Field Trip is (c) copywrite of V. L. Fox and Leah Turner Field Trip By V. L. Fox Tiana grabbed her clipboard as she rushed past the front desk and headed out to the garden. According to the calculations, the portal had to be set up now even though it might not open for another few days. Using two poles, she suspended the silver rim of the portal between them, the edge just a few inches above ground. She ran all the position checks, locking the portal to the area inside the ring. Tiana also opened a random universe window and tested the portal by activating it. At this stage she could see the world where she was going but no one would see her or the portal. The other side was strange to Tiana’s eyes, yet at the same time similar. There was a garden, but the plants looked more choppy and dry than what she was used too and she didn’t see any coral. The world was dark, though that just might mean it was nighttime. Tiana closed the portal and checked the lock again before removing the poles, leaving the ring hanging in mid-air. She headed toward the house, jotting down the frequency number for reference. Now to finish filling out paperwork and leave her guardians a note in case the portal should open early… Tiana wandered back into the house, signing the last of the paperwork, her thoughts straying to this week’s note to her folks. As always, she would miss them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A multi-spray nozzle for the hose in one hand and a spade in the other, Cassia stepped out the front door, breathing in the fresh morning air. “What a beautiful morning.” The sun had just come up, warming her tan skin as she headed outside to check the garlic. The front garden had no fence to protect Cassia against the pack of bullies from the high school across the street. Fortunately they usually came out after noon, when it was too hot to work in the garden. It didn’t matter; once Cassia started really gardening her brain had a way of shutting out all the names they had for homeschoolers. She grinned at the thought of them yelling their heads off in vain. She knelt to pull up the smallest garlic plant, dusting the soil off. The cloves were coming along nicely; in a few weeks they would be ready to harvest. Suddenly a dirt clod hit her in the back of the head; she just sighed, rolling her eyes. “Why do they get up early on the perfect days?” Cassia whispered to herself, staring blankly at them. They ran their ‘humiliation route’ on their bikes and she hoped they were just passing through. “You had better listen when I talk, earth-worm. All you homeschoolers are retarded or you’d go to school like everyone else.” Jimmy, the alpha of the pack. He said he was a junior, but to Cassia’s eyes he seemed a former drill sergeant. The rest of the pack wasn’t much better. She might like a few of them, if they didn’t act like jerks. Right now they left, shouting, “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” as they rode off to their next stop. Sometimes Cassia wished she had the guts to stand up to them. ‘I don’t even have enough guts to make a friend,’ she thought. She sighed again and went to water her sprouts. Young plants need a certain amount of water; too much and they drown, too little and they dry up. The best way to water sprouts is to mist them in the evening or morning. This is what Cassia was doing when she discovered the light of the rising sun made a rainbow out of the mist. She played with the nozzle and found the right angle that the rainbow formed a perfect circle. So she wouldn’t change her mind Cassia quickly grabbed a forked stick to prop the spraying nozzle upright and stepped through the circle. She was just fooling around and didn’t expect anything to happen, certainly not the events that followed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The alarm blared in Tiana’s ear, causing her head to go smacking against the top bunk as she awoke. She whistled under her breath unhappily and rolled out of the tripple bed she shared with her siblings. The alarm still sang in her ear and she touched a spot behind her earflap to quiet the annoying sound meant for only her. Tiana hadn’t expected to be woken until later… preferably after breakfast. She had no choice but to rush outside to the garden. The portal was activated, but she didn’t see what had turned it on. All she saw inside the threshold was a veil of multiple colors. Nothing like this was in the handbooks. Tiana ran a few checks to make sure the portal was working right. As she looked back up she saw a strange creature in the portal. Light brown in with black hair atop its head , the creature was wearing a heavy fabric. Its earflaps were a lot smaller than Tiana’s and she didn’t see the gills or scales she was used to. Tiana groaned; another trip to a world ruled by mammals, odd how these didn’t have fur all over… ‘Too bad we won’t remember meeting each other this time’, Tiana thought, ‘I’m sure both of us would have tons of questions.’ Tiana checked the estimated time of the next window and stepped through. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When Cassia stepped out of the circle everything seemed in place. There was still the garden and house in front of her, and a building across the street. Things just looked different. Cassia’s plants were missing, replaced by plants that resembled oddly colored cabbages, soft corals, anemones. All of them looked like they would happier under water instead of on land. Where her backyard tree should be a coral sculpture of the same size stood. The house was squat, not what she remembered. Cassia couldn’t see any windows or doors, and it was a shiny purple-blue. The larger building across the street was of the same design but had a pearl-pink hue. Then she saw the fish with dolphin heads and feathered wings flying toward her. Cassia put her hand out for protection, but was distracted by a good look at her ‘hand’. It was covered in fish scales, webbing stretching between her fingers. She ran her hand through the air, but it felt like it was going through water instead. Maybe it was and that’s why the plants, buildings, and animals looked at home. Cassia gazed up at the wrinkled, shimmering sky in wonder. Did that mean that she could swim up above and find air? Where was she? Cassia turned as she heard a slurp just in time to see the circle collapse. In shock she stared at the empty metal ring. She couldn’t possibly be stuck in this alien world and body… Cassia jumped around as she felt a tap on her shoulder. A creature with round eyes, scaled skin, and no hair was standing beside her, light cloth billowing around him. “Tiana, I’m glad I didn’t miss you! Do you have any idea where you’re going?” “Who are you?” “She already left didn’t she? Come into the house then. Matriarch will want to see you.” Simple as that he turned and floated toward the house. “You didn’t answer my question,” Cassia said, still trying to get used to moving around as she followed. “Who are you?” “Matriarch will answer any questions you have. The simple truth is..” He looked around and lowered his voice. “ I’m not allowed to talk too much.” “I see,” Cassia stared at the pair of gills on his neck. They went to the front of the house where the fish boy pushed a tiny knob. What Cassia thought was a solid wall parted like a secret door. The fish boy led her through the airlock and inside where Cassia recognized her living room should be. Some fish people were in the room, but barely noticed the two. The room was an ellipse shape rather than a rectangle, soft gray-blue coloring added to the look. Cassia jumped, startled by the sound of the airlock closing behind them. “Matriarch?” fish-boy called. “In the control room.” Cassia followed the boy to a room that had dozens of screens set up. Some had calculations on them and a few had different time-lines. The largest screen showed a map, though Cassia didn’t understand where all the places were. Tapping away at the computers were dozens of fish people varying in sizes, some with wider ears and all sizes of fish tails. The one with the largest tail was checking the work of the others and monitoring the scheduled arrivals. Of what Cassia didn’t yet guess. “Tiana?” it asked, looking up from its work. Before Cassia could say anything the fish-boy said, “Tiana already left.” The fish person turned fully around to stare at Cassia, making her a bit uncomfortable. “Well then… Welcome to Drea!” Cassia still thought it all a dream, but she did have questions. “Who are you? How did I get here? Where am I?” “I’m Matriarch. You’re in the Wara quadrant of the planet Drea.” The fish woman grabbed what looked suspiciously like a tourist brochure and handed it to Cassia. “The info is all here. Basically my daughter switched bodies with you when both of you passed through the portal, part of the interstellar multi dimensional exploration project our family heads.” The fish person puffed with pride. Literally, must have added several inches to her waistline…. “It was her 20th jump. Quite an accomplishment for one so young.” The way she said it made everything all seem so rational, so normal. Cassia took a deep breath. “So what you’re telling me is that I’m in a different galaxy, in the body I switched with your daughter?” “Yes.” “And how is this normal?!” Cassia looked at her now webbed hands. “ I have to be dreaming… yes, it’s all a dream. I’ll wake up soon and go out and check the garlic...” “It’s not a dream,” the fish-boy said. Matriarch just shook her head. “Why do they always do this? Tell you what, small fry. You just read the info a few times and come back if you have questions. All right?” Cassia nodded, still trying to believe it was all a dream. She didn’t even notice when the fish-boy led her to a different room and sat her at a gel couch. The only difference between the brochure and what the fish woman had told her was the pamphlet gave dates and names of people who invented the portal. It was hard to believe, but after making sure she was awake, Cassia had only one question. Cassia wandered back into the control room, no one looking up as she came in. “Any questions?” “This is all interesting… but can I go home now?” “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. The next window isn’t calculated to open for another day, or even a week if you miss that one.” Matriarch turned back to the screens. “I can’t stay here a week. My parents will see I’m gone.” “No they won’t, you two switched bodies. To them you’re still there.” “Your daughter isn’t me,” Cassia argued. “Oh, not to worry. She’ll blend in and act just like you would.” “How would she do that?” “Ask your friends or read your personal notebook.” “Personal notebook? You mean diary? One problem,” Cassia said. “I don’t have either.” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tiana stepped out of the portal and blinked at how bright the world seemed. Through the portal it had looked dark as night, probably due to her different eyes. She looked around, noticing how similar this world was to hers. The positions of buildings and plants were just creepily familar. She took in a deep breath. What was she breathing? Whatever it was felt fine, if a bit thin. Tiana walked up to the bulky house, wondering how to get in. She couldn’t see a doorway, though from experience she knew they came in all shapes and sizes. She had just about decided that she couldn’t get in when a large mammal came outside. This one was a lot larger than the first but the resemblance was striking. Same black hair and tan furless skin. A parent maybe? The adult mammal saw her and called out, “Cassia!” Tiana swore under her breath. It didn’t happen often, but sometimes she got caught before finding a personal notebook of whoever she switched with. What was unusual this time was someone calling after her. The adult came closer and Tiana’s thoughts raced. Maybe it was the heat of the day. Maybe it was the sudden shock to the alien body she was in. Or maybe it was the stress of having to think quickly so soon after the portal jump. Whatever the case, Tiana blacked out. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Matriarch stared at Cassia in disbelief. “No notebook and no friends?” No one had ever run into a problem like this before. “Geriard! Where are you?” “Yes Matriarch?” Matriarch scribbled on her notepad and handed it to the boy. “Take this to patriarch, quickly.” Geriard took one look at the writing, his jaw dropping in shock before rushing away. Cassia stared after him. “What was that all about?” Matriarch shook her head. “This is an emergency… it’s highly unlikely that Tiana could find anything of your culture when she can’t blend in. She might be found out and that could be a disaster…” “Why?” Matriarch blinked, coming out of her daze. “I’m sorry but I can’t tell you that. From now on I’ll do the questioning.” She started out of the room as a far off voice bellowed. “Emergency Family meeting! Exploration members only!” Cassia ran after the fish woman to keep up. “Okay.. but..” “What?” Matriarch slowed impatiently. “When will I get to go back home?” “As soon as possible… We don’t want to get the word out. You just try to blend in with us and don’t mention that you’re not Tiana.” The fish woman slipped into a room, a dozen or more fish people following. Cassia nodded, though she didn’t understand why they were doing this. Part of her still wanted to believe it all a dream even as she slipped into the room after a tall fish person. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tiana woke in an unfamiliar room, lying on what she guessed was a bed. All was quiet, so unlike her home where a few of her family members would be talking all day. She sat up in bed feeling dizzy. Next to the bed was a cylinder container filled with something clear. Tiana followed the instinct to drink it then looked at the glass… was that… water? She had forgotten what it was like to drink instead of sometimes breathing the liquid. She looked around the square room; so much unlike the rounded rooms at home that Tiana wanted to scream. In one corner sat a machine reminding her of computers in the home control room, except for the fact it was block shaped rather than ellipse. At least the bookcase in another corner was one thing Tiana expected to be cubed. What she didn’t expect were the size of the books. No small youngling could read any of them within a month! Did people here read from books instead of the interconnected library hers used? How would she find the notebook in all of that? Tiana reluctantly got up to look through the books. The notebook had to be here somewhere. The adults don’t give out a field trip for nothing, do they? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cassia felt like an outsider through most of the ‘family’ meeting. Family? They must have the whole clan in this room, which was part of a large basement, fish people of all sizes crammed in. One end was slightly raised, where the fish-people who were doing most of the talking stood. From what Cassia understood, they knew that one of their youngest explorers was stuck in a world where there was no personal notebook and might be discovered as a spy. Everyone started talking at once, “How could this have happened?” “And to a junior explorer too?” “How are we going to learn about that world without the notebook?” Cassia guessed they were talking about whoever she had switched bodies with. A sharp whistle brought everyone to silence as Matriarch spoke, trying to calm the crowd. Cassia was pulled out of the room before she could hear what would happen next. She could still hear the loud arguing as Geriard led her up the stairs. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tiana sighed in frustration as she leafed through the last book on the shelf. Three hundred and forty two books and none of them had any personal handwriting! Tiana tossed the three hundred and forty third on the pile in the middle of the room and stared at the empty bookshelves. She stood up suddenly as she understood. “If it’s hidden then of course it wouldn’t be on the shelf, Tiana!” She looked back at the pile of books. Should she put them back before looking elsewhere? It would be suspicious if all of them were on the floor and she was rooting around for more. Tiana sigh and started to put the books back. She sorted out the ones that might have information on this world’s history and stacked them neatly on the nearby desk. She finished only one bookcase before there was a knocking at the door, a male voice coming through. “Cassia? Are you awake?” Tiana dropped the books and went over to the door, determined to keep it closed. “Um… yes... ” The mammal tried opening the door, but didn’t get far with Tiana’s body weight against it. “I was just coming to say your class show is on. I have a tape set up, but if you want to get ahead you have to start watching them live… I’ll leave you alone now, I know you’re tired. Just thought you’d like to know.” Tiana had no idea what the mammal was talking about, but was glad she didn’t have to answer, his footsteps tapering off down the hall. Tiana started wondering if those ‘shows’ would help her learn more about this world. She went back to putting the books away and decided to check into it later, sure that notebook was still somewhere in the room. No matter how long it took she would find it. Besides, she knew the days here were shorter than on her world. She patiently searched again. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The room Cassia was taken to was up one level from the ‘ground floor’. In the room were bunk beds that looked alive and glowed a shiny blue-purple. The only thing odder than their color was they could sleep three on one set of bunks. There were a dozen or more fish people her age waiting in the room. After introductions, Cassia going by ‘guest’, the group heading out of the building for the day. The group showed her how to swim up above the buildings and trees, the sights from that height incredible. As curious as she was about seeing if there was air above the water she kept automatically dropping when she was about twice as high as the tallest coral-tree. The group continued on and soon they were at the preserve, but Cassia thought of it as a zoo. The preserve had strange mixes of familiar animals, most having scales and fins. As the group showed Cassia around they asked her about the world she came from. That she was seeing their world’s animals easily gave them a lot to talk about. By the time they had finished with the zoo the group had a good idea of what her world looked like and still asked more. Cassia wasn’t bothered and actually enjoyed talking to everyone, who in turn answered her own questions. Cassia learned that the clans on Drea were in a race with each other to find and catalogue as many worlds as possible. Each new world was put in a central database and whichever clan had found it first got the recognition. The most popular mode of exploring was the portal, but there were many other ways. Even though the technology wasn’t perfect, they could find out all they needed to put a world on the register through the portal. Later other clan members would go back and fill in the blanks. To Cassia’s surprise Tiana wasn’t the first to visit her world. No matter how many questions she asked they wouldn’t tell her who the other visitor was or what happened to them. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Tiana still hadn’t found the notebook, but did find interesting books on the world’s history, customs and cultures. She was surprised to find there were a lot more cultures here than climates; much more than on Drea. She committed every amazing thing she read to memory, to be pulled out later by the mind reading computer back home. It was dark outside by the time Tiana had finished reading the first of the books. Something was still missing in her search… she hadn’t found this mammal’s friends yet. With the search for this world’s information going so well and stumbling onto the treasure trove of books she was beginning to wonder if she should even bother looking, even if it was in the protocol. She seemed to be blending in all right, the adult mammals hadn’t bothered her much after the first encounter letting her ‘continue studying’. She wanted to see how true these books were though. Time to find someone to compare information with. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * By the end of the day Cassia had talked with dozens of young fish-people in a closer way than she had spoken to anyone her age in a long time. The last time she ever remembered talking this much was just before her first ‘best friend’ had started to avoid her just because her family was moving away. Nothing worse than seeing your ‘best friend’ say she had another best friend. Since that time she didn’t even try to make friends in her neighborhood. Why bother, with people moving all the time? Not to mention the ongoing rumor that she and her parents weren’t staying for very long; even though it had been over a year so far. With these people it didn’t matter that she was going to go back the next day, they were friends anyway. Cassia started to wonder weather she really needed to go back. Everyone assumed the explorer was lost, so why not? When the group came ‘home’ at the end of the day she tried catching Geriard to talk with him about it. “Geriard!” If Cassia didn’t know better she’d think he was avoiding her, twisting and turning in the crowded halls after he had slipped out of the bunk room. Cassia was out of breath by the time she caught up with him. “What do you need, guest?” he said, finally facing her. “I was wondering exactly when your people would send me back home.” “Tomorrow morning at last calculation. I thought you knew?” “Yes, but I was wondering if it could be delayed or...” Geriard interrupted before she could say ‘cancelled’. “Delayed? No way! It’s been delayed enough as it is. To Tiana it must be about 3 days now.” Not wanting to get herself into deeper trouble, she nodded and lied through her teeth, or gills actually. “Ok. I’m more than ready to go.” Before she could even thank him Geriard ran off on some errand, leaving Cassia to find her way back to the bunk room on her own. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * After the third day of the portal not opening Tiana decided the time difference was more than she estimated. She still hadn’t found friends of the mammal girl, but kept looking. She didn’t mind much, the books and ‘classes’ were giving her a wealth of info and she worked in the garden all by herself. Ah, peace and quiet. No younger sibling to fight over the spade or accidentally pull up a flower instead of a weed. She had gone to a ‘library’ and helpful people there had confirmed much of the information she had read as being accurate, they even helped her find more! Tiana checked her watch as she rounded the corner to the house. She had to be in the garden at the same time everyday, there was no telling when the portal would open. Noticing she’d be late if she kept walking she jogged, re-checking her watch often. She was running by the time the garden was just within sight and Tiana heard someone yelling. “Cassia, wait up!” Behind her she saw a young mammal that could be one of her brothers if he was a fish-person. Tiana looked at her watch, she needed to get back ‘home’ before the portal opened in less than ten earth minutes. She didn’t have time to talk and ignored the boy’s yelling. She heard his footsteps near her, matching her pace. “Are you deaf?” “No, I can hear you. I can’t stop to talk.” “You’re talking right now. Which is more than I can say for the past year we’ve been neighbors.” “What?” “I’ve lived next to you for over a year and you’ve barely said three words to me. You avoid everyone.” “There’s more like you around?” Tiana kept going as he talked. “Yes, and I’m not talking about the bullies either. Everyone else thinks you’re stuck up, but I think you’re just shy.” Tiana stopped in her tracks. Could what this boy is saying be true? Did Cassia have opportunities to make friends but just didn’t? “You mean… because I was too shy I haven’t made friends?” “Duh. You really should break out of your shell. Just give us a chance. ” Tiana thought quickly. She didn’t need to stay and get info from him, but maybe she could help out Cassia. “Tell you what... come over tomorrow and we’ll talk.” He looked stunned at this proposition. Cassia had never talked to him, let alone invited him over. “Uh.. sure. What time?” Tiana glanced at her watch again, antsy to get going before she missed the portal. “Any time is good. But I really have to go now.” “Why?” For a few seconds Tiana considered telling him everything but decided against it. If he followed her and found out it wouldn’t be her fault. “I just do. My um… beans are on a tight watering schedule...” Tiana rushed off before he could ask more questions. She saw the portal forming as she ran through toward the garden. Tiana dug in her pockets and was glad this ‘Cassia’ always carried paper and pencils. It took her only the few seconds after reaching the portal to scribble a message and drop it just before jumping in. It was now or never, she was anxious to get back to her real home. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As Cassia crawled into the bunk to sleep she halfway considered escaping. Only a few problems presented themselves; where would she go? The only people she knew on this planet were all linked to this clan’s exploration teams. Why would anyone else want to help her? If she didn’t go back now, would she ever? She liked it here; people were friendly and she wasn’t afraid of them. If she could make friends with this group easily she decided she could do the same anywhere. In the middle of the night Cassia snuck outside. Her plan was to swim above the coral trees in the direction of the zoo and just keep on swimming. As she was about to take off a glint of light in the garden caught her eye. It wasn’t until she went closer that she realized it was a metal ring starting to glow. Suddenly she felt torn as she realized it was the portal. Here was the chance to go back home. The other chance was to swim away and forget it, exploring all that Drea had to offer. There was something this world didn’t have though... her parents. Cassia suddenly felt a wave of homesickness. This was the longest time she had ever been so far away from them. She found herself subconsciously walking toward the portal. As the portal opened wide in front of her she could hear an alarm blaring and started walking faster, not knowing if the whole building behind her would wake. She paused at the edge, looking longingly around at the world she would never explore. Her gaze went to the house just as the first fish person stepped out. She looked to the portal and saw herself staring back at her. With the homesickness at its peak her last step sucked her through the portal. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cassia and Tiana met face to face with their own images, the portal glowing around them. ‘Déjà vu’, thought Cassia before she remembered her anger. “Why did you take my body?” “I didn’t make you step into the portal.” The voice startled Cassia as it was her own. She looked down at herself and saw she was still a fish person. “How else would you get to my world? There was no one else around.” “If it wasn’t you it would have been someone else.” Tiana could see her reflection’s ears flare out, a sure sign she was angry, though the girl’s voice didn’t reflect it. “That still doesn’t explain how you got me in here a second time. I’d rather have explored Drea than go back home!” Tiana folded her human arms. “I don’t know why. Earth seems like a great place to me. Or is it just you don’t have friends? You have plenty of opportunities.” Cassia scoffed. “Where? The only people who talk to me are bullies! Besides, everyone on my block goes to school. So how would you know?” “I’ve visited your world long enough to learn about more than you, Cassia. There are a few kids like you in your neighborhood. There’s one right down the street that wants to talk to you.” Cassia couldn’t believe it. Had she really shielded herself so much that she didn’t know there were other home-schoolers near her? “It’s too late. You don’t know how badly I pushed everyone away.” Tiana smiled and nodded. “Believe me, I know. But one of them is coming tomorrow, so you have another chance.” “It’s not one of the bullies? Those guys are sneaky.” “No… I don’t think you’ve met this one. He’s not a bully, trust me.” “Wow.. I never knew there were others.” Cassia had guessed, but never really knew. “I still don’t know why you haven’t made friends when you’re so friendly.” “You’re family was a big help. The first time I came out my shell was when I saw the zoo.” “Really, you went to the zoo? What did you think?” “I wish I could have seen more animals, they were weird.” Tiana laughed. “And how do you think I felt about your planet?” Cassia joined in the laughter before changing the topic. “I hope you found enough info on Earth without my notebook.” “So you do have one? I couldn’t find it.” “No wonder... I don’t have one.” “I think I have enough from all your books.” “Oh good. I’m going to miss Drea. Say hi to Geriard for me,” said Cassia as the portal started to close. “We’d better do this quick. I left a note for you since your memories of this will be erased.” “How am I supposed to be nice whoever’s visiting if I don’t remember anything?” “Try. The note should help.” Tiana put out her hand. “Hurry, the portal is closing” Cassia didn’t have time to ask anything else as she took Tiana’s hand. Her hand. It felt different than she remembered, but then again she was in Tiana’s body and not her own. Cassia felt sick to her stomach, feeling herself pulled in all directions and almost inside out. At first she saw her face across from her, then Tiana’s scaled one, then a big black nothing. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cassia blinked into the setting sun, trying to get her bearings. She had thought it had been morning, but she did feel weird today. She looked around her, trying to remember what she was doing. The last thing she remembered was spraying the sprouts… they weren’t that tall before were they? They must have grown at least 4 inches since she last saw them. Maybe all that watering was finally catching up. There had never been many weeds in the garden before, but there was a thinned patch of them where her garlic should be. Cassia grumbled and started pulling. That was one thing about over watering. The beans grew, but so did the weeds. Cassia stopped as she saw a folded piece of paper near her and picked it up. A note? She opened it up… * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Back on Drea Tiana leaned back, pausing the writing of her guidebook entry for Earth. “Good luck on finding more friends, Cassia…” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cassia was re-reading the note when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” Cassia called as she ran down to answer the door. At first Cassia was shy, but Colby started them talking and Cassia invited him in. Up in Cassia’s room on her bed was a book opened to the first page. Across the top of the page a ‘Dear diary..’ was scrawled across it. And fluttering atop the page in the draft from the ceiling fan was a note that read: Cassia, As I’m writing you don’t know who I am. By the time you read this we will have met, but you won’t remember it. Even now I think I know you, though I never found your personal notebook in the time I was here. I know your loneliness and the wall around yourself causing it. Tomorrow a potential friend will visit because you invited them over. Just this once break out of your shell. I have no doubts that you can do it. Sometimes we have to take the chance to make our dreams real. - A far off friend