"Mhm," Chloe answered Miley. "I heard about that. He's way stressed out about things. He should probably just take a vacation at the beach. That's what I would do if I ever got that stressed." She shrugged. "Just take some time to relax." She got a far away look in her eye as if she was seeing a scene from the past. "I knew another person who used to relax on the beach." Her lips formed into a slight smile. "We used to have tons of fun..." She let her sentence hang.

~~~

"Yes, I know about that. The doctor called me and asked for me to come see her. But why are we whispering?" Maralyn set her bag on the floor of the entry and put a hand behind her back. At six months along, her belly was rounding and she had begun to experience slight back pain.

Abigal was in her room, with the door closed tightly. She gazed about at the material belongings she owned. All the things she liked and enjoyed "I'd trade it all just for a chance to walk again..." she said then suddenly picked up the book that was on her lap and threw it into the far wall with a dull thud, and the flutter of pages. Tears poured down her pale cheeks and she pushed herself over to her desk, falling on it with sobs. Her legs were her lively hood, what was life without the ability to walk? Her thoughts were those of despair....how would she ever be married to Andrew if she was paralyzed? Who would be her friend if she was a cripple? What would be their thoughts when they saw her, in a wheel chair....would they avoid her like she was something vile? Looking up from desk, her vision focused on a small pocket bible she had been given years ago. She had never opened it before, she had never read the saving words which it contained in its glossy pages. Clutching it, she reached for any hope there could possibly be....

***

John grinned and leaned forward to whisper in Peter's hair. "Hey....nice hair....you look like my grandpa!" this sent him in a roll of laughter, which echoed about the class room. "Is going bald the new 'in fashion?' I guess every one should do it now!"

"Knock it off!" Brian said turning to look at John. "You done enough damage you little sissy. You just pick on him because you are afraid he'll pick on you if you don't!"

***

Ian sat in the lonely jail cell, finger the scar above his right eye. The thoughts that swirled in his mind were ones of his dream. The dream he had, the night before. It seemed to be a sign....but of what? Lying back in the cot, he searched every bit of knowledge he had. Placing the locations and scenarios, in perfect order of their happenings. The dream was disturbing, and yet it brought him peace, thinking of it. "Why?" he questioned himself, remembering the pictures he had seen "How...when...and where..."

Justin decided to take the chance to visit Ian in his cell. Since he was talking about God, he was still technically working and Ian was technically a youth, even though he was closer to twenty. Once he got to the cell, he was glad ot see Ian's hair was growing a little, but sad to see an aloof loof and a scar on Ian's face. "You okay, man?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feeling a torrent of emotion, Peter, brushed past John and into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he saw he did look like an old man. He leaned against the wall, sinking to the cold bathroom floor and put his head in his arms. "God, why?" Tears flowed down his cheeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley grinned. "Chloe, why don't you and I hit the beach this weekend? Just us girls?"
~~~~~~~~~
John snickered. "You better go check on him. He's probably crying. No, he isn't like a bald old man. More like a bald baby."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda said, "Come upstairs, I'll lead you to her room."

Chloe blinked the moisture from her eyes. Now as not the time or the place to remember. She shook of the mood that had come over her and turned back to Miley. "Well, we might want to bring a life guard or something. Last time we went to the beach we sure could have used a life saver," she chuckled.

~~~

"No wait." Maralyn grabbed Amanda's arm as she walked past her to the stairs. "Can you tell me what's going on? The doctor simply told me that Abigal could use some at home therapy since she wasn't responding at the hospital. He thought that since I wasn't able to work at the hospital any more because of Sarah, that this would be a little bit easier on me." Maralyn looked deeply into Amanda's eyes, trying to sense what the situtation was. "He got me up to date on how Abigal was doing phyiscally...but not emotional. Tell me, please." It was more of a command than a request.

Amanda hesitated, but knew that Maralyn needed to know. She looked back into her eyes, and let them stay there for a minute, before saying "She's.....she's....despairing. See, her and her boyfriend are supposed to be married this fall, and she's afraid if she can't walk they won't be able to be married. I think this whole thing is hitting her very hard....she was always healthy and very active, with out her leg's she can't do the things she loves. I want to support her some how, but I don't know how. I'm praying" she said shaking her head, sympathy showing thick in her voice. "But what else? She's so quite now"

*****

Brian glared daggers at John and looked after Peter wondering if he should follow him. "Thanks a lot John, for upsetting him so much again. He doesn't need that" he said then rose from his desk briskly walking to the bathroom. "Peter? Don't cry buddy that's not good for you...come on"

*

Ian jerked, then sighed and nodded. "Okay as I can be Justin." he said returning his eyes to the dark interior of his cell. "I'm just thinking....of a dream I had last night."

***

Miley nodded. "Yes. So, does that mean you'll go with me to the beach?" She said hoping that Chloe would say yes. Taking a break would help her to forget of all the stress back home.

Justin asked, "What was the dream about?" It couldn't have been much worse than Peter's hair falling out or some kid who thinks he can sue him for wearing jeans to church.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter whimpered. "I know. I can't stop and then more hair falls out and it gets worse."

"Nothing.....at least....I don't think it meant anything" But he lied to Justin, for in his own mind he knew it meant something. It was a sign, he knew this much, but of what? It took place after his release, in large building. He had seen many people praying for someones life.....but who's? Then a beautiful girl....with brown hair and eyes. She was crying....but why? It had skipped next to a street, flashing lights, the screech of tortured metal...then the cry of some one so familiar. He heard Justin's voice and snapped out of the thoughts in his head..

*******

"Oh Peter..I know John in mean but you just got to stand up to him. Don't let him make you so upset. Stop crying..." he said sympathetically and gently

Peter took a few deep breaths adn splashed cold water of his face, avoiding his horrid reflection. As he walked out of the bathroom with Brian, he whispered, "Thanks."
~~~~~~~~~
Chloe's eyes beamed, glad to finally spend some time with her friend. "Yes, I will!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maralyn decided it would be best to follow AManda to Abigal's room. "Let me go talk to her."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaning against the cold bars, Justin noted, "You hair is coming back."

Brian nodded and patted his shoulder. "Hey Peter anytime. That's what friends are here for"

***

"Great!" Miley cried and nearly jumped up and down. "It will be so great to go out and swim again. I bought a new swim suit recently. It's a pale purple."

Amanda nodded, and led Maralyn up the stairs to Abigal's room. "There is her room...I hope you talking to her helps" she said.

***

"Some what..."Ian said absentmindedly, pouring over the dream. He thought about telling Justin....maybe he could make better sense of it.

Maralyn made her way to Abigal's room, where the door was closed and Amanda took the initiative to say, "Abigal, can I come in? I want you to meet someone who can help."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Justin noticed the aloff look. "Hey, if you think it's weird I could use some enteraintment. My cousin is losing his hair and some kid thinks he can sue me for wearing jeans to church. Could use a break."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After class, Jen greeted Peter and Brian in the hallway. She tried not to let her eyes open wide at Peter's bald spots. Instead, she wrapped he rarms around him. "Oh, Peter." She kissed his forehead.
~~~~~~~~
After class, Chloe beamed, "Okay, so what time do I come pick you up?"

"I'd love to go to the beach!" Chloe said excitedly. Then she stopped and waited for a moment, seeming to mull something over in her mind. "But what if Maralyn has another baby scare. I really want to be here if anything happens to her or Sarah."

~~~

"Hello Abigal." Maralyn walked over to the side of the bed where Abigal was lying. She sat down heavily in a plush chair near an end table. "I know you probably don't want to talk to anyone right now," she said as she settled into the chair and beat down with a grunt to unfasten her shoes. "Man, being pregnant can make your feet swell." She peeked a glance over at Abigal to see how she was responding to her presence in the room.

Amanda decided to give the two of them some privacy, so she stepped out of the room and mader her way down the shite carpeted stairs. Sitting on the blue sofa, she pleaded with God to help Abigal walk again.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Miley thought about this. "And I would want to be here for Justin if Maralyn had a scare. Of course, their is Peter. What if the bullies are so brutal adn he would need me?" Groaning, she slumped into he rdesk. "How did we get like this?"

"We could just have a girl's night or something." Chloe leaned against her chin on the palm of her hand. "But it really wouldn't be the same, with the wind in your hair, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. The sand hot under your feet, and the sun kissing your face." She got a dreamy look on her face and then laughed. "That was from one of Maralyn's books. I love quoting her."

Miley laughed. "I could try to quote Justin...hmm...oh can't think of anything. Oh shucks." She shook her head. "A girl's night would be great, the moon wouldn't be so haunting!" She made a face at herself.

"How about out in the woods!" Chloe said excitedly. "We could get a tent and make a fire, roast marshmellows, and just listen to 'the sound of a backwood choir'." She laughed. "Now that's from a Josh Turner song." She moved gracefully back into the other thread of her conversation, "Wouldn't that be awesome!?"