky looked down.  “You’re right.  Sometimes I forget myself.”

“If you threaten 3 again, none of us will go back and we’ll help 903 end you,” said 107, sweetly.

“I’m sorry 3,” said Rickie.  “I apologize for my bad behavior.  I would like it if you would help us and return home.”

“No, and that’s final,” said 3.  “I’ll tell you what you can do but I won’t go back until my life here is over.”

Ricky nodded.  “What’s your idea then?”

“There’s a rock concert at Navy Pier tonight.  There will be thousands of people there.  They will all be amped up and their energy will be staggering.  You can ride it home.”

“What’s going on?” asked one of the bodies on the ground.  “What is this place?”

“You’re on earth, this is Chicago, just be still, we’re trying to figure out a way to get home.”

“Okay,” said the man, who immediately lay flat and started to snore.

“I like your idea 3,” said 114.  “It’s actually perfect.”

“Thanks.  I think eleven o’clock will be the best time to go back.  That’s when things will start to peak.  And, 903, I won’t be going with you.”

“I understand, my friend.  You need to be home with your other family.  You need to keep them safe.”

3 put his paws on 903’s leg.  She bent over and picked him up.  “I don’t know what I would have done without you 3.  You’re probably one of the best stars I ever met,”  she said, holding him close, kissing his face.  “I bet you shine brighter than all of us put together. It’s been a pleasure and an privilege. I hope we meet again.”

Everyone came over and touched 3, kissing him as they said goodbye.  903 carefully placed him under a bush and watched him disappear into the darkness.

“That’s my dad,” squeaked a small rat.  “My mom sent me to look for him.  She was worried.”

“He loves you very much,” said 903, seriously.

“I know,” said the small rat, sitting up.  “It was nice meeting you.  I have to go or my mom will send someone looking for ME and then I’ll be in trouble.”

“I can see why he wants to stay, said Rickie.  “He made the right choice.”

“Let’s go the Pier, I can see the lights from here,” said 107, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

“I’m getting popcorn and a pretzel,” said 114.

“Oh, I’m getting a snow cone and cotton candy, said 107, happily.  “What about you 903?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Let’s go,” said Rickie, and they started walking toward the noise.