Christopher Robin Somers, Deputy Prime Minister of Sagania, had his youngest [by clock] son standing up on a stool, making
sure the lad was dressed properly for dinner. This is necessary because Bryce is 4'1", while Robin is 7'1". Dinner tonight is a
black-tie state dinner, in honor of the visiting American President, James A. [Jimmy the Mouth] Capone. This being the first
state affair Bryce was being allowed to go to, Robin wanted to make sure that he was not only dressed properly, but had
learned the proper etiquette.
"You understand that it will be boring for you tonight. No games, no noise, boring speeches, insincere promises."
Robin spieked to Bryce.
"The life of a politician, Daddy?" Bryce giggled. It was a complaint often heard at home, be it at the official residence
at #8 Watling Street, or at the mansion on the South Shore.
"That's right. It won't be much fun for you, but your mother and I feel that this dinner will be a good start, because
President Capone won't object. He has a child your age who is also a Sagan, even though he is not."
"Will we get to meet this one?" Bryce spieked eagerly.
"No, not at the dinner, but tomorrow. Jessie is being tested today at the big hospital. Do you remember your manners,
young man?"
"Of course, Father. Mr. Edgerton called me a 'quick study', and complimented me on how well I hid my boredom after
the second hour."
"He did say that you didn't notice when he stole your transport pass out of your pocket, though. You have to learn to
pay closer attention, even when your mind is dulled by hearing things you know perfectly well." Robin switched from spieking to
speaking as Jana entered the room.
"You two need to be at Government House in thirty minutes- the car is waiting!" she urged her husband and son.
"We're ready now, Mom." Bryce said as he got down off the stool. Father and son kissed Jana goodbye [she was
happy to skip a political dinner, because their older children, C.J. and Glenda, were not well.], and climbed into the limo for the
five-minute drive to Government House.
The receiving line was interesting for Bryce, because when he shook President Capone's hand, he received a flash, a
vision of something. He managed to conceal his surprise and amazement about his receiving the flash behind as impeccable
mask of manners that was possible for a 7-year-old [bio]. Dissecting the vision kept him busy throughout the dinner and
afterwards. By bedtime, he had not yet figured it out, nor had he told anyone. He fell asleep, still pondering the flash.
In his dreams, he reviewed the vision. He saw three men standing around a table, while a fourth person was present,
but not clearly seen. "Alphonse, you must do all you can to put American Sagans under our control. This is why we have
backed your political ascent to the Presidency. With them, our rise to full power will be assured. The Families are proud of you,
Alphonse, now we call in our markers. Do all you can, but carefully, because no one must suspect. If someone does, your
daughter's control over her powers will be removed, and all will see the fact of your lies about her full abilities. That is our
punishment if you fail."
Bryce then 'saw' his viewpoint being picked up, then his view went dark for a bit. The next sight was being placed next
to the President while he slept, then the lights came on, and he was 'picked up' and placed on a finger.
Bryce woke up then, stifling a scream. He understood the vision now- that the ring on the President's finger was
forcing him to do something he didn't believe in, but, if he didn't do as he was told, his daughter would be hurt!
As he got his breathing under control, Bryce understood how he knew this. He has the power to read an object's
history by touch, or psychometry. While his father could make time go faster or slower around him, he could look back at what
happened around an object!
He looked at the clock- 3 AM. Now, he couldn't wait until morning- he had to meet Jessie and warn her, and to find out
what her powers really are. He managed to go back to sleep.
At 10 AM, Jessie Capone was brought to #8 Watling Street, while her father was talking to the Prime Minister. She's a
shy, chubby 8-year-old who, after the initial awkwardness, relaxed around Bryce and they began to talk as they played some
table games.
After lunch, they resumed their cutthroat battle over the checkerboard. When his mother was distracted for a moment
when C.J. toddled into a table, Bryce seized the opportunity.
"Can you mind-speak? I need to talk to you privately!" Bryce whispered.
"No. Can you?" she whispered back.
"Yes. May I?" At her nod, he initiated contact.
"There. We can talk without being overheard." Bryce spieked.
"Why do you need to talk to me like this for?"
"Jessie, I need to know. What's so dangerous about your powers that you need to have controls put in you to keep
them from becoming dangerous?"
Jessie sighed. "Officially, I can grow and shrink at will a little bit. What is not known is that I can not only do so a lot
more , but people and things around me will grow and shrink, too. I can bring them back to normal, but it's so very hard, and it
just happens! When I'm upset or scared, either I grow and shrink, or things around me grow and shrink. So, they hypnotized
me to not do it unless I really, really need to."
"Oh. How far can you make things grow or shrink?"
"I don't know. That's why I was at the hospital all day yesterday, for tests. They haven't told me how far I can, but, I've
grown big enough to bump the ceilings, and small enough to slip under doors. I've made my toys get real big and real small,
too. My mommy got mad at me about losing toys, until she saw me shrinking them."
"I see." Bryce told her about what he saw the night before. "What's so dangerous about that?"
"The people don't know that I can make things change size, only myself. What I didn't tell you is that sometimes, if I
grow or shrink, it takes hours, even days, to get back to normal! If I get big, I get so hungry, I have to eat and eat and eat to
calm down! That's why I'm so fat, and have to stay on a strict diet. I hate it!"
Bryce looked at her curiously. "So that's why you had such a light lunch." He broke contact then, because his mother
had returned, and he didn't want her to know that he was spieking to Jessie. To himself, he promised that he would help his
friend, but he needed to figure out a way how, without hurting her or her father.
Two days later, he figured out a way. There was going to be a small, private party at the manor, and President
Capone, his wife, and Jessie were going to be there. At the party, Bryce managed to get close to his cousin Shawn, the Prime
Minister's chief bodyguard.
"Shawn, I have a problem." he whispered.
"What?" Shawn whispered back.
"Hier me." Bryce telepathically told Shawn all he knew.
"Does your father know?"
"No. I didn't think that he would be the right person to tell."
Shawn's thoughts turned grim. "Why don't you go swimming with Jessie while I go tell some people. This sort of stuff
shouldn't go on!" He broke contact and walked off across the beach.
While they were swimming in the ocean, Bryce saw Shawn talking with the Prime Minister, his wife, and his father.
Turning to Jessie, he said, "I told Shawn about your problem. I think help will come soon."
Jessie stopped swimming and floated on the water. "I feel so scared, Bryce! What if something goes wrong?"
Bryce held on to Jessie, using her as a raft, because while she is chubby, he is rather slim. "Don't worry. Shawn's
angry, and when he is, things happen fast. He will find a way to keep you safe."
Jessie shuddered in his grasp. "But I'm scared! I don't want to get stuck again!" she wailed.
Hurriedly, Bryce said, "Calm down, Jessie! Don't change size now!" Shifting to mind speech, he sent, "Doing so now will
be bad, especially because I'm holding on to you! You'll be safe, no matter what. I promise you! You'll be all right!"
As he swam toward shore, pulling Jessie and sending encouraging thoughts to her all the while, her shudders ceased.
By the time they were able to wade ashore, she sent to him, "I'm okay now. Can you manage to sneak me some food? I'm
hungry again, and my parents won't let me eat any more!"
"I will. Why don't you stay here, behind the sand castle, and I'll get you something." Bryce was as good as his word,
sneaking her enough to make her happy. It was easy, because Uncle Ethan was running the barbecue, and he's easy to
wheedle food from.
Some time later, as Bryce was ditching the evidence, he noticed Jessie's parents talking to Shawn, Brett, Mahree, and
his parents. Returning to Jessie, he said, "I think something's going to happen."
"Why?"
"Because your parents are talking to mine, as well as my cousins. Let's hope for the best."
A few minutes later, both their mothers came over to them. "We want to talk to you. Come over here." Bryce's mother
told them.
When everyone was together, Mr. Capone said to Jessie, "How would you like to stay here, in Sagania, with Bryce's
family, learning how to control your powers? I've told them about the trouble you're having with them, and the doctors say that
without proper training, you would soon lose control of them, and life would be very hard for you."
Mrs. Somers joined in. "We would be happy to have you stay with us, Jessie. This place is our real home. Would you
like to live here?"
Jessie looked to her parents, eyes glowing with joy. "This would be all right with you? I could stay here, and learn not
to be afraid that I would get too big or too small?"
"It will be all right, Jessie. I know how scared you are of losing control. Here, they can help you learn control. You can
stay as long as you want, and still be able to come home to us whenever you would like. I want you to be safe and be happy."
her father said.
Joyously, Jessie hugged both her parents. "Thank you! I feel so happy!" she said. Then, there was the sound of ripping
cloth.
"Jessie! Calm down! You're growing!" her mother shouted.
"I don't care! I'm happy to not be scared anymore!" Jessie shouted as she grew bigger and bigger, not stopping until
she was over nine feet tall! Moving quickly despite her size, she scooped up Bryce and hugged him tight.
"Thank you for helping me!" she whispered as quietly as she could.
"My pleasure. Now, can you please put me down? You're squeezing me too hard! I can't breathe!" Bryce spieked.
"Sorry." she said, putting him down. Eagerly, she ran to the barbecue pit. "I'm hungry!" she demanded of Ethan, as
she grabbed a large platter and began loading it.
Ethan looked at her parents, who just nodded approval. With a shrug, he helped giant Jessie load the tray. Twenty
minutes later, he loaded it again. "Always like an appreciative audience." he said as she greedily devoured the second helping.
When she was done, she slowly waddled her stuffed body to a stretch of beach to nap, dreaming happy dreams for the first
time in a long time.