Nickolai was still surprised by the sheer strength she demonstrated when she wanted to.Nickolai was still surprised by the sheer strength she demonstrated when she wanted to. She turned and sat down next to him. "And I've managed to convince her that you're not a little boy anymore." "I did not say that," Ms Dittrich said. "Ms Dittrich. We agreed that he is sixteen years old, and therefore he, like me, is capable of making his own decisions." Nickolai's mother smiled an embarrassed smile. "Perhaps it is sometimes difficult to accept that he is not my little boy, anymore." Nickolai's face flushed with embarrassment as he stared at his mother. He almost failed to notice Furry coming in from the side; he turned just in time for her lips to meet his. There was a sudden burst of applause, at first from two pairs of hands, then three. Furry backed away from him, her nose as dark as his face. They both fell back onto the hospital bed, giggling. "You know," Shardik said, "I think they're gonna be okay." "Come," Nickolai heard his mother say. |