"After I grow up."

"Why not now?" asked Jonathan.

The blond head sank lower. "Because you framish, Daddy."

His father nodded, trying to look wise, wincing inwardly as he
pictured his colleagues listening in on this conversation. "Well--why
don't you help me so I _don't_ framish?"

"I can't." Richie glanced up, his eyes stricken. "Some day, Allavarg
says, _I'm_ going to framish, too!"

"Grow up, you mean?" hazarded Jonathan, and this time his smile was
real as he looked at the smudged eyes and soft round cheeks. "Why,
Richie," he went on, his voice suddenly husky, "it's fun to be a
little boy, but there'll be lots to do when you grow up. You--"

"I wish I was Mr. Easton!" Richie said fiercely.

Jonathan held his breath. "What about Mr. Easton?"

Richie squirmed out of the chair and clutched Jonathan's arm. "Please,
Daddy! If you let Mr. Easton go back, can I go, too? Please? Can I?"

Jonathan put his hands on his son's shoulders. "Richie! What do you
know about Mr. Easton?"

"Please? Can I go with him?" The shining blue eyes pleaded up at him.
"If you don't let him go back pretty soon, he's going to framish
again! Please! Can I?"

"He's going to framish," nodded Jonathan. "And what then?" he coaxed.
"What'll happen after he framishes? Will he be able to tell me about
his trip?"

"_I_ dunno," said Richie. "I dunno how he _could_. After you framish,
you don't remember lots of things. I don't think he's even gonna
remember he _went_ on a trip." The boy's hands shook Jonathan's arm
eagerly. "Please, Daddy! Can I go with him?"

"No!" Jonathan glared and released his hold on Richie. Didn't he have
troubles enough without Richie suggesting--"About the nursery," he
said briskly. "Why is there a nursery?"

"To take care of us." Richie looked worried. "Why can't I go?"

"Because you can't! Why don't they have the nursery back where
Allavarg came from?"

"There isn't any room." The blue eyes studied the man, looking for a
way to get permission to go with Mr. Easton.

"No room? What do you mean?"

Richie sighed. Obviously he'd have to explain first and coax later.
"Well, you know my school? You know my teacher in school? You know
when my teacher was different?" He peered anxiously at Jonathan, and
suddenly the man caught on.

"Of course! You mean when they split the kindergarten into two smaller
groups because there were too many--"

* * * * *

His voice trailed off. Too