Fade In, Fade Out

“Dobby are you okay? Kitty?”

Hearing Mom's voice Dobby slowly opens his eyes. Dobby looks up into Mom's face.

“Good. You scared me sweetie. What happened? It was like...a huge object just ran right over you.”

“I do feel like I've been hit by a freight train.”

“It looks like it too Dobby.”

“Thanks. Mom it's always good to know you are there with supportive things to say.”

“I'm here for you always but I'm not going to sugarcoat a pile of crap just so you'll better about stepping in it.”

Dobby hears sniffing behind him. Turning his head he sees Furnatche's face peering over the back of Mom's chair. The dragon is sniffing the air in the den closely. Dobby decides he must be looking for the pile of crap Mom was referring to. Furnatche sees Dobby glaring at him, stops sniffing and lowers his head. All that is visible are his eyes. The dragon blinks once and fades away.

“Dobby! Aren't you listening to me? What are you looking at anyway?” Mom turns her head to look at the chair behind her. Reaching for the back of the chair she spins it around. The seat is empty.

“See kitty. There is nothing in here with us.” Mom gets up and sits down in her chair. Sitting down on Dobby's paw. “Dobby! Wait until I sit down before you climb into the chair. Did you want to sit with me.” Mom gets a puzzled look on her face. “You're sick aren't you? Come on up. Sit with Mom.” Mom pats her lap in invitation.

Looking up at Mom, the chair and her lap; Dobby decides it has been a crazy day and a warm lap might be just the thing. Jumping up in Mom's lap Dobby purrs as she scratches his ear for him, rubbing his head against her face. Making himself comfortable, Dobby takes one last look at the table Mom's computer, notes, etc...are on before closing his eyes for a rest. Furnatche is sitting on the table in front of the computer monitor. Mom can't see Furnatche until she starts thinking about him again. Mom just types away like nothing is happening at all.

Furnatche on the other hand is sticking his head in Mom's coffee mug as she types. The dragon samples the concoction. Furnatche's eyes grow to twice their size. The dragon spits the coffee back out with such force he flies off the table and lands on the blanket chest two feet away. Dobby watches closely as Furnatche shakes his head for a minute then takes off across the den running straight for the basement.

Dobby makes a mental note: When you need to get a dragon to leave the room just offer him some coffee. Closing his eyes Dobby takes a well earned nap.

 **A little more cheese too**

Kevin made his way through the crowded backyard surprised at how many people were braving the stickiness and the heat for a simple bar-b-q. It took quite some time to find Beau, longer to work his way through the crowds. Kevin made sure to stop and say “Hello” to people he recognized. Recognizable people were safety rafts he could rest at between meeting all the people introducing themselves to him. Apparently many of his new neighbors were still curious about him.

Hannah's friends watched Kevin very closely waiting for their turn to introduce themselves. Kevin knew he would never get by the group without speaking with the ladies first. Being introduced to the “cougars”, as Hannah called them, and moving on his way after only twenty minutes was quite an accomplishment. Kevin found himself no worse for the wear there was one lingering arm caress and two butt pinches. He was pretty sure one of those pinches would be bruising... soon.

Kevin finally made it over to Beau who was standing next to a pretty woman he had seen around town.

“Hey there, City Boy. I see you survived the Cougar's Den. How many pinches?”

“Two.”

“Is that all? Six for me.” Beau announced. “You'd think those women would find men less attractive if they cleaned their scraped knees and wiped their runny noses 20 or so years before. Not that group.”

“I have to admit those ladies have spunk.” Kevin said.

“If a woman has to get older doesn't she have a right to be more outgoing? Those “cougars” have already been loving wives, caring mothers and now grandmothers. They've earned it.”

“In that case, I shall move my bruised ass with pride until it fades from my posterior.”