Weak in Body, Strong in Mind and Spirit

The conveyance returned Pamela and Kimberly to Kimberly’s nest. Before the portals opened, Kimberly looked at Pamela.

“I want thank you for going to the doctor’s with me, buddy.” said Kimberly. “And I want to thank you for finding your Forest Friends for me.”

Pamela glanced at Kimberly and smiled.

“Thank you, Kimberly. You’re an amazingly strong person,” she said. “Your positive attitude probably had a lot to do with how you kicked cancer’s butt. And for the record, my Forest Friends found me.”

They both left the conveyance.

“Well, time for me to head south, girlfriend,” said Pamela.

“I know,” said Kimberly.

They gave each other a last hug.

“Tell David I said hello, and thank him for letting me borrow you,” said Kimberly.

“I will,” Pamela said with a smile. “He didn’t mind much at all, I’m sure, although I’m also sure he misses me. He complains about having to watch the dogs, but it’s all an act. He just enjoys whining.”

Pamela’s conveyance portal opened. She entered and the portal closed. The conveyance turned itself around, and as it moved away, it did an odd thing. It made a noise. Two loud, short, vocalizations. Kimberly waved. As she turned to enter her abode, she was both happy and sad.

“Puyallup?” projected Kimberly. “Puyallup?”

“Oh, hello Kimberly,” channeled Puyallup back.

“I don’t think I can mindspeak to Aurora from this far...” said Kimberly.

“I’m here,” replied Aurora back. “I can actually hear you fine.”

“Oh, Aurora, good!” answered Kimberly. “I just returned from my oncologist... my healer...”

“And?” asked Aurora and Puyallup at the same time.

“And she said that I’m cancer free,” said Kimberly.

“Great!” exclaimed Puyallup.

“Yes, but I’m not surprised by this news,” said Aurora.

“I just thought you’d like to know. You did it, Aurora,” replied Kimberly.

“Kimberly, I didn’t cure you,” said Aurora. “It was a combination of the Bitter Nightshade and your wonderful, upbeat attitude that cured you. If you weren’t such a happy, outgoing Little Person, it may not have worked at all. You cured yourself. You and our Earth Mother.”

“That is kind of you, Aurora,” said Kimberly. “But I think you deserve most of the credit.”

“Stay in touch with us until next year,” said Aurora in her weak, old voice. “Let us know how you’re doing.”

“I will, I promise,” said Kimberly. “Now please excuse me. I have to feed the horses.”

“Horses?” questioned Aurora.

“Horses. Our beasts that we ride,” said Kimberly.

“Oh, Beasts.”

“You’ll see next year when Pamela and I return to visit on horseback,” answered Kimberly.

“I’ll look forward to it,” said Aurora.

“As do I, Kimberly,” projected Puyallup.

“OK, bye,” said Kimberly.

“Goodbye, Kimberly,” answered Aurora.

“Yes, I’ll see you after the winter,” said Puyallup.

Kimberly walked to the magnificent Beast structure and entered. She had a spring in her step.

Meanwhile, Pamela was making good time and traveling quickly. She was looking forward to going home.

Home is where the RV is, she thought with a smile. When we lived on our boat, Drift Away, I used to say that home is where the boat is. But actually, what they say is true, home is where the heart is. The RV, the dogs, the cats, the goats, and Jeremiah. And my mom, my daughter, and my grandson. I can’t wait to go riding. And seeing David. I’m sure he missed me. Gawd, I hate driving in Pennsylvania.

The entire trip to Flori-duh took two days. She stopped only to feed the conveyance, to eat, and once to sleep. It was two days of reflection on the events at the Five Brothers. What a marvelous experience, she thought. What an amazing adventure. Kimberly being cured of that hated cancer. I wish Aurora could have cured Kathryn. But Kathryn also had an incredible adventure, something she’ll remember forever. The looks on Herman’s and Billy T’s faces were priceless. I wonder how widely Herman’s story about our Sasquatch is known? It actually made TV news? I hope we did the right thing. I think we did, but I hope it doesn’t backfire, and we end up having people coming to hunt our ’Squatches.

After two sun cycles, Pamela’s conveyance came to a stop outside a small white abode. Baddogs appeared and were hopping up and down and vocalizing loudly. David stuck his head out of the conveyance they called RV. He came outside to greet Pamela. Pamela entered the fence’s portal. The Baddogs were very animated. They vocalized very excitedly. Their tails and whole butts wagged. The little white Baddog was jumping on Pamela.

“Penelope!” yelled David. “No jumping!”

“Hi lover!” yelled Pamela.

Olivia leaped out of the conveyance and ran to see the other Baddogs, wagging her stub of a tail and with a big smile on her face.

David gave Pamela hug and a kiss.

“I missed you a lot,” said David.

“Me too,” said Pamela. “How did you make out with everything?”

“Well, it was tough, to be honest,” said David. “But I’d do it again in a heartbeat for you. So you had fun?”

“I did,” said Pamela, “and Kimberly says hello.”

“I can’t believe a Sasquatch cured Kimberly,” said David. “That is so cool...”

“Cured, and confirmed by Kimberly’s oncologist,” said Pamela. “The doctor was blown away. Especially when Kimberly told her who did it.”

“Your Sasquatch are huge news,” said David. “Your mom says it’s all over the TV. I’m only on the internet, but this is blowing it up. Especially Facebook.”

“Really? Good.”

“Yep. Pretty funny,” said David. “All of the Sasquatch groups are full of gloating researchers, poking fun and outright ridiculing the deniers. Sasquatch Alliance is saying that Herman’s story and Billy T’s photographs aren’t proof of anything, and could be easily hoaxed and Photoshopped.”

“Seriously?” laughed Pamela. “I think the only way to convince Sasquatch Alliance is either a body, or a punch in the nose by Ouragan.”

“That would be hysterical,” said David. “Maybe I’ll start making a list for Ouragan.”

“I told my ’Squatches that I’m going back next year,” said Pamela.

“I’m not surprised,” said David. “I’ll get by... somehow.”

That’s one of David’s favorite lines from the movie “Christmas Story”, Pamela thought as she smiled.

“You’re coming too,” said Pamela.

“That’s too far for this old guy to drive,” said David.

“You can do it, and you’re going,” said Pamela sternly.

“But we have the dogs...”

“The dogs are coming too,” said Pamela with her don’t-argue-with-me voice. “So are the goats, and Jeremiah. We’ll leave the cats with Mom.”

David looked at Pamela. He knew it was not a time to argue.

“We’ll see,” he said.

“You’re going. They’re expecting you, and they’d like to meet the animals,” said Pamela. “We have to start shopping for a bigger tent.”

“We have the RV,” said David.

“You can’t drive the RV to the Five Brothers,” said Pamela rolling her eyes. “Kimberly is going again too, and bringing her Morgan. We’re going riding. A lot.”

“We’re living in a tent?” asked David.

“All summer,” said Pamela. “And into fall.”

“Hi Momma!” hollered Pamela’s daughter Megan, running from Pamela’s Mother’s house carrying an Infant.

“Hi Meg!” said Pamela. “And look at how big Caesar is!”

Megan set Caesar down. He saw his grandma and a big grin came on his face. He raised his hands in the air and clumsily walked to her.

“He’s walking!” said Pamela.

“Yup. For the past two weeks now. He’s a little wobbly, but he’s walking!” answered Megan. “How was your trip? Dave told me the good news about Kim.”

“Yes, very good news,” answered Pamela. “And the trip was amazing. Kim and I got to meet all of our ’Squatches. What wonderful people! We’re making plans to go back next year for the entire summer and into the fall.”

“Really?” asked Megan.

“Yep. And David, and all the animals, except the cats. They’re staying here at Mom’s,” said Pamela.

“Oh, cool!” said Megan.

Pamela sat down in a sitting contraption with the Infant on her lap.

“Look how big my little man is!” said Pamela with a grin. The Infant grinned back.

“He just turned a year old,” said Megan.

“I know when his birthday is, Meg,” chided Pamela.

“Bishr is home today too,” said Meg.

“No work today?” asked Pamela.

“No, the restaurant is being remodeled.” said Megan. “It’s been closed for a couple of weeks now.”

“Ouch. That has to hurt the budget,” said Pamela.

“Sure does. The restaurant is paying everyone their hourly wages that they’re losing, but servers live on tips, not the hourly wage,” replied Megan. “Grandma will be right out, I’m sure. She was in the middle of making dinner.”

“Well, then let’s all go inside,” said Pamela.

She put the Infant on her shoulders, and laughed to herself as she thought ‘Caesar’s going on a grandma ride! Giddy up!’.