"You think I'm nuts, don't you?" asked Brandi.



"Just a little," Tasia joked. "But like I said, I'm good with weird and you have been under a lot of stress. I think he must have a message for you," said Tasia. "Something he
wants you to know. But I want you to promise me that you wont worry
about it, ok? We will figure it out together."
"Ok, Tasia, I'm glad that you believe me.



"Well, its getting late, and I am tired. Dustin is going to come back
with the car for the rest of the stuff for the baby."
She gave Tasia a hug goodbye.




And Tasia had to say good bye to the baby.



"Goodbye, little baby, this is Tasia. We are going to be friends when
you get born, little one."




"Hey, your baby just kicked me! I think you have two of them
in there," said Tasia with a strange certainty.




"Oh, but I think one will be more than enough," said Brandi. "I'm going to
see the Obstetrician tomorrow. I will get the ultrasound done and
find out if it is a boy or girl. I am hoping for a little girl. But if
it is another boy, we will name him after his dad Skip; Dustin suggested
it."
"I think that is a wonderful idea," said Tasia. " Have you picked out any girl names yet?"
"Nope, not at all. But I will start thinking about it tonight," said Brandi.
"Bye Tasia."




"Turok, today Brandi told me that she has been seeing the ghost
of her husband."
"I thought he was only missing," said Turok with concern. He liked Brandi
She was a good person in his opinion, and he had compassion
towards the hard times she was going through.
"Well, if she is seeing his ghost, then maybe he really is dead,"
continued Tasia.



"Hmm, she has been under a lot of stress lately," said Turok.
"Do you think she is just stressed out and seeing things?"
"No, I sense something too when I am over at there place.
I can't tell if it is dangerous or not." said Tasia.
"You know all restless spirits are bad and usually evil," says Turok.
"Yes, I know , but can we try to help her out by asking a blessing
for her, the children and the property?"
"Sure, said Turok. "It has been on my mind to talk to you about
that anyway."
"Great,I will ask her about it tomorrow," Tasia said, as she stuffed more
potato salad into her mouth. She really did love potato salad.



"Want to go Skinny Dipping?" Tasia asked her handsome
boyfriend with a big smile.





"Last one in is a rotten egg!"









"You lose!"









Tasia easily out swam Turok. Tasia loves the water, and maybe she is part fish.



"If you catch me before I get to the stairs, I will give you a kiss!" Tasia teased him.








Tasia and Turok are not officially a couple; technically they
are just roommates. Obviously, they like each other and Tasia
is a total tease. Poor Turok.





To the winner - that would be me!



The next day over at Brandi's house,
Brandi and Dustin were relaxing
and watching TV together, as Beau was down for a nap. Brandi was tired -
she had been up early to go to her prenatal appointment, and have her
long awaited ultrasound done. Much to her disappointment, she did not get
the results for the sex of her baby. She would have to wait to talk to
the doctor tomorrow at 2pm.
Suddenly, Brandi's stomach growled so loudly that Dustin heard it.



"Did you hear that?", she asked Dustin.
"How could I not, Mom?" Dustin laughed. "I think the whole
neighborhood heard your stomach growl."
"Yeah, I suppose I had better get lunch going before you go
to work," said Brandi, as she leaned forward to stand up from the couch.




"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no, you sit there Mommy O! I'm going to
make lunch today," Dustin told her.



Brandi got up anyway to go ahead and make lunch, but Dustin got up to
and insisted to his mom that he would make lunch and that she should
rest. "I will even make your favorite - Peanut Butter Pancakes." he teased.
"Hmmmm, I think I will have to let you just go ahead and make those
pancakes," agreed Brandi.




"Mom, I will take care of you, don't worry about anything. Ok?" said Dustin.
"We will take care of each other," corrected Brandi.




"How is my little baby brother or sister doing in there?"



"Hi baby," he waved to his unborn sibling.
"I have another prenatal appointment tomorrow at 2pm. I wish you
could go with me, you would get to see him or her on
the ultrasound," said Brandi.



"Then we could be sure of a name," Brandi giggled, as she watched
her son play peek-a-boo with her big belly




"I would Mom, you know that, but my boss needs me there early. He is
going to teach me how to use the big giant magnet, and when I am 17 in a
few months, I can run it and load cars, to get squished into little
bitty metal boxes. I cant wait!" he said excitedly.
"I know babe, that actually sounds like fun. One day I will have
to come over with Beau and let him see where his big brother works."



Brandi sat back down to watch the rest of the program on TV, while
Dustin made his famous Peanut Butter Pancakes.
He always used crunchy peanut butter; mmmmm!
And Mrs. Butterie's maple syrup.



Brandi started thinking about what she would wear to her prenatal
appointment, tomorrow. She sure hated her ugly old maternity clothes.
She could buy more, but she knew that she had to be very careful with
the money that she had saved up. She did have one outfit that she had
gotten with her Widow's Relief Fund money to buy a outfit that was loose
around the middle and stylish, maybe she would wear that one...
Brandi also mulled over the amount of money currently in the bank and
the bills to be payed as she half halfheartedly listened to her son cooking
pancakes and the show on TV.



... Back in the kitchen ...
Dustin got a strange feeling as he went to put the ingredients
for the peanut butter pancakes on the counter.
Suddenly, he dropped the tray with a loud bang on the counter,
out of pure shock!.





'This is not happening!' Dustin tried to calm himself.




But indeed it was happening, and all Dustin could do was to stand and watch.







Dustin could not believe his eyes as he watched the ghostly appearance
of his dad Skip walking towards the window in broad daylight.
Dustin's hands grew icy cold, as he brought them to his mouth to
warm them with his breath.



Skip sat down just under the window sill and seemed to wait for
Dustin to get a closer look at what he was reading.





Skip pointed with his thumb to a particular article, and just as Dustin
was getting a good close look, his dad disappeared.



Dustin stared out the window for a moment, as he decided not
to tell his mom about this. Dustin then continued to make the
pancakes, a few tear drops from his eyes did fall and land
in the pancake batter. He bitterly remembered how much he really
missed his dad, and wished he were here with them now.



Later that afternoon, Brandi got a phone call.
"Hello, this is Brandi."
"Hi, Mrs.Broke? This is Stephanie, the receptionist from Dr.Brooks office,"
she said in a distinct, stuffy nosed voice.
"Hi Stephanie, please call me Brandi.
"Very well, how are you today Brandi?" Stephanie asked politely.



"I am doing well," said Brandi. "Thank you."
"Brandi, the reason I am calling is because you have a doctor's
appointment tomorrow at 2pm. Well, Dr. Brooks has a surgery during that time.
Can I reschedule you for 4pm?"
"Sure, that will be fine. I look forward to seeing the ultrasound
pictures", said Brandi cheerfully.
"Can you tell me now if it is a boy or girl?" Brandy questioned with hope.
"No, sorry," "Stephanie laughed, "we don't know that. But your doctor
does. So, can I put you down for 4pm?