Two very fine appendages fold out and probe into the lock of the door, twisting and pressing, wriggling into the hidden crevices. After a soft thud th...e deadlock opens and the clockwork creature scuttles out of the way just as the door knob turns, the door swinging open as Dara steps over the threshold having been waiting in the unlit alcove of the front porch for over an hour. After shaking off the already melted snow from his overcoat he snapped his fingers, the device folding back in on its. ButLyle didn't think. To Lyle they were merely another obstruction in the wayof his journey to college. Sensing the need to get ahead of the herdbefore they blocked up the escalator, Lyle dived through the group andmade to get through to the escalator.He was just too late. The girls at the head of the group began to moveonto the descending steps before Lyle fully broke through the crowd.Having just stepped onto the moving platform ahead of him, Lyle now foundhis way blocked by dozens of. He was home, also, and very sick. He told me he was sorry about Mary and he didn't know if he or his wife were going to make either. After Ralph called, Dora called. She said that, since Sam, her husband, had died from cancer, she didn't care. I told her I understood but also had to go. She understood and we said our good byes. As I put the phone down, I realized that she may be gone before long.I continued working on my list. As much as I loved this house, it wasn't practical for long run. I think you and your sister would be in some small town, pretending to be Mr. and Mrs. Adams with three or four kids. Both happy and neither of you ever even thinking of being with someone else. That’s how close the bond was.”“Wow,” I sighed. “Now what?”“We keep going. Let me get the usual questions out of the way.”She did, and I gave the same answers.“Let’s talk about power in your relationships now. I know you’ve told me it’s changed. Do you feel anyone has power over you at this point?”I.