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  "Oh, damn." Michael’s face turned red, and he clenched his fists. "I'm so worried about Mira, I don't even have a clue about the problem with Brandon. He can't disappear again. He just can't!"

  "Honey, you're overwrought with all this stress. You leave Brandon to me. He'll be fine." Mrs. Ross patted Michael's arm and stroked his head as she used to do when he was a child.

  "Are you sure, Mom?"

  "I'm sure," said Mrs. Ross. "You just concentrate on poor Mira."

  Michael knew not to question his mother when she was like this, and he had utmost faith in her. Still, how in the world had a three-year-old managed full-body travel to the other world? Was someone trying to take him? He banished that thought from his mind. He must trust in his mother. She always knew more than she let on, but he never pressed her about it. Somehow, when the High Five Gang was younger, she had always known what they needed and when, or she had shown up at just the right time.

  However, he was left wondering if the exercises this afternoon in the other world had somehow caused that moment of translucence. Well, he might never know, and now he had to take a shower, spend some time with the kids, and get ready for the meeting.

  ***

  Exactly three hours later, Trina showed up with Lu, Zac, and Onie in tow.

  "How are the kids?" asked Michael, trying to care but asking more to be polite.

  "Curious as to what we're doing," answered Onie, "but good."

  "Mine too," said Michael.

  Just then, the doorbell rang, and Jonathan tumbled in.

  "Did Mom make sandwiches?" Jonathan pointed to his stomach and wore a pained expression on his face as if he hadn’t eaten for days.

  "Do you really have to ask?" answered Michael. "They're in the office. Head on in. I'll wait for Ed."

  "Oh, I'll wait with you, here," said Jonathan, feigning nonchalance.

  "Well, you don't have to ask me twice," said Zac, already inside and halfway into a mouthful.

  After Zac went in, Jonathan quietly closed the office door, leaving himself and Michael in the hallway to await Ed.

  Trina looked up from inside the study. "Uh oh," she said. "Brother talk."

  Michael looked at his brother, eyebrows cocked. It wasn't like Jonathan to change the plan without telling him, and now he had no idea what he was up to.

  "I want to tell you what's happening," said Jonathan, but just then, the doorbell rang.

  Michael went to open it.

  "Wait—" shouted Jonathan, but it was too late.

  In sauntered Stu.

  Michael turned and looked at his brother and instantly knew what had happened. "I'll never trust you again."

  He shook his head with resignation. Walking into the office, Michael sat down in the chair at the ancient roll-top desk that had been in his family for generations. The others saw the expression on his face, and silence filled the room. Levity turned to apprehension.

  Lu broke the silence. "What's wrong, Michael."

  Michael just gestured toward the outer room with a stormy look on his face.

  Jonathan walked in followed by Stu.

  "Stu!" Trina exclaimed. His mere presence brought her to her feet.

  "Before everyone has a cow," said Jonathan, looking at Michael and Trina, "let us explain."

  "What is there to explain?" argued Michael. "You changed the plan without telling anyone, you brought in an outsider—one which you knew I don't trust by the way—and now we're stuck."

  Jonathan answered tersely, "Hey! This isn't just about you and your ego. Let me explain."

  "Hey, nice to be here, too," said Stu, trying to keep it light.

  "Where's Ed?" asked Zac. Onie elbowed him in the ribs.

  It was true though, thought Michael. Half the group knew what was going on, and half didn't. The ones who had kept up on their studies knew Stu had masked himself as Ed. The others were still wondering why Stu was even here and why Ed hadn't shown up yet.

  Jonathan quickly explained the mechanics of masking to the group and sorted the confusion out so he could get to the important part. "Michael, nothing against you, but I went to Stu as soon as I realized this was affecting the real world. This is not a situation for our 'gang' to just play around with. As serious as Mira and Brandon's predicaments are, I’m sure we can solve them. But if we screw something up in the real world, we are going to be in too deep. That's why I brought in Stu. I know some of you don't trust him. I know he can be arrogant and—"

  "Hey!" said Stu.

  Jonathan ignored him. "—full of himself at times, but Stu and I have become good friends over the past few years and I would trust him with my life—and have—on several occasions. I am asking you to give him the benefit of the doubt for me. I know him, and he wants to help."

  The group looked at each other. What could be said after that speech?

  "Okay, have it your way. What's next? We don't really have any choice now anyway." Michael turned away. His words didn’t match his body language.

  "Yeah," said Trina. "I understand what we're doing, but I don't understand how it's going to solve the problem."

  "Not to mention what happened to Brandon," said Lu.

  As if on cue, Mrs. Ross knocked on the study door and had Brandon in her arms. "Brandon wants to say goodnight."

  Seeing Brandon brought the reality of what the gang was trying to do back to the entire group. Michael felt chagrined. He picked up Brandon and kissed him goodnight, then handed him back to his mother.

  "No," said his mother, "Brandon wants to say goodnight to all of you." She held him out going around the circle one by one.

  Brandon pushed his baby hand out and touched each person on the face saying, "Goodnight!"

  When he got to Stu, he said, "Goodnight Stu!"

  Michael and Jonathan exchanged glances.

  When Mrs. Ross was done, she left the gang with a "You kids behave," and closed the door to the study again.

  Properly chastised, the gang, including Stu, began to relax.

  Trina sprawled across the loveseat. Lu sat on the arm.

  "Sandwich anyone?" offered Zac, who was sitting on the floor, face level with the coffee table full of sandwiches. Stu looked at Michael who nodded. Stu took a sandwich.

  "When we're done tonight, which shouldn't be long as we all need some sleep before this next undertaking, Stu, can you stay behind a minute? Michael and I need to talk to you," said Jonathan.

  "Sure," said Stu, "as long as this doesn’t come to blows."

  "Ever start feeling like a sidekick?" quipped Zac to no one in particular.

  "That's not true," said Michael. "Everyone here is invaluable."

  "Now, tonight at the McArthur house in the astral," Jonathan continued, "I think it best that we keep it short and sweet. Don't try to do anything fancy. Let's just meet then go home. That will be interesting enough for Mira, and then we can plan the next step."

  "What if something unexpected happens?" asked Lu.

  "And remember," said Michael, almost at the same time. "If something happens, go to the hayfields behind Mira's home 'there,' and we'll find you. And everyone," he pleaded, "keep Mira in your thoughts."

  After a few more logistics and sandwiches, everyone admitted they were bushed, and the rest of the High Five Gang left for home. Stu, Michael, and Jonathan were abandoned in the study. Michael got right to the point.

  "How did Brandon know your name, Stu? He's never met you." Michael saw that Jonathan looked interested in the answer. He obviously had no clue either.

  Stu looked at Jonathan, then Michael. "If I tell you everything, you can't get upset. Everything I've done has been correct."

  Michael looked down. Jonathan said, "Just tell us. We have to all be on the same page to move forward."

  "For someone who brought in 'Ed' I find that amusing." Michael glared at Jonathan.

  Jonathan responded, "Michael! Move forward. We are all on the same team!"

  "Sorry," said Michael, feeling only slightly
like a curmudgeon.

  "Well," said Stu, his face red, "I'm sorry to have been part of such turmoil, but while everyone has been off living their lives, I kept up my studies of traveling and the laws and rules of the astral realm. It's really all I've ever wanted to do."

  "Hence no girlfriend," joked Jonathan.

  Almost succeeded in lightening the mood, thought Stu.

  Michael grabbed a sandwich off the platter. It was going to be a long night.

  "So, I kinda know when things get disrupted sometimes. It's like a day with a normal breeze against your skin, and then one day, the wind picks up with too much force. I don't know really how to describe it." Stu looked down, embarrassed. "It's kind of a 'feel' thing."

  However, Michael did understand; he had his own experiences. And the Stu he remembered would have been more articulate. This whole thing wasn't usual, though. "No, I kind of know what you mean, Stu." Stu looked up. This was the first time Michael had addressed him as an equal.

  "I feel Mira at times in my heart area. I get impressions of what's happening, good or bad, so I guess if you expanded that and practiced you could probably sense a larger area."

  "Exactly! You guys already understand more than I thought you would. Anyway," Stu continued, "I perceived Brandon one day. I didn't know him but maybe because I know Jonathan and you…I don't know, I just recognized that something 'moved,' and it seemed that something was 'off' in the other world. So I went there to investigate."

  "What did you find?" said Jonathan, interested to know where Brandon had gone.

  "Brandon, who I didn't know at the time was Michael's son, was flying through the air like he was being propelled, minus one shoe. I could see how young he was, and I could tell he wasn't of that realm, but I couldn't figure out how he could look so real."

  "Now we know," said Michael, through a mouthful of peanut-butter. "He looked real because he took his whole self, there—"

  "—which we didn't even know was possible," continued Jonathan.

  "My guess is that Mira ended up completely there because of something to do with Brandon, but I don't know exactly what or how, or why she seems to have forgotten her real life," finished Stu.

  "Makes sense, at least as a hypothesis," said Michael. "But that still doesn't explain Brandon knowing your name."

  "Right," said Stu. "It's like this: I attached a piece of my energetic self to both Brandon and Mira when I saw them each out of control flying into the other world. It's called witnessing. You don't interfere, but I was keeping tabs in case of trouble. Brandon, as it happened, came closer to me and looked at me, kind of like kids look at an interesting rock."

  "Oh my God." Tears sprang up in Michael's eyes. He reached out a hand to stop them then stood up to pace by the fireplace. "When I think of what could have happened to them…"

  "Michael," said Jonathan softly, "don't torture yourself. They are ok at this moment, and we're all working to make sure they stay that way."

  "I know," said Michael, and for the first time his face relaxed just a bit. He realized that their safety might have partially had to do with Stu's interference. He sighed.

  "Stu, I'm so sorry," said Michael and held out his hand.

  Stu shook it instantly, though with the feeling that this would not be the last time the two butted heads. He pushed the feeling away . "So anyway," Stu continued, "Brandon looked at me so awake and intelligent, I introduced myself. He wasn't scared at all—which may I remind you both, can be a good or bad thing in the other world."

  "You know, Mira was a prodigy when she was young," mused Jonathan.

  "What did Brandon do when you introduced yourself?" asked Michael.

  "He just repeated what I said, just like you saw him earlier tonight. He said 'Stu' and then went on his way. But by then, I wasn't as worried because part of me was with him so I knew I could keep him out of any real trouble. As it was, I felt him go back to the real world a few hours later."

  "When he showed up in the living room wanting Cheerios," said Michael.

  "Hunger," said Jonathan. "He had a deep understanding on some level of where he needed to be for real food. Amazing." Jonathan couldn't fathom it. He got up and paced as well. The study looked like a doctor's waiting room.

  "Yes," said Stu, "but we can't count on the instincts of a three-year-old. Nor can we count on Mira in her confused state, so our next move better be good."

  "Well," said Jonathan, "we have to stick with the plan tonight. Mira is expecting it. Let's see if we can even get that far."

  "Agreed." said the other two.

  "Mind if I have another sandwich for the road?" asked Stu.

  "Take the rest," said Jonathan, who knew Stu fended for himself and usually had an empty refrigerator.

  Stu grabbed the rest of the bundle, and the trio disbanded to ready themselves for 2:00 a.m. As tired as he was, Michael forced himself to record the events in the old High Five Gang Adventure Book. He and Mira had been keeping this record of events since they started the High Five Gang—before they were even married. The record made sure that all travels were recorded for posterity, rules written down to prevent disagreements, and all skill lessons permanently preserved so they would not be forgotten. Someday Michael and Mira planned to pass it to one of their children, but only if any of them showed signs of travel and serious study in their blood. Otherwise, the book could be dangerous. Michael finished the entry and shoved the book under the bed. After one longing look at the empty side of the bed, he was asleep in an instant.

  Chapter Seven

  The McArthur House in the Other World

  Michael hadn’t yet shown, and the group kept busy while waiting for him. Mira and Ed arrived first, almost at the same time, but not quite. Jonathan was next and he nodded to Ed, while making small talk with Mira. He was pleased to note Mira’s concern with whether Michael was coming or not. He would have to remember to tell Michael that later.

  Lu and Trina had arrived with food. This time it was fruit, crackers, and small cakes. Zac broke into a grin and gave Lu a hug when he saw the food. "What about me?" Trina had teased.

  "Everyone knows Lu does the cooking," Zac had said. "Besides, you scare me. I might get a karate chop back."

  "Well, you're right, there," Onie had said, giggling.

  Ed had helped himself to the crackers. Jonathan and Onie went around the house to make sure it looked both natural and lived in. In the haste of making the house the other night, some of the insides simply faded away. They made sure Mira stayed in the main living room where everyone was while they fixed the 'errors.'

  Michael was the last to appear at the astral McArthur house. Jonathan quickly whispered, "Remember, you look and are twelve now."

  "Thanks," said Michael. "Sorry, I’m late" he said to the group. "I fell asleep and my wi—" he cut himself short, "...my alarm usually works better."

  By the time Michael arrived, the group sat in a circle, eating various goodies from Lu's basket, joking and at ease. Michael stayed toward the door, a little out of place. Mira noticed and as was her kind nature said, "Here, Michael, come sit by me. And try some of the crackers, they're delicious!"

  ***

  Butterflies actively did a dance in Michael's stomach when he sat next to Mira. Even though he and she were only twelve in this world, his heart warmed with love and excitement just as it did with his wife in the real world.

  When was this going to end? He was thrilled when Mira fed him some of the crackers by hand. He hoped she already had a crush on him. He hoped he wasn’t deluding himself.

  "I deem this experiment a hearty success!" exclaimed Zac, with his mouth full.

  "I agree," said Ed, looking at the group as if assessing whether all their parts were there. "Everyone made it to the right location. No one got lost. A good job all around."

  Mira was excited and looked to Ed. "So what would our next experiment be?" she asked.

  Michael bristled. "Well I think we all need to agree on that as a group."r />
  Jonathan nodded, backing him up.

  "Of course." said Mira, grinning. "I just get ahead of myself sometimes."

  Again, Michael's heart moved. He wanted to reach out and hug this young version of Mira, barely remembering he was only twelve, but he refrained and grabbed another cracker instead. "Thanks, Lu, for the snacks," he said, just to have something to say. And getting them all the way here. For these were real snacks from the real world. That took some doing. Apparently, everyone was learning fast now, out of necessity. He knew he could count on his friends.

  Trina started to say, "Well my suggestion is..."

  Without warning there was a small, "uh oh" from Ed that he quickly stymied.

  Toddling down the stairs straight to the middle of the circle was a very real looking three-year-old child. Michael rose to his feet, but Jonathan stopped him. "You're twelve!" he hissed into Michael's ear. Sure enough, Brandon didn't seem to recognize either Mira or Michael.

  Mira's reaction was strange. She looked at Brandon as if he were an alien, but an alien whom she knew something about, yet couldn't quite place. She tilted her neck. "Who is—"

  Mrs. Ross interrupted her, following so quickly behind Brandon, none of the group was sure exactly when she hadn't been there. "Oh, there you are, Brandon," she said in a sing-song voice.

  The group, except for Mira, just stared at her with fragile indecisiveness. It was Mrs. Ross all right, but it was Mrs. Ross from thirty years ago. She had dark hair tied back with a ribbon, a flowered blouse and jeans on with flats. Her face was devoid of wrinkles, and she was smiling as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening at all. She was always so stern and circumspect in real life, the group tried to hide looks of surprise at seeing a real smile on her face.

  The young Mrs. Ross continued. "I told Brandon that he needed to go to bed, but he heard the commotion down here and just had to see for himself, didn't you honey?" She put on a playful expression for Brandon.

  Zac's mouth hung open. Luckily, Mira was looking at Mrs. Ross, so she didn't notice that half the gang's eyes were popping out.