OK, so here's the sequel to "Everything's Relative." Enjoy!

"Stuck on You" by Mona.

Hello, Reader. Ivy here. My little bro, Zack, has probably told you about our
 family's break in the ice.

It just came as a sudden rush. I mean, for four years, we've barely spoken to
each other. It was just in and out of the house. Sometimes Zack and I would
cross paths with Mom or Dad. (Never both) But we'd only exchange a simple
hello. Unless of course it was a rare exception.

One of those times was around two months ago. I was working out at home. I so
absorbed in my practice, I hadn't even noticed Mom practicing across the
room. Not to mention not noticing that she was watching me. She's a
ballerina, and a talented one at that. I'm more into martial arts.

"I remember when I was your age." she said to me. "I got the part of Odette
in "Swan Lake"; and was so nervous. So I started to keep in shape. I ate a
balanced diet. After my morning ballet class, I went on a strict exercise
regimen. After lunch, I took aerobics, followed by a five mile run. To finish
my day, I swam fifty laps in the local pool." She continued to execute
perfect moves. That's her for you. Always in perfect form!

Sorry I sound so bitter. It's just that Mom is so pushed to the limit. She
manages a multitude of jobs. I'd crack under that pressure. And as for her
physical talent....well, for heaven's sake! She's forty two! Don't you
consider that a little past her prime?

That was two months ago. Two nights ago was our "break in the ice". I won't
go into details, except our broken grandfather clock suddenly started to work
like it was never broken.

The next night, Zack and I took Mom and Dad to the ACME family party. We
entered the room. Boy, was everyone else surprised to learn we actually had
parents. I mean, Zack and I would hide out every party. Or go together. But
that night, Jasmine and the Chief were the only ones who had seen our
parental units beforehand. They both gave smug grins to the others and
chroused "Told you so!"

Oh, how did everyone else react? Well, Tatyanna fainted. Marco spilled cream
over the refreshment table. Half the room gasped. Armando was operating the
record player, but he accidentally made the needle skip. Get the idea?

Last night was a little more calm. Dad had to leave for an overnight
stakeout. (He's a police officer for the San Francisco Department.) I
mentioned a good lead we had on Carmen Sandiego. I was about to say good
night to Zack, but his room was empty. Then I heard his and Mom's voices in
her room.

"Don't panic. She's just....excited." Zack was saying.

"I can't believe it. I'm losing her," Mom had said. "Carmen Sandiego is
blowing Ivy out of my life!"

I listened in more.

"Don't question why Ivy needs to be so free." Zack had ended the
conversation.

I couldn't hear more. I ran to my room and dove into bed.

OK. So my relationship with my mother is distant. It's never been that
healthy. Zack would never understand. In fact, Mom used to take him with her
on her business trips. Together, they learned every language and dialect that
came their way.

What about Dad? Well, he understands me better. Maybe that's because he's had
to play the role of Mr. Mom all these years. Or maybe because he's a
detective himself. I can't give up crimefighting. It's just who I am.

I guess you could say it's in my blood.

And they say if something's in your blood, there's no getting it out.

Anyway, they also say running from your problems never solves them. They're
right on that count. I had a nightmare. Actually, two.

My first one took place in some sort of theatre. Mom was leading me onto this
stage. Seated in the audience were Zack, the Chief, and Carmen. "Read the
script!" Mom commanded.
"So I'll never be another Ivy?" I read. What kind of dream was this?

"Could you maybe put a little more expression in it?" Carmen asked.

"Carmen, I'm going to strangle you!" I called.

The Chief called, "Hey, how about a song?"

"What are your opinions on-" Zack began.

"Don't bother asking!" I yelled. "What are you doing?" As I asked this, Mom
pulled me away.

"Audition's over. You blew it, Ivy,"

I woke up screaming.

Mom ran in. "Ivy, are you all right?"

Well, I certainly wasn't going to tell her about my nightmare. "No, I'm
fine."

Mom gave me a questioning look. But she didn't say anymore.

My second nightmare was even stranger. Zack, fully dressed was shaking me
awake. "Ivy- Ivy- wake up."

"I'm sleeping. Let me sleep." I mumbled.

"I need your help. Meet me in the backyard. I'm going to photograph Mom."

"Why would you need my help with that?" I mumbled.

When I got to the backyard, Zack was positioning the camera. "We're long
overdue for photos. Stay here. I'll get Mom."

He came back. He was holding a painting of Mom.

"That's not her," I said, aghast.

"This will do," was the reply. "What do you think?"

"I think you're chiseling away at her."

"Ivy, what are you implying? That we never got to know our real mother?
Gentle, sentimental, and so easy to upset? Hey, let's forget this thing."

Uh oh. What was this?

"Smile for the camera!" I woke up screaming again. I realized it was just a
dream again. I sighed with relief.

"Ivy, what's all the yelling about?" Zack asked from the hall. He looked
pale.

"Are you feeling all right?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's just a little warm in here that's all."

"Boy, and I thought it was chilly." I mumbled. Maybe I was coming down with
something.

I went down to the kitchen. Mom was there scrambling eggs. "Good morning,
dear," she said to me.

Dear? Was this another dream? Or was I delirious?

Just then, Zack came in. I got a better look. He was definitely sick. His
skin looked gray, his eyes were sunken, and he was sweating.

"Good morning." He said, sinking into a chair.

Mom took one look at him and commanded, "Back to bed!"

"But our clue," my brother mumbled.

Mom nearly flew off the handle. "You are not going to chase criminals in that
condition! You are going straight to bed. You obviously have a fever,"

"What makes you say that?"

"Number one," I cut in. "You are sweating like a gym sock. Number two, your
skin has turned the color of library paste. Number three-"

Mom shot me a warning glance. "Ivy-"

"No offense, Mom. But I am the best monitor of my health," Zack tried to
stand up. He collasped in a crumpled heap. "I'm sick!"

Mom helped him up. "Go back to bed. I'll be right there."

Zack  stumbled to his bedroom. Mom pulled out her cell phone. "I better
cancel my flight to Spain. And now it looks like I'll never get that freezer
defrosted."

Whoa. This is something I don't hear everyday. Mom acting like a real mother.

"Hello? Mrs. White? My son has just come down with something and- what?
Urgent?In two hours? But-"

Time for me to make myself useful. "Mom? Go on your trip. Dad can stay here
with Zack."

Mom looked at me. "I can't do that. Oh, I'm a terrible mother!"

Great. My perfect mother was cracking. "Look, if Zack was dying, and Dad was
out of the country, and you were going to play bingo or something, you'd be a
terrible mother. But you're not."

Mom conceded the point. "Well, I'm going to take his temperature."

A few minutes passed. Zack had a temperature of 105 degrees Fairenheit. No
wonder he was sweating.

I sighed. I called Dad and explained the situation. He said he was going to
come over as fast as he can.

An hour later, I went to ACME Headquarters. I told the story over. The Chief
stared at me like I was nuts. "Hot tip! Carmen was spotted in Kansas City,
Missouri. There's an experimental substance we suspect she's about to steal."

I breathed deeply. "C-5 to Kansas City."

A quick trip via the C-5 and I was in Kansas City. I had landed in a
warehouse of sorts. I saw a flash of red. "Carmen Sandiego, you are under
arrest!"

"Not this time, detective!"

I ran after Carmen. She ran downstairs and ducked into a large room. There
were several vats overhead. I managed to grab Carmen's wrist. I quickly
handcuffed her left wrist to my right. She looked at me blankly.

"Ivy, move away."

"What are you talking about?"

Too late. One of the vats above spilled. Carmen and I were drenched in some
dark gray liquid. I landed on top of her. We tried to untangle, but we
couldn't. The gray liquid was some sort of adhesive. Then we glanced in a
wall mirror and gasped.

Carmen Sandiego and I were attached at the back as well as the wrist.

To Be Continued.....