"Mother, please." I begged. "My back is getting stiff." I thought a moment.
Then I said, "You can gloat later,"

I had half expected her to say something like 'I'll pencil it in." Instead,
she began to pluck nervously at her silver brooch. (One point if you know
it's there. Two if you know it's straight. Three if you know it's perfectly
centered at her blouse's neck. And four points if you know it is all the
above and without a hint of tarnish.) "How did this happen?"

Carmen looked at Mom. "This is something of an inconvience, Mrs.-"

"Call me Katie, Miss Sandiego."

"Well, then, Katie. This is experimental glue."

"Glue?" Mom brightened. "Not to worry, you two. I've got a salve that cuts
through any glue."

Just then, Mom's partner, Mrs. White came in. She's about as nuts as Parter.
She also can never get my name straight.

Please don't notice us. I prayed silently. Please, Mrs. White.

My prayer came too late. Mrs. White saw us and screamed. She dropped her
papers, which scattered everywhere. She continued screaming. Out of the
corner of my eye, I saw Carmen wince.

Mom took Mrs. White's arm. "Mrs. White?"

"Do you see what I see?" Mrs. White snapped. "How could you miss it? Your
daughter is attached to..." she got a better look, and just as I had feared,
recognized Carmen. "Carmen Sandiego! The greatest thief in the world!"

Mom sighed. "Marilyn, calm down. Go down to the lounge and get a cup of tea."

So that's Mrs. White's first name. I never would have guessed. I don't know
why Mom calls her by her surname. They're about the same age.

Mrs. White left. Mom sighed, and began to pick up Mrs. White's papers. "Don't
worry. I'll go buy the ingredients for the salve. I've got plenty of
traveler's checks." She left us in the waiting room. Luckily, no one stopped
by. Carmen and I eased over to the couch. "One, Two, Sit!" We chanted
together, and sat down in synch.

"Ivy?" Carmen asked. "There's one thing I wanted to ask you. You mentioned
your mother as if you were completely dreading running into her."

I sighed. "Do you want to hear the whole story? I wouldn't want to bore you."

"I'm listening."

I decided to tell Carmen everything, half expecting her to laugh or ridicule.
I was wrong. She listened carefully, a thoughtful expression on her face. I
told her about the meeting with Mom two months ago, the nightmares, the turn
of events, Mom's behavior at the breakfast table this morning.

"There's one thing I want to point out?" Carmen said when I finished.

"What's that?"

"The grandfather clock. You said it stopped working, then all of a sudden it
springs to life at just the right second...."

"Carmen, what are you getting at?"

"I'm not sure."

Weeeird!

Just then, Mom came back in with the ingredients of the salve. "I know I
can't do much for your handcuffs, but I think this is the right solution to
your, um, sticky situation."

I had never heard Mom tell a bad pun like that before.

Mom began to mix ingredients.

"Katie?" Carmen called.

"Yes?"

"How do you suppose you ended up with Ivy as a daughter?"

"Do you want the joke answer or the honest answer?"

"Both."

"Well, the joke answer is that I always wrote it off as a mix up at the
hospital. Of course, when Zack came along, that theory was shot. I'm not sure
on the honest answer. Genetics have their own twists and turns that can't be
explained."

Whoa. Two puns.....and within minutes of each other!

Mom stopped her mixing. "It's done now. Let's put it to the test."

To be continued.......