?Thanks. You’re a real friend.?Lucy smiled. ?Don’t mention it.? Lucy wanted some time alone to think, so she went out to the field and sat in the ...bleachers while Cindy and the other cheerleaders practiced. She lit a cigarette and took a puff. It felt good to relax after being cooped up in classes all day. Knowing she wasn’t supposed to smoke on school grounds made her feel even more audacious.Lucy knew she thought different than most of the other girls. All they wanted to talk about was boys. The day before I had gone in for my CAT scan, something I had put off for nearly three months. I kept referring to it as a CAT test, being reminded of those quizzes in high school where it was imperative that only a number two pencil be used. That mental image kind of alleviated the grievous seriousness of the scene, kind of enlightened the situation. Perhaps too much, seeing how I put it off for so long. So, finally, I did go, deciding that I should at least get it out of the way, even. There was a soft knock at my door and when I said, “Come in!” Chardonnay peeked shyly through a crack in the door.“Daddy, do you have time for me?” She asked.“I always have time for you honey,” I answered.Brandy started to get up, but Chardonnay said, “Please stay Brandy. I want to talk to you too.”Brandy sat down, looking puzzled.Chardonnay came in and crossed the room to sit on my lap. She kissed me like she meant it, and smiled at me.“Daddy, you are the only person I always want to make love. Oh no!Using the tongs, she carefully laid the strip across my throat. Itwas cold, and squirmed a little as if trying to make itself morecomfortable, and then I couldn't feel it anymore. Janice held up amirror so I could see my throat. There was nothing there, nothing atall. The skin appeared fresh and entirely unblemished."Amazing, isn't it?" she said. "It gets absorbed into the body soquickly no one would ever know it was there. But it is. Oh, andbefore I forget...."She stripped the wristband.