"Don't tell me you don't recognize your younger beautiful sister?" Melissa
said with a smile.  "Florida does wonders for the skin."
  "I noticed."
  Melissa hugged her mother.  She felt the muscles in her back soften.  Her
mother had always said that she looked more like her Aunt Bridget than her.
This just proved it.
  "Come in," Veronica said.
  "Gladly," Melissa said.
  Melissa walked into the house with her suitcase.  She felt the old
memories fighting to come back. She resisted them though.  If she gave in,
she would cry.
  "So what brings you here?" Veronica asked.
  "I'm in California visiting a friend," Melissa lied.  "He stays in
Sacramento but I wanted to pass through here.  Think you could put up with
me for a while?"
  Veronica smiled.  "For my sister...yes.  This is going to be fun!"
  Melissa felt her eyes water.  She shook her head to stop herself.
  "Ronnie, who's there?"
  Melissa looked at the figure coming down the stairs.  He was a very tall
man.  He was clean shaven with a square jaw.  His eyes looked at her with
contempt.  He was definitely not her father.
  "It's my sister Bridget," Veronica said.  "She's visiting from Florida."
  "She couldn't have waited to see you tomorrow," the man said.
  "Brett," Veronica said without looking at him, "she's staying with us."
  Brett's eyes became darker as he looked at Melissa.  "Oh?"
  "She's my sister." Veronica said defensively.  "I wasn't about to let her
stay at a hotel."
  Brett folded his arms across his chest at Veronica.  Melissa turned to see
that her mother was shaking.
  "Is there a problem?" Melissa asked Brett.  She looked defiantly into his
eyes.
  Brett unfolded his arms.  He grinned.  "Not at all.  You'll welcome here."
  Without another word, Brett went back up the stairs.  melissa looked at
Veronica.
  "Charming guy," Melissa said dryly.  "You're not married by chance..."
  "No," Veronica said.
  Melissa breathed a mental sigh of relief.
  Veronica grabbed Melissa's suitcase.  She managed a smile for her.
  "Come on,' Veronica said.  "I'll show you to your room."

  "Where the hell is he?" Brown said the next afternoon.
  Richard laughed.  "Proper, I do believe that's the first time I heard you
cuss.  Welcome to the human race."
  "This isn't funny," Brown said.  "How could he stand up Debra again?"
  "Well, he's you," Richard said.  "I'm sure you know why.  Can we leave
these bushes yet?  I'm starting to itch."
  "I'm leaving anyway," Randy said.  "I want to know where Melissa is."
  "Send us a note when you find her," Richard said.  "I would go myself, but
Proper needs me at the moment."
  "I just don't see how he could stand her up for an hour," Brown said.
  "Do what you got to do," Randy said.  "I'll see you back at the motel."
  Randy came out of the bushes and headed away from the twosome.
  Richard smiled. "I thought he would never leave.  So Proper...why don't
you go out there?"
  "No," Brown said.  "I cannot keep playing the white knight to my double.
I am putting myself at risk by even being here."
  "Why?  Because you might want to stay here with...your true love?"
  Brown looked at Richard.  Richard looked back at him with sadness in his
eyes.
  "Join the club," Richard said bitterly.
  Brown looked back at Debra again.  She saw on the park bench oblivious to
everything around her.  The Darnell of this Earth had stood her up again.
Debra had been sitting on the bench for an hour now.  Brown, Richard, and
Randy had been in the bushes for longer.  He had to do something about this.

  Randy was nearing the exit to the park.  He blocked his eyes from the sun.
  "Where is she?" Randy said to no one in particular.  melissa had not
return to the motel last night.  All of her belongings had also disappeared
during the night.  It made Randy worried.
  "Can't catch me, Aunt Bridget!"
  "We'll see about that!"
  Randy stopped walking.  He turned around and saw Melissa chasing a little
girl.  He recognized the little girl as Melissa's younger double.
  Melissa finally caught the younger girl.
  "Gotcha, Melissa!" Melissa said.
  "It's Lis, Aunt Bridget," Melissa's double said.
  "Okay then.  Lis."
  Melissa hugged Lis.  Randy frowned and started to head over.  Melissa saw
him coming and frowned.  She let go of Lis.
  "Lis," Melissa said, "how about you go find Sarah and your mother?"
  Lis smiled.  "Okay, Aunt Bridget." Lis ran off down the walk.
  Melissa watched Lis run away.  Randy saw her smile as she watched Lis.  he
wondered what she thought of her double.
  Melissa turned to face Randy.  She frowned at him.
  "What do you think you're doing?" Randy said.
  "I'm getting close to my family," Melissa replied.
  "Sarah dies in a few days, huh?"
  "Don't go there."
  "It's the only thing that would make sense...Aunt Bridget," Randy said.
"Isn't that your mother's sister?"
  "Yeah."
  "Melissa--"
  "You're not going to lecture me, are you?"
  "I think you got me mixed up with the Professor."
  The two friends laughed.
  "It's been a while since I've been able to talk to you like this," Melissa
said.  "Like two best friends."
  "Well, we definitely had different opinions on things," Randy said.  "Just
be careful.  We slide on Friday."
  "I will be.  Don't worry about it."
  Melissa  hugged Randy.  He put his arms around her and just held her.  Her
perfume smell great.  He started to pull away quickly.
  "Uh...call later okay."
  "Yeah."
  Melissa headed down the walkway.  Randy watched her for a moment.  He left
the park.

  "Mr. Heim, is everything all right?" Professor Brown asked.
  "I'm okay," Randy muttered.  He sat with his hand holding up his head.
Professor Brown and Richard sat with him at the restaurant.  "You better
pull up your trenchcoat.  Debra will be here any minute."
  "Egghead's right," Richard said.  "We can't have her seeing you."
  "Do you even think this is going to work?" Randy asked Professor Brown.
  Brown pulled the collar of the trenchcoat closer to his face.  He looked
at Randy and smiled.  "It's-It is a plan that I used to get Debra before.
She will think my double is trying to use a beloved memory to bring the tow
of us--of them together.  She will love it.  this plan will get this Earth's
Darnell here."
  "Great work, Matchmaker Proper," Richard said.  "you're have to give me
the blow-by-blow later.  My break's over."
  Randy watched Richard head back to the kitchen.  He turned away to see
Professor Brown looking at him with concern.
  "I'm worried about Melissa, Professor," Randy said.
  "I figure as much," Brown commented.  "Do not worry.  She is only doing
what you wanted me to do...and I am now doing...making sure her love ones
are okay in this world."
  Randy felt his eyes water.  "your ex-wife didn't die in our world."
  "Sometimes...it felt like she did, Mr. Heim.  Think about that."
  "I'm sorry, Professor.  I didn't mean--"
  "It is all right, Mr. Heim," Brown said.  "You are just in love so you are
prone to sticking the proverbial foot in the mouth."
  Randy looked squarely at Professor Brown.  It was an almost whisper.
  "Yeah...I am."

  Melissa washed the plate in the sink. She placed it with the other clean
dishes and smiled.  It felt so much like home.
  Her eyes narrowed for a second.  Except her father was not here.  Brett
was there though.
  Then there was Randy...
  "So who was he?"
  Melissa turned to see her mother leaning against the kitchen door. Her
arms were folded in front of her chest in a loose tone.  Her smile was
teasing and warm.  melissa remembered a time when her mother tease her about
an ex-boyfriend of hers.  She pushed the memory away.
  "What do you mean? Who's 'he?'" Melissa asked.
  "The guy in the park," Veronica explained.  "Lis told me you were getting
'nicey' with some guy."
  "Well, you know San Francisco," Melissa said.  "Always easy to pick up a
guy...harder to get rid of him."
  "Yeah," Veronica said.  "So is this guy a keeper?"
  Melissa put some more plates in the soapy water.  That seem to be the
question among the populace lately.
  "He's okay," Melissa said.
  "He's just not Joe Adventurous, right?" Veronica asked.
  "Oh, he's adventurous all right."
  "What's the problem then?"
  "I don't know," Melissa admitted.  "It's just...I have to give part of me
that's been hurt too many times...or someone I--this is silly."
  "Come on, Sis," Veronica said.  "You're talking to me."
  "Well, if I'm going to talk," Melissa said, "you better help with the
dishes."
  Veronica smiled and walked over to the kitchen sink.  She rolled up her
sleeves and started to rinse the dishes.  Melissa frowned at her.
  "What's that?" she asked.
  "What?" Veronica said.
  "When did you get that bruise?" Melissa asked as she grabbed Veronica's
right arm and saw the purple bruise.
  "Ah!" Veronica yelled.  "Careful."
  "Well?" Melissa demanded.
  "I fell earlier," Veronica said.  "It happened after we got back from the
park.  I wasn't watching where I was going and...Brett always says--"
  "It's okay," Melissa said flatly.  "Let's finish up here."

  "So you admit it?" Professor Brown asked Randy.
  "Yeah...I'll finally say it," Randy said.  "You were right."
  "Why don't you tell Melissa your feelings?"
  "Why should I?" Randy said.  "It's pretty obvious she sees me as the good
friend and Richard ThiefBoy as the prize. Then there's Ben...he's my
roommate.  That's tacky."
  "Not to be devil's advocate, but...it might be a long time before we get
home.  Why just let an opportunity pass you by?  Tell Melissa and let her
make up her own mind."
  "Speaking of lady loves," Randy said, "yours just walked in...alone."
  Professor Brown pulled his collar closer to his face.  Still he ventured
to look at Debra.  She was talking to the bartender at the moment.  Richard
came out of the kitchen and saw her.  he looked over at Brown.  Brown looked
at him and back at Debra.  She found a table and sat down to wait.
  "Well, she's here," Randy said.  "Where are you?"
  "I wish I knew," Brown said.  "If he does not show up, I'll--"
  "He's here," Randy cut Brown off.  "Whatever you said did the trick."
  "Darnell!" Brown heard Debra say.
  "What is this all about?" Brown heard his double say.  "I got this letter
to meet here."
  "So did I," Debra said.  "Mine was from you."
  "Mine was from you as well.  What's going on?"
  "Maybe Cupid is playing matchmaker," Debra said.
  "Or my father did.  He thinks he can make up for years of aband--"
  "No more anger talk.  You're here. I'm here.  Let's dine."
  "I have several papers..."
  "You can put if off for one evening."
  "No, I can't."
  "Contractions, Darnell?  Looks like I'm getting to you."
  "I am sorry, Debra.  I got to go.  Maybe we can lunch tomorrow."
  There was a pause.  Brown looked at Randy.  He looked back at Brown with
sad eyes.
  Debra spoke first.  "Fine. Whatever you want."
  "Really?"
  "Go.  It's your work after all."
  "Thank you.  I will see you tomorrow."
  "He's leaving," Randy whispered to Brown.
  "What? But--" Brown started to whisper, but stopped.  "Where is Debra?"
  "She's sitting down and she's crying," Randy whispered.
  Brown turned to look in spite of himself.  Debra's sobs could be heard
before he even looked.  She was crying at the table.
  "This can't go on," Brown swore.

  "You're fun, Aunt Bridget," Lis said as she caught the ball.
  "Yeah, Aunt Bridget," Sarah said.  "Do you really have to leave tomorrow?"
  "Yes, you two," Melissa replied as Lis threw the ball to her.  "I got a
lot of traveling to do so I'm going to have to go."
  "But you are going to come back, right?" Lis asked.
  "And take us to the park like today?" Sarah added.
  Melissa looked at the two girls.  She had gotten to know herself and her
sister over the last few days.  And they wished she would come back.  Could
she say that she would?
  Melissa smiled.  "I'll come back...promise.  Now...catch!"
  Melissa threw the ball over near the pond.  Lis and Sarah raced for it.
Each one reached it and struggled for it.  Melissa smiled as she had with
her sister.
  "There you are!"
  Melissa turned to see Brett standing in front of her.  She stepped back
away from him without meaning to.
  "They're fun little rugrats, huh?" Brett asked.
  "Yes, they are," Melissa said.
  Brett's eyes narrowed in on Melissa.  She stepped back away from Brett.
  "Why are you here, Bridget?" Brett asked.
  "I could ask you the same thing, Brett," Melissa said.  "Only difference
being that I'm family."
  "I think it would be good for everyone if you left...today."
  "Nice.  You know the art of wishful thinking.  Now if you excuse me--"
  Brett grabbed Melissa's right arm.
  "You're not going anywhere!" Brett barked.
  Melissa looked Brett squarely in the eye.  "I think you got me mixed up
with one of those helpless women types.  Now let go of me or..."
  "Brett, what are you doing?"
  Melissa looked to see Lis and Sarah giving them questioning glances.
Melissa looked at Brett.  He let go of Melissa's arm.
  "Brett just wanted to wrestle a little, girls," Melissa said.
  "Like what he does with Mom without marks?" Lis asked.
  Melissa looked at Brett with a glare.  Of course, Lis would notice things
like that.
  "Lis, hush!" Sarah barked.
  "Why don't you shut up?" Lis countered.  "It's true!"
  "No!"
  Sarah hit Lis across the face.
  "Sarah!" Melissa cried out.
  "She had it coming," Brett commented.
  Melissa kneeled down and hugged Lis who had started to cry.  She looked
over at Sarah.  Sarah was looking down at her feet.  She stared at Brett.
  "I think you need to stay away from my family."
  Brett grinned.  "This is my family.  Get used to it."
  Melissa continued to hug Lis.  Brett's shadow vanished.
  "I'm sorry," Sarah said.  "I'm a bad person."
  "Don't say that," Melissa said.  "You're okay."
  Melissa hugged Sarah.  She felt Sarah's tears fall on her shoulder.
  "Let's go home."

  Brown stormed into the motel room.  He slammed the door behind him.  Randy
stopped playing the guitar and looked at the sweating Professor.
  "Rough day in the office?" Randy asked.
  "That bastard!" Brown exploded.  "I can't believe he's me!  He's throwing
everything away and he doesn't realize it!"
  "I think that was three contractions, Proper."
  Randy turned to see Richard fresh out of the shower. He grinned and sat on
the bed.
  "Mr. Hall, shut up!" Brown barked.
  "Amen," Randy said.  "Now, what are you going to do?"
  "Yeah," Richard added  "We leave tomorrow around noon."
  "I guess that means I will have to act tonight then," Brown said.  He
headed for the door.  It slammed behind him.
  "So where's Melissa?" Richard asked.
  "She called earlier," Randy said.  "She's still hanging with herself.
We'll meet up with her tomorrow."

  "Veronica!" Melissa thought her mother's name sounded hollow.
  "I'm in here!"
  Melissa headed into the living room.  Her mother was sweeping the floor.
Melissa folded her arms.
  "We need to talk," Melissa said.  "I know Brett hits you."
  Veronica stopped sweeping.  She stared at the floor.
  "It's not his fault.  I make him mad."
  "Bullshit!" Melissa said.  "It is his fault.  He has a problem."
  "No, he--"
  "Yes, he does."
  Veronica looked at Melissa with hatred in her eyes.  "Aren't you high and
mighty now?  You think you're better than me."
  "Don't go there," Melissa said.  "What happens when he gets angry at Lis
or Sarah?  You got to leave him."
  "You don't think I've tried," Veronica snapped.
  "Try harder," Melissa said.  "We can even pack you up now and you can stay
at--"
  A hand grabbed Melissa's arm.  She only had time to see the fear in
Veronica's eyes. Melissa was forced around and found herself face to face
with Brett.
  "You bitch!" he barked.
  His fist was aimed at Melissa's face.  He swung it.

  Professor Darnell Brown sat at his desk.  He was busy grading papers.  The
door swinged open and he did not look up.
  "What is it, Barbara?" Darnell asked.
  "It is not Barbara," the familiar voice said.
  Darnell looked up and dropped his pen.  His jaw stood open.  The gasp had
escaped moments ago.  A man stood before him.  A man who looked just like
him.
  "Who are you?" Darnell demanded.
  "Think of me as your conscience," the man said.  "I have seen how you have
treated Debra...your WIFE.  Do you not realize you are driving her away?"
  "I am a busy man," Darnell said.  "She understands."
  The man grinned at Darnell.  "I thought that once.  I thought that Debra
would understand my late hours and step outs. In the end, you are going to
lose her...just like me."
  "Who are you?" Darnell asked again.
  "I am you and I know what I am talking about."
  "How--"
  "Just think about the Einstein-Rosen-Polosky Bridge.  You will figure it
out."
  Darnell knew what this...alternate...meant.  He knew the theories.  It
meant this was...himself...from an alternate dimension.
  "Go home," the alternate Brown said.  "I am sure that she's waiting for
you.  Tell her that she is special.  I must go, but think about what you are
doing...before it is too late to think."
  The alternate left his office.  Darnell put his hands together.  He
thought.  then he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
  He paused for a second.  He walked back to his desk and dialed a number on
the phone.
  "Have I told you lately that I love you, girl?" Brown said into the phone.
  "I'm coming straight home.  See you then."

  "I got my last paycheck," Richard said as he came out of the restaurant.
  Randy was staring down the street.  He had not even noticed that Richard
was beside him.
  "Egghead!  What's wrong?  Sad over that guitar?"
  "A little," Randy admitted.  "I'm worry about Melissa.  She should have
been here."
  "So should Proper," Richard added.
  "Here I am," Brown said as he neared the two of them.  "I was just
checking on the lovebirds."
  "And?" Randy asked.
  "The lunch dates in the park are back on," Brown said.
  "Yeah, all's right in this world," Richard said, "except we can't find
Melissa."
  "What?  How long 'til--"
  "Not long," Randy said.  "Let's go.  She gave me the address."

  "They're arguing again," Lis whispered to Sarah from across the room.  "I
wish our real dad was here."
  "I can't take this anymore," Sarah said on her bed.
  "Where are you going?" Lis asked as she looked over at Sarah.
  Sarah wiped her tears away as she grabbed her backpack.  She hugged Lis.
"Any place is better than here."
  "I want to go," Lis said.
  "Someone has to watch over Mom," Sarah said.  "Now sshh."
  Sarah opened the door to her bedroom slowly.  She ran over to the stairs.
She caught a glance of Brett screaming at her mother.  She felt her tears
start again.
  She ran down the stairs and out the door.

  Melissa made it up the basement stairs.  Her jaw hurt like hell, and she
could barely keep from passing out again.  It was now or never.
  She opened the door and looked out.  She saw a figure shut the front door,
but could not see who it was.
  "Get back here!" A man's voice yelled out.
  "No! I'm going to check on my sister!  She was right!  I should have left
you a long time ago!" Melissa heard her mother yell.
  Veronica came running down the stairs.  Brett was right behind her.   He
pushed her into the front door.
  "I'm not done with you!" Brett said.
  Melissa saw the vase. She managed to get behind him and swung it at his
head.  He fell to the floor unconscious.
  "Ma-Veronica!" Melissa said.
  "Bridget! Thank God! I--"
  "Where are Lis and Sarah?" Melissa asked.
  "They should be in their room."
  "No, they're not," Melissa said.  She knew better.
  She ran for the front door and gasped at the sight she saw.  She ran out
without thinking.

  Sarah was in the middle of the street when she turned to take a last look
at her home.  then she frowned.  Lis was right behind her.
  "What are you doing?" Sarah demanded.
  "Following you," Lis answered.
  "You need to go back," Sarah said.
  Lis stepped into the street.  "I won't."
  "Yes, you will!"
  "No, I won't."
  "Yes, you--"
  The horn brought Sarah back to reality.  She turned to see a van heading
straight for her.
  "Oh...my..."

  Melissa cut across the yard.  The distance became shorter between her and
Sarah. Sarah had stopped arguing with Lis and now stared at the van bearing
down on her.  Her eyes grew wider by the second.
  "Oh...my..." Melissa heard Sarah say.
  Melissa grabbed Sarah and fell down on the other side of the street.  She
turned to see the van turn to avoid where Melissa and Sarah had been.  In
the process, the van was now bearing down on Lis.
  Lis screamed.
  "No!" Melissa screamed.
  A figure came out of nowhere and grabbed Lis and they fell out of the way
of the van.  Melissa saw the van stop.
  "Lis!  Sarah!" Veronica yelled out as she ran to the van.
  "I'm sorry," the man in the van said.  "They came out of nowhere."
  "Sarah's okay," Melissa said to Veronica.  "Melissa?"
  "She's fine."
  Melissa smiled.  It was Randy.  He held Lis in his arms and smiled back at
Melissa.
  "I was starting to worry," Randy said to Melissa.
  "Mom!" Lis said.  She ran over and hugged Veronica.  Sarah did likewise.
  "We gotta go," Randy whispered to Melissa.
  "But--" Melissa whispered.  She sighed sadly.  She saw that Lis and Sarah
was okay.
  "I'm so glad you're okay," Veronica said to her children.  "I'm never
going to let you go.  I promise you things are going to change when Brett
leaves."
  Melissa smiled.  That was the answer she needed to hear.  She walked away
with Randy.

  Richard hugged Melissa as soon as she entered the alleyway.
  "Are you okay?" he asked.
  "Yeah," Melissa said.
  "It is time," Brown announced.  He pulled out the timer and aimed at a
wall.  the wall dissolved into a circle of blue light.  Wind started to blow
trash all around.
  Brown jumped into the wormhole first.  Richard followed him.  Randy was
able to jump next when Melissa hugged him.
  "What was that for?" Randy asked.
  "Thank you for what you did!" Melissa yelled over the wind.
  "Well...I love you!" Randy yelled out.
  Then he jumped into the wormhole.  Melissa was shocked, but she had no
time.  She jumped into the wormhole after him.
 

  THE-END

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