"It says here that they bloom at any time of the year! All they need is about a month to grow and they come in a variety of colors." Burt pointed happily at the catalog he held in his wrinkled hands. His chair creaked as it rocked back and forth on the platform it rested on; a platform that was about fifteen feet off the ground so he could easily talk with Laura as she lay her giant body out under the Nevada sun.

  "That sounds good Burt. We can plant fields of them for the kids to play in. It shouldn't be too hard to bring more of the river closer to town."

  "Not for you darlin'."

  She smiled.

  "That should give us all of the water we need."

  There was a light scream and Laura lifted herself up to her elbows and shook her head at the children playing on top of her.

  "Be careful you guys. I may be thin, but it's still a long way down."

  Lucy giggled as she stood back up, her shoes drifting through the soft and fine hairs on her stomach. Cindy, the oldest of the Wilson children, pointed downward as she spoke in her raspy voice.

  "She, um ... Lucy just tripped on your ... um ... on your navel."

  "I know," Laura's voice was soft and dulcet; care and love exuded from her words, "It kind of tickled."

  "Laura?" Timothy, another one of the town's young children, raised his hand and waved it anxiously.

  "What is it Timothy?"

  "Can we play with our Pokemon cards up here?"

  The two little girls clapped their hands in excitement.

  "Ooo!"

  "Please?"

  Laura nodded happily.

  "Sure, just remember to be careful. You know how your parents are about you falling."

  "We'll be all right."

  Burt grinned in appreciation.

  "Cute little rascals. Ahh, to be that young again." He turned his head as he heard footsteps climbing the stairs to the platform. He waved as he saw Mr. Wilson approaching. "How you doin' Chris?"

  "I'm doing fine Burt. Having fun Cindy?"

  "Yes daddy."

  "Thanks a lot for helping out with the kids Laura."

  "It's fine Mr. Wilson. I don't mind."

  "We should have lunch cooked up in a minute."

  "What are we having daddy?"

  "Hot dogs!"

  All of the kids broke out into a joyful chorus. Laura's brow furrowed with a shameful expression that Christopher Wilson quickly waved away.

  "Don't worry Laura, there's plenty for everybody. We found a great store of money at Wilbur's place that we can use to keep shipments of food coming for quite a long while. Now that you've helped get the phones back up we'll start placing orders. It's small town with plenty of room, so we shouldn't have much trouble keeping you away from prying eyes when the occasional supply truck comes. We'll be fine until we get the farm going, which shouldn't be long with your help."

  "But it was my fault the phones are out to begin with; and so many other things."

  "Laura, I can't say I can begin to understand what you had gone through. All I can say now is that I'm sorry I ever added to that misery. Things are better now and I can accept that. So can everyone else."

  Laura looked down, a tear forming in her eye.

  "Thank you."

  "Don't worry about it. Just make sure you get those flower fields blooming gorgeously."

  "I will."

  "Now," he clapped his hands together and looked at the kids again, "who wants lunch?"

  "Me!"

  "I do!"

  "Me too!"

  Lucy stepped forward and climbed up on the thick leather of Laura's new top as she wanted to ask another question.

  "Laura? Can you take us down to the river so we can wash up?"

  "Sure." Laura carefully reached out and scooped up the three children in her hand as she began to stand. Burt and Christopher Wilson watched her golden body climb into the sky, both trying to hide their stunned admiration. "Hold on you guys."

  The kids laughed happily as they held on to her fingers. Laura took long strides towards the rushing water of the river, drifting contentedly in her euphoria of acceptance.

  A hawk screeched overhead, swooping down on a field mouse as it scurried along the top of a giant pile of demolished cars. Two men were sifting through the side of it as they picked choice parts with which to build.

  A mother and her teenage son picked through the remains of Wilbur's store as they collected bags of wheat buns, saving a loaf of buttermilk bread for themselves because they had never had it before.

  Towards the edge of town, nearby the crumbling remains of a small tract house, a couple of older children went to work fixing a huge and soft bed for their town's giantess and new protector; because they wanted to.

  The day grew warmer as the sun heated the fine sand. A dry wind swept up small clouds of dust, rolling over footprints made by growing feet and wiping them away.

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