It was early evening. The family had been exploring the entire area of rocks, beach and everything in between. They had even explored the woods a bit, and Reginald and his children seemed to have some conversations with the forest, talks that Eric and Lily had to settle for imagining.

Now they were in front of thier cabin, barbecuing. Reggie was dressed for the occasion, with a chef's hat jammed over his head foilage and an apron borrowed from Herb Muddlefoot. He made a great show of turning the steaks and putting sauce on them.

"Reggie...those will be ready soon, right?" said Lily as she set plates out on the picnic table.

"Of course." said Bushroot. "And you guys thought I was just a botanist." He lifted a steak off with tongs and held it up. "Who's first?"

Eric and Lily helped themselves to a steak, then Reginald started cooking his as well as hamburgers for the kids. Some might have thought it strange to see Bushroot eating meats such as steak, but he enjoyed it as much as he ever had. Soon everything was ready, and the entire family sat down to eat.

"What are we doing tomorrow, Daddy?" asked Maggie between bites of hamburger.

"Whatever you like." replied Bushroot with a smile. "We're going to have lobster tomorrow for supper-a feast. Eric knows just where to go."

Eric smiled. "There's a lobster pound not far from here. You can see it from here, but it's too dark right now. We'll get some beauties."

They sat and listened to the waves rolling in and crashing on the distant rocks. Other than that, it was relatively quiet. Lights could been seen in the owner's house, but that was the only sign of human life other than thier own.

Forrest rubbed his eyes and Maggie yawned. "I think someone's had a busy day." said Lily with a smile and knowing wink. "Time for bed."

Lily picked her daughter up to carry her in, while Forrest gladly accepted a ride on his father's shoulders. "Be right out." called Reggie to Eric as they went in. "Okay." said Eric as he ate the last of his steak.

A few minutes later, Bushroot came back out. "Where's Lily?" asked Eric.

"Just helping them get ready for bed." replied Reginald. "Let's take a walk."

They walked across and down to the beach. Then they walked along the short stretch of beach, stepping carefully to avoid hitting large rocks in the dark. Finally the two men climbed up on a section of rocks and sat facing the dark ocean.

"I want to thank you again for suggesting this." said Bushroot. "I never knew how relaxing a vacation could be."

"Didn't you ever take trips?" asked Eric.

"Just in the summer, when I wasn't in school. We'd go on some trips with Dad. But the pace was so fast, we never had time to do anything. It wasn't like this at all. Then, in university and doing my work, I just didn't have time. And certainly not after my accident."

The wind blew gently in from the water. It gently ruffled the hair and foilage of the men sitting on the rock. Bushroot's finger found a small patch of lichen on the rock. Although he could feel it gently vibrating in response to his touch, he was unable to command it and knew it would be unable to obey him in any case. He smiled slightly. He wasn't in control of all plants. Oddly, the thought made him feel better. He really didn't care to be perfect.

* * *

Morning found Reginald snoring soundly in his bed. That is, until something hard and round slammed into his stomach.

"Ow!" He jumped up, to find a volleyball of all things beside him and Maggie climbing up on the bed.

"Magnolia!" called Lily from the kitchen. "I told you not to throw that ball in the cabin! Your father is sleeping."

"Or he was." said Bushroot, still half-asleep. "What is all this?"

"Will you play volleyball with us, Daddy? Uncle Eric wants to play."

Bushroot looked at the bedside clock. "It's only 11 o'clock, Passiflora. We haven't even eaten yet."

"Mommy, Forrest and I have. We didn't want to wake you."

"You didn't mention Eric. Hasn't he eaten?"

"He's still in bed."

"Then why did you say...never mind." Reginald climbed out of bed. "I've got to have something to eat before I play anything." He went out to the kitchen.

"Good morning, lazybones." said Lily as she started dishing up his meal. "I was about to throw your breakfast out." She placed the eggs, bacon, toast and orange juice in front of him.

Bushroot scratched his foilage. "When is Eric going to eat?" he asked, then yawned.

Lily shrugged. "Anytime he wants. He knows he can come over and help himself. But your son and daughter and wife don't want to spend the day in bed, mister." She kissed him on the cheek.

Reginald smiled and began eating. Lily went into the bedroom...and returned a few minutes later in a green, one-piece swimsuit.

Reggie's anthers sprang straight up in the air. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "When did you get that?"

"On one of my shopping trips. I wanted to save it for a special occasion." Reginald noticed that she had a towel and suntan lotion with her. "See you outside, Reggie!" With that, she disappeared out the front door, leaving Bushroot to finish his breakfast and wonder what the day's next surprise would be.

* * *

Eric heard the sound of children's laughter and Lily's voice through his dreams. He opened his eyes to see the brilliant sun shining through his cabin window.

"Oh, no..." He looked at his watch. Almost 20 past eleven! No doubt the Bushroots had already eaten and were wondering what had become of him. He jumped out of bed and hurriedly dressed, then ran outside.

Beside the owner's house, there was a fairly large area of grass. Eric saw Maggie and Forrest trying to set up a volleyball net with Lily's help. He raised his eyebrows at the sight of Lily's bathing suit, but quickly turned away. Reginald wasn't out yet. Eric went inside thier cabin.

There was Reginald, swallowing the last of his breakfast. "Hi." he said through a mouthful of eggs.

"Hi." said Eric as he poured himself some orange juice. "I hope you appreciate the brave oranges that gave themselves so you could have your Vitamin C." said Reggie with a smile.

"Here's to you." said Eric as he drank. It was a running joke between them...Bushroot often teased Eric when he saw him eating food made with plants. But it was only in fun, as Reginald realized that Eric only ate plant products, such as tomatoes and oranges.

"Did you sleep in, too?" asked Eric.

"Yep." replied Reggie. "Luckily Maggie was here with her volleyball to wake me up."

"Heh. I saw Lily's new outfit." said Eric.

"Just remember she's taken." said Bushroot, but jokingly.

"You'll have to do something to impress her."

Quoting himself, Bushroot said, "Well, I'm going shopping. I can buy bathing suits too."

Then they heard the voices of the kids calling. "Daddy! Uncle Eric! Come and play!"

"Shall we go?" Bushroot made an "after you" gesture towards the door.

"By all means." They left the cabin.

The net was set up, and the kids were tossing the infamous volleyball around. Reginald noticed Lily spreading a blanket on one of the largest rocks.

"Lil!" he called. "Aren't you playing?"

"I'm going to get a tan." said Lily. "Besides, it wouldn't be fair. The teams wouldn't be even." She smiled and began spreading suntan lotion on her arms.

"Okay." said Reggie. "What are the teams?"

Eric had an idea. He went back inside the Bushroot's cabin and came out with four small pieces of paper. He also had a cup.

"I wrote our names on the papers. I draw one at a time, and the first two names are one team, and of course the other names are the other team." He placed the papers in the cup, and began.

The first name was Maggie. "Okay, Maggie, the next name I draw is your teammate." He pulled out another slip of paper, and it was Reginald's. Maggie squealed with delight and hugged her father. "We're gonna beat you so bad." said Reggie with a wicked grin.

That left Forrest and Eric. "Don't worry Forrest, my sister is a volleyball coach at her school. She taught me everything she knows." Forrest smiled at him.

They tossed a coin for first serve, which Eric and Forrest won. "You can serve." said Forrest. Reginald and Maggie lined up on the opposite side of the net, looking for all the world like they were ready for Sydney.

Eric tossed the ball up and punched it over. Maggie ran for it and bumped it straight up into the air. Bushroot then hit it himself and it went back over. Forrest dived for it but missed as the ball hit the grass.

"1-0!" cried Reginald. "Our serve." Eric saw the disappointed look on Forrest's face. "Don't feel bad. It's just for fun." he said. "I'll probably miss more than you do." Forrest nodded.

Bushroot served. Eric wasn't sure he would be able to serve a volleyball with his plant-like wrists and hands, but the ball sailed easily over. Eric returned it, then Maggie bumped it back over. Then Forrest hit the ball straight up and close to the net.

"Spike it!" cried Reggie, and Maggie leaped at the net, seemingly intent on driving the ball into the ground. She slapped at the ball, but it hit the top of the net and to the ground. And then a huge Venus flytrap-dog with a similar name jumped into the middle and on top of the ball.

"Spike..." said Reginald again, less loudly. He pulled his pet off, as Eric smiled. "1-1." he said. "Our serve."

It was Forrest's turn to serve. He stood closer to the net, and delivered a good serve. Maggie hit it over to her father, who hit it back over the net. Eric hit it hard, and Reginald dove for it. He landed on the ground, but managed to hit the ball back up. "Help it!" he called to Maggie. She was laughing so hard, she didn't notice where she was going as the ball came down...and tripped over her father.

"2...2....2-1." said Eric, almost crying with laughter. Even Forrest was smiling. Bushroot gave his daughter a look, but it was obvious he wasn't serious. They untangled themselves and prepared for the next serve.

Eric delivered the ball. Bushroot returned with a hard shot, but Forrest got to it and hit it back over. Maggie hit it and got it over the net, and Eric bumped it back, just over the net. Then Reginald's hand came up and slammed the ball back over with a terrific spike. Eric dove for it...it hit his hands and deflected back into his face.

"Ahh..." Eric was holding his beak. The game forgotten, Bushroot and Maggie rushed over. "I'm sorry, Eric..." exclaimed Reginald. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay." said Eric. "It's part of the game. I was the one who dove for it." His beak really stung, and there was a mark on it. Forrest kneeled down beside him.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. "Does it hurt badly?"

"No..." Eric looked at Forrest and was struck by the concerned look on Bushroot's son's face, on all thier faces. Even Lily had come up after hearing the commotion. "It'll be okay." As if to reassure him, Spike began licking his face.

"I guess that's the game." said Bushroot.

"You guys play too rough." said Lily teasingly.

"Hey...that's my line." said Reginald with a laugh. Lily went back to the rock, and Reginald and Maggie decided to follow. But Forrest started walking up the road. Eric watched him for a moment, thinking. Then he trotted after him, with Spike close behind.

* * *

"Hey, bud." said Eric. "Where are you headed?"

"I'm just walking." said Forrest.

"Okay if I walk with you?"

Forrest nodded. For a minute they walked along the dirt road, surrounded by trees, the only sounds the faint sounds of the others.

Then Forrest broke the silence.

"Do you like Daddy?"

The question took Eric by surprise. "Sure I do. He's the nicest guy I've ever known."

"Some people don't like him. They're afraid of him."

Eric nodded. "Those people don't understand him. They're afraid of his appearance. They don't know what he's really like, because they never got to know him. And that's unfortunate. But I consider myself fortunate because I did find out what a wonderful person he really is."

"Because he saved your life?"

"Partly. And partly because he didn't hesitate to help me, even after the way he had been treated. That says a lot about your dad's character, Forrest."

"But you hurt a tree. You were drinking alcohol. I heard Daddy say that to Mommy one night when they thought I was asleep."

"That's true. I was angry that night, Forrest. I'd just lost my job. So I made a mistake and got drunk, and later hit the tree and injured it. I am sorry about that."

Forrest was silent for a moment. Then he looked towards the woods. "They believe you." he said.

Eric smiled. "I'm glad."

"They trust you, because they know you're Daddy's friend."

Eric felt a catch in his throat. "I'm glad about that, too." he said seriously.

By this time, they had reached the main road, and Eric's beak felt better. He stopped and faced Forrest.

"You know, your father and you...and your sister...are three extraordinary individuals. This world has never seen anything like yourselves. You have the potential to change the world. Maybe Reggie should be telling you this, but....it's a huge responsibility."

Forrest nodded. "He has told me. And I want to make the world better."

Eric smiled. "You will. If you want to, you have to capability to. And if you use it, the world will be better. I know it."

Forrest responded with a grin, a real rarity. "Thank you, Eric."

"Come on." said Eric. "We'd better go back before they send out the search parties."

They turned and walked back down the dirt road.

END OF PART 3

Reginald Bushroot, Herb Muddlefoot and Spike are the property of Disney and used without permission. Lily, Maggie and Forrest Bushroot are the property of Tracy Pierce and used with permission. Eric is property of the author. As always, I write for pleasure not profit. (C)2000 Eric Smith.


Part 4

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