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"It's getting close to lunchtime," observed Abby, glancing at the clock. "Do you want to stay? I could bring your meal in here."

"I'll make it up to you," he said, gratefully.

"That's enough of that," sighed Abby, standing up. "Let's pretend that you're not so desperate, all right?"

Abby put Jake's wet clothing into a grocery bag so she could take it to the laundry room, which was located outside, near the back of the house.

When she reached the living room, her parents and Terry were waiting for an explanation.

"What was all that about?" asked John. "I actually heard you shout at Jake!"

"Everything's all right now," assured Abby, struggling to smile. "I had to bend his arm, but he decided to stay for lunch."

Izumi looked at John, who looked at Terry.

"Is that all?" asked Terry.

"He needs my help," explained Abby. "I'm doing the best I can. Now that the crisis has been averted, I have to go to the laundry room and put these in the washing machine."

"I guess that's that," sighed John, as she left the room.

Since the excitement seemed to be over, the two men began to relate to Izumi what had happened on their business trip, and how they had resolved the "anomalies," (a fancy word for bugs), in their client's network. Just as Izumi was about to ask a technical question, she was interrupted.

"Mom!" Abby shouted from the kitchen door. "Where's the laundry detergent?"

"It should be on the top shelf!" Izumi called back, from the living room.

A few moments later, Abby shouted,

"I don't see it!"

"Then I guess we're out, Sweetheart!" replied Izumi.

"We're running out of everything," sighed Abby. "Do you want me to go to the store now, or after lunch?" she shouted.

"Lunch will be running late," said Izumi, coming into the kitchen so she wouldn't have to shout across the house. "You might as well go now. And, while you're at it, pick up a dozen eggs, two loaves of bread, a quart of nonfat milk... here, just take the grocery list. Are you going to take you-know-who with you?"

"And risk having a repeat of this morning?" cried Abby. "Jake's coming with me!"

Abby pulled the jeep in front of the house and went inside.

"Jake," she announced, coming into the bedroom and grabbing her purse, "I have to go to the grocery store again. I'm taking you with me."

Jake, who had been watching the fish in Abby's large aquarium, immediately jumped up and was ready to go. As they passed through the living room, Terry and John smiled politely at Jake, but the young man kept his head down and stayed hard on Abby's heels.

As they got into the jeep, Dr. Gregory, who was still fishing with a few others on the waterfront, waved a friendly good-bye to Abby.

"That's Dr. Gregory," explained Abby, as they drove away. "By the looks of those gray clouds," she observed out loud, "it looks as if we're going to be in for another stormy night."

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