A Pet

"How can you let him go?" Kit breathed. "I'd keep him for ever."

"His place is out there. You can't keep anything that wants to go; it's in his nature to be free."

"But you could make him into a pet ... "

"No, that wouldn't work. Anything or anyone who is meant to be free will go."

Kit shivered. It was as if Sister Madeleine was looking into the future.

Helen went slowly down the stairs and into the pharmacy. She gave a wan little smile. "It's like the shoemaker's children never behing shod... I can't find an aspirin up in the bathroom." she said.

He ran to get a glass of water and put out two little tablets for her. His hand lay over hers for a moment.

She smiled the same feeble attempt to respond to him. "You look washed out, love.. did you not sleep?" Martin McMahon spoke very fondly. "I didn't actually. I kept walking around. I hope I didn't wake the house."

"You should have come in to me. I'd have fixed you something to make you sleep."

"Ah, I don't like calling you in the middle of the night. It's bad enough not wanting you in my bedroom, I don't want to be raising your hopes."

"The hopes are always there, Helen. Maybe some day?" His face looked eager. She was silent.

"Or some night?" he smiled. "I have to talk to you, Martin."

He looked concerned; immediately he felt her forehead. "What is it, love? A fever?"

"No, no it's not that."

His eyes were wide with distress. "WEll, tell me about it, and don't be putting the heart across me... "