“Lilly, darling. I believe we both know I’m getting old and running out of time.”

“Daddy, don’t say that.”

“But I must, and therefore I have one last request.”

“What’s that?”

“Since Luther wants little to nothing to do with us or our family, I humbly ask of you to bear me a son.”

(a continuation of this)

“Hey, you feeling any better?”

“I will be happy if I never see another cat ever again in my life.”

“You say that every time. Uh, what’s with the cloth?”

“Oh, it was on my face, but once its work finished, I moved it up on my head so I could see. My mom used to do that all the time for me and my older brother when I was a kid.”

“Your brother gets like this too?”

“Heh, yeah. It’s from my dad, apparently, just like the inability to grow a beard. Don’t you have something than runs in your family like that?”

“Hm, I never really thought about that. I mean, from my mother’s side, most of us have double-jointed thumbs. Well, except Lillian, and she’s not too happy about that. Uh, we also share a fondness for imported chocolates.”

“Wow, you rich people sure are boring!”

“Well, what am I supposed to mention? Acne only showing up on our backs and never the face during those awkward teenage years?”

“Haha, really? Now that’s the weird inherited stuff I was looking for.”

“I didn’t know it was all too different from anyone else’s.”

“Well, y’know *yawn* unique genetic chemical thingies. High school *yawn* biology stuff.”

“Antihistamine finally kicking in?”

“’Mmmmyeah. Think so.”

“I’ll go put Francesca to bed, then. Good night, Beau.”

“G’night, babe.”

“Can you believe it, Renee? In less than a week you’ll be a teenager, just like your cousins Louis and Isabelle. I’m so excited for you! Becoming a woman is a big deal! Aren’t you excited, dear?”

“Heh, yeah I guess. You said my interests will change too, right? I want to understand all the things that’ll help me fit in.”

“I can’t wait to be a teenager! Renee, tell me all about it!”