So Pandora had modelled her show on the Sonny and Cher Show (seeing as George couldn't sing to save his life), with songs, dancing, and comedy skits. She even lined up a series of guest stars, the first of whom was Esteban E. Room.

Surprisingly, whether it was because of the guest star or because of Pandora's actual talent, last Thursday night's show had been a smash hit. Mari expanded it to twice-weekly, Thursday and Saturday, with Saturday focusing more on music than on the skits. This Saturday, Pandora premiered a song she'd written. It was simple (nobody had ever lauded 'Dora's composition abilities), but it spoke to the people (and what does that say about the people?). And when Mari's little sister crooned:

Pandora's only committments were to herself and George. They were engaged to be married sometime next year. Tonight, however, was Pandora's birthday. A huge celebration had been plotted at the Club, not only for her birthday, but for the release of her first single.

Marianna had her own reasons to celebrate. Amanda had finally come home from the hospital on Sunday. The feedings and changings and opposing sleeping schedules of the twins was enough to drive Mari crazy, but it only made amazing energy surge through her body. She knew that eventually she would have to collapse and sleep for a month or two, but for now the amount of work she got done was amazing. She was not only caring for the babies, Polly, and the house, but she had been working feverishly all weekend to get Pandora's song ready for release.

Thankfully, 'Dora had approached her even before her first show with the song, and using only her own ear as a judge, Mari signed her sister to Special Music, Ltd. Some gut instinct told her this would be a successful song. So, since last Tuesday, they had been working to record this song in Marianna's basement studio. Tonight, the first three hundred CDs and five hundred cassettes, dubbed in that same studio, would go on sale at the Club.

Pandora walked around the Club aimlessly, excited energy coursing through her veins, while George and Inda worked out some technical aspects of Thursday night's show involving the hydraulic lift and the new smoke machine. Marianna had bought the smoke machine in a moment of weakness, when the Club had made a larger-than-usual profit and both Dani and 'Dora had been bugging her about the smoke machine. The old smoke machine had gone kaput a few months back, and instead of buying a new one, Mari had gotten the lift under the stage. Now, it seemed, the smokeless swing dancing Daniela had so loved was going out, and her new passion, funk, required a smoke machine. Daniela had also wanted new gels for the lights, but Mari drew the line before she went into debt.

Marianna watched Pandora walk around, rolled her eyes, and continued setting up the small booth where the singles would be sold. It was actually the juice bar, but Polly had closed up business when Marina left, and the bar had been used only as extra seating since then. It converted nicely to a small store, almost like a Hard Rock Cafe boutique. They were also selling t-shirts emblazoned with Pandora's signature, mugs with Pandora's face ("Get Pandora Dee's Mug!" cried a small sign), and hair ribbons similar to those 'Dora tended to wear on stage.

For the second time in about a year, Marianna thought about the profit she could turn publishing the Trenchcoats' songs, particularly "Flasher." Then she remembered that her keyboardist was married to a frog in Brazil, and her guitarist was a goddess. Not exactly conducive to producing a record, is it? she sighed to herself. Then, as she lifted another pile of CDs out of the box, Mari was suddenly reminded of a day, over a year ago, when it had been rainy and dull, and the hurricane warnings hadn't yet come on the radio.

The Trenchcoats had decided to rehearse that day, even though Dream had wanted to stay home with her tree, Doreen had wanted to stay home with Frogman, and Suki had wanted to go swimming (Mari didn't ask, and neither should you). Polly and Marina were playing on the floor with Legos, building a fantasy castle that, if finished, would fit the two of them and a plastic tea service inside. The six of them (the kids and the Trenchcoats) were in Marianna's basement, where Mari had set up a small, Macintosh-based recording studio. There was a steaming jug of apple cider and a plate of sugar cookies on a small table by the door.
"Alright, ladies. I just want to get 'Flasher' on tape, one take, so it sounds like it was done live. Then you can take off to wherever." Marianna picked up her bass and flicked her hair off her face. "Girls, try to keep the bricks from falling."
"Can we clap?" asked Polly.
"Applaud, or clap with the beat?"
"Either."
"No." Polly made a face, and went back to her Legos.
"Is this keyboard set to piano?" asked Doreen. Marianna rolled her eyes.
"Doreen, use the actual piano, in the corner. Dream, you've gotta be on drums. I know you don't like drums..."
"Not a problem, Mari." Dream picked something up off the floor. "Suki, is this your sheet music?"
"Yeah, thanks. I thought I had it in my guitar case." Suki giggled. "So we're just going to play 'Flasher'? I love that song." She giggled again.
"Um..." Mari took a deep breath. "Yeah. Five seconds, okay, and I'll have the mics and stuff set up."

"Mari! Are you awake?" Pandora was right in Mari's face, yelling at her, and had been for over a minute.

"What?" Marianna blinked, and realized she'd been daydreaming, standing over the box of CDs with the same pile in her arms for five minutes. Her arms were rather sore now. "Sorry. I'm back. Just thinking about the last time I used that studio."

"You've used it?" 'Dora asked. "I thought you just had it down there in case you ever signed someone to your label."

"The first band signed to my label was the Trenchcoats. We recorded 'Flasher' last year, right after I wrote it." Mari put another pile of CDs on the counter, then fanned them in front of a low pile of t-shirts.

"Why don't you put it out as a single, then?"

"Don't be silly, I couldn't possibly put it out now. Not without everyone's permission, and Suki's definitely not in a position that I could contact her." But the seed of an idea had been planted, and Mari had a very fertile mind.

"Not a problem. I love just being around these babies." She inhaled the sweet, soft baby smell pervading the nursery and leaned back against the wall. UPChuck was also in the room, just poking around looking at things, and not at all looking like he'd just helped both Dream and Alan with changing diapers. "And really all I did was rock them to sleep. Uly's the one that knows about kids."

UPChuck looked up at his name and smiled at Dream. She knew exactly what he was thinking: I want to start our family- now. Instead, he said, "I've spent a lot of time around kids. If you both had had younger siblings, you'd have had no problem with these two."

Alan seemed to think about this for a while, then abruptly changed the subject. "I'm going to make tea. Do you want some?"

"Yes, please," Dream replied. "That would be great."

"Just water, thanks," said UPChuck. As Alan walked out of the room, he edged closer to Dream, who was in a narrow space between Amanda's bassinette and the wall. "I know you know what I'm thinking. Well?"

"We, unlike any of our friends, will get married first."

"This rhythm method thing is really working, isn't it?" He looked almost disappointed.

"Well..." Dream said slowly, turning away from him so he wouldn't see the mischievous smile creeping across her face, "it might not be my caution... it could be your fault..."

She turned just in time to see the shocked look on his face turn into a grimace as he fell against the wall. "I'm hurt, really I am!" he mock-cried. "You awful woman, how dare you accuse me..."

"Quit the dramatics--" Dream was cut off as he bounced up from the floor and pinned her into the corner, kissing her passionately. "Uly!" she gasped. "Alan's going to be back any minute!"

"Ahem." UPChuck whirled at Alan's voice, then grinned and winked. "Yes, I know. I had the feeling it would be pointless to bring the tea in here, so if you still want your drinks, you can come down to the kitchen."

"Good idea!" said Dream. She pushed her way past UPChuck, linked arms with Alan, and practically dragged him down the stairs.

"I just don't get that woman," UPChuck said to the room. He glanced back at the bassinettes, to make sure the babies hadn't woken. Jamie was still sound asleep, but Amanda was blinking her huge brown eyes at him. "Well, little one... do you understand her? If you do, I wish you'd give me a clue." He smiled and shrugged, then bounded down the stairs to join his fiancee and his best friend for tea.

Rehearsals, therefore, were a muddled mess. Mateo had done his best at delegating the important backstage jobs, integrating the new actors, and begging help from the Newshregsburg community, but was falling hopelessly short of what was needed. He hadn't managed to contact Dream as yet, and so pit orchestra was not only not rehearsing, but the cast had no idea what the music sounded like from a live orchestra. The computerized tapes (although MIDI had made leaps and bounds in past years) were simply not a viable substitute for real musicians.

It was this pile of catastrophes that had brought Ivory Jade Goldstein to Club Calypso and into Inda's face.

"Inda Nett! Will you look at me?! Pay attention! This show is going nowhere unless you get your lazy butt back to rehearsals. Mateo is a great actor, but he's completely incapable of running rehearsals. And did you know that pit orchestra hasn't rehearsed once since you got back? They've all been waiting for your orders, and since Dream doesn't know yet that she's in charge, nothing's happening! WE CAN'T PUT ON A SHOW IN THESE CONDITIONS!!"

In the back of the kitchen, Marianna cringed as she heard Ivory screaming. "Nothing like a mezzo shrieking high soprano notes to awaken the senses," she muttered. "At least when the babies scream like that, there's a purpose in it. When will that girl learn, people don't listen when you scream?"

Inda certainly wasn't listening. He was tweaking something in the hydraulic lift, his head and torso completely enveloped by the stage. Occasionally, through Ivory's shouting, a sneeze could be heard. When he was finally finished and emerged, Ivory was starting to hyperventilate. "Ivory, I'm perfectly aware of what's going on. Truth to be told, I'm conducting a psychological experiment to see what happens when people are put into adverse conditions. Your reaction is going to be a lovely, thick chapter in my resulting book."

"You liar!" Ivory hissed, narrowing her eyes at Inda. "I don't know what's going on with you, but the cast and I aren't going to take it anymore. I'm going to Mateo right now, and we're going to find a way to take your rights away from this musical. If we succeed in putting it on, there's no way we're letting the profits go to you." She spun on her heel and strode through the Club's revolving door.

Inda chuckled lightly. "Little does she know..." Then he caught Mari looking at him, and a vaguely guilty look crossed his face.

"I don't know what's up with you, either, Inda. But I've got an inkling, and I think it would be best if you just came clean about it. Even if it's just to me," she said in a low voice. No sense in letting the entire staff hear about Inda's problems. As much as she hated him, he was revered in Layla:), and she wasn't going to ruin someone who still had the power to ruin her. "I know you're broke. Why sabotage the only thing you've got going for you?"

"You just don't understand, do you?" he sneered.

"Stop being so pretentious. You have no idea what I can understand-- no idea what I've been through in twenty-nine years. Tell me what's going on." She fixed a steely gaze on him that usually was only used on those threatening to break the Club's furniture.

"I sold the rights to the show. One million dollars-- just enough to tide me over, get me back on my feet. The man I sold it to left me in charge, but frankly, I'm not interested anymore. I'd like to see my... my child succeed, but without the profits, it's just not important. If it fails, it won't ruin the new owner. If it succeeds, that's great. I don't really care." Inda shrugged and turned away from Marianna, presumably to return to work on the lift.

"Uh-uh, buddy. You aren't going anywhere." She placed a restraining hand on his shoulder, putting just enough pressure to assure him she could physically stop him moving if need be. "You barely looked in my eyes the entire time you said that. I'll bet you do care. I'll also bet there's something important that you're not telling me."

"I'll bet there is, too," he said, calmly looking into her eyes. "But I think there's someone else who can tell you what you're asking me to admit. I think you'll find out about it pretty soon, too." With that, Inda dove under the stage and began making "busy" noises against the pipes.

Marianna sighed. Didn't anyone tell the truth anymore? She couldn't wait to get back to her darling, innocent, honest children.

The limbo contest earlier in the evening had given Mari an idea for the upcoming dance contest. She'd always loved the rock dances of the fifties and sixties. One of her favorite movies was Hairspray, and that revolved around dancing. (Actually, it revolved around Ricki Lake, like a small planet might, but that was beside the point.) Why not have a limbo portion to the dance contest? If she actually got more than three contestants in the rock category this year, maybe limbo, pony, or twist competitions could be held to pare down the entries. She shoved that to the back of her mind. It wasn't exactly essential right now.

What was essential, then? UPChuck was talking with Dream, of course, and both were keeping an eye on the sleeping twins. Alan was deep in conversation with Inda Nett, and for some reason, this made Marianna's stomach clench with nerves. Dava Jini had shown up tonight, along with his intern, Emma English. This also made Mari's stomach clench, but those nerves were more of the ironic humor sort. She decided that now might be a good time to introduce her parents to Alan... and the twins.

"Alan, love," she said quietly, touching him on the shoulder. He looked up from talking to Inda, and it was apparent (though his back had been to her the entire time) that he had been extremely upset. He smiled faintly, trying to keep up a pretense that everything was alright. She looked into his eyes, but he kept them safely blank. "I think you should meet my parents."

"Sure, sweetie. Inda," he nodded, "I'll be right back."

"Do I want to know what's going on with Inda?" Mari asked under her breath. "I think I already do, but..."

"Later, okay?" he replied tersely. "Are you sure I have to meet your parents now?"

"Well, it's probably the only time I'll see them for another five years." They were rapidly approaching the Queen's Booth, and Marianna's hand was developing a noticeably tighter grip on Alan's arm.

"Circulation!" he gasped.

"Sorry that." She put on her fake-est smile before interrupting one of Daniela's interminable stories. "Hello, Mom, Dad. This is my husband, Alan."

"Pleased to meet you both," he said, smiling nervously but genuinely. "I'm sorry you couldn't make it to the wedding, but we sort of did it on an impulse."

"I hear you were in government," said Grey. Marianna tried to keep from cringing. Her father was an incurable schmoozer... unfortunately, what Alan had done in the past was far from governmental.

"Yes, but not our government. I was employed as a freelance intelligence agent for various neutral nations. It was a wonderful experience for travel, and I learned a lot of culture. I'm now fluent in eight languages. But I am glad I decided to finally settle down. Ten years of dangerous work can become exhausting," Alan said smoothly. Not exactly a lie, but enough fabrication to keep her parents from flipping out. Mari breathed again.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you, dear," said Darci, turning back to Daniela.

"Mom," Marianna said desperately.

"What is it?" her mother said, politely because there were people around that she didn't consider family.

"I want you to meet--" she cast a mental thought desperately to Dream-- "the twins." Thankfully, Dream and UPChuck materialized at her side, each holding a baby.

"Oh, Dream, you finally managed to stop the tree-hugging and start a family!" Darci exclaimed. Dream was dumbstruck.

"No, Mom!" cried Mari, close to tears. "They're mine! Alan's and mine."

"Oh." The response was wooden, and Darci turned again to Daniela.

Mari managed to wait until she got into the kitchen to burst into tears, and then had to deal with cooks and waitresses staring at her. Alan propelled her down the stairs to the basement apartment, Dream and UPChuck following with the twins.

"Marianna," he said, "my love... don't let people get to you."

"But she's my mother!" she wailed. "My parents don't even care that I exist! I'm the only one who ever put up with their foolishness about matchmaking, and they still love Dani and 'Dora more!"

Dream sat on the couch where Mari was sobbing into Alan's shoulder and smoothed Jamie's hair as he lay over her shoulder. "How much does it really matter? They're hardly ever in Layla:), they're the antithesis of everything you stand for... if they weren't related to you, you wouldn't bother with them."

"But they are, Dream, they are related to me. When they aren't around, yes, it's easy to forget about them. But by the gods, they're my parents. Aren't they obligated to love me?" Pink hairs were cobwebbed across her tear-streaked face, and an unusual hollowness in her cheeks betrayed the recent stress she had been trying to hide. "Why do I always feel so guilty?!"

"Oldest-child complex?" UPChuck offered.

"Do you have it?" she asked him pointedly. She glanced back at Alan, who was trying to rub the tension out of her shoulders. "Do you?" They shrugged, shook their heads. "It's probably a girl thing, right?" she said miserably. "Well, there's no sense in me ruining an otherwise perfectly good party, is there?"

Her husband and friends waited silently as Marianna went into the bathroom, splashed her face with cold water, and fixed her hair. Then, after settling the twins in a cot, the four walked silently up the stairs and back into the Club. Mari would never finish confronting her problems. They were part of her personality.

George was having a wonderful time as well. He'd been dancing mostly with Pandora, as was right (she glanced at the diamond and sapphire ring on her left hand), but he'd also been a great source of entertainment for her friends. He would pick up three or four of them at the same time and parade through the Club. Pandora had done the same thing, at home, and likened it to riding an elephant. A rather cute, sexy elephant. Without a trunk. And he walked erect. Anyway...

Her parents had shown up, surprisingly, but they'd spent the evening talking to Daniela after they gave 'Dora her present. It was a dress, not something she would ever wear, but she was polite. She was their favorite, after all, so why not be nice? She'd have to remember to actually ask for something for Christmas. Looking over at the Queen's booth again, Pandora wondered what it was they were talking to Daniela so much about. Dani looked like she really wanted to get out of there.

Then another friend was grabbing Pandora by the arm, an old boyfriend, and he wanted her to dance with him. She laughed, seeing for the first time how geeky he was, and wondering how she ever could have liked him. Every year, Pandora noticed something different about how weird she was when she was younger. Or maybe she was more normal then. She shook the thought away-- it sounded like something Marianna would think about.

"Dance to the lights on the disco ball!" she sang along with the tape of "Flasher." Then she did a double-take. "'Flasher'? I thought Mari wasn't going to... huh. Who knows?" Again she shrugged it off. It was her birthday. No use in worrying herself about something silly when she was supposed to be celebrating.

"'Dora!" somebody shouted from behind her. Pandora whirled. George was standing about five feet away, and as she turned, he reached his arms out and picked her up.

"Wheee!" she cried as he flung her up to the ceiling.

"Hey, watch it!" cried Mari. "There are expensive lights up there!" Not to mention, if she hits the furniture or a customer as she comes down, there'll be repairs to pay for, she thought sarcastically.

Pandora now had her arms wrapped around George's neck. She loved the way he smelled, and he looked so spiffy tonight. They had searched far and wide for khakis that would fit him, and then searched even further for a shirt. With loafers like boats on his feet, and his long hair neatly combed and brushing his collar, he was irresistable. "I love you, George!" she cried suddenly.

He laughed a deep, sexy laugh, and she snuggled against his huge muscles. Happiness hadn't come easily to Pandora, and she wasn't about to let it get away.