Jenny looked around with puzzlement as Momma turned off into a direction that she didn’t expect..

"Momma, I thought we were going to Dr Moss’s house so that Betty could learn about the Girl Scouts. Where are we going?"

"Sweethearts, there has been a change in plans. Dr. Moss has found a new public meeting place for the Girl Scout Troop. Even though the troop has been comfortable in the meeting room in her home. She wanted to find a new free public place so the Troop would continue to have a meeting place if for some reason she had to give up being the Girl Scout Troop Leader. One place that she was checking on was available for her to see this afternoon. She asked for us to meet her there instead of at her home."

"Okay, Where are we going?"

"We’re going to the main firehouse in town. They have a meeting room that they let civic groups use. It sounds perfect for the Girl Scout Troup to use. We’d have to bring in the meeting room decorations and put them up before each meeting. Other than that the space is perfect. There are chairs and tables for crafts and a sink area to clean up as well."

"That sounds wonderful. What’s it like?"

"It has a child friendly decoration with a fire safety theme. On one wall is a mural that shows friendly firemen and on the other wall it has a mock up fire engine with real parts from a fire engine in it. There is a screen to do projected video and presentations. All in all its great. All they really want is a contribution to a fire safety charity in return for use of the room which we would want to do anyway."

"That’s really nice, Momma. I’m glad that Dr Moss was able to find such a nice place for us to meet."

"Oh and a reminder to both of you to not give out an address for Tony’s father, Carl Kessler, that Tony’s supposed to be staying with for the summer. Just say that Carl values his privacy and has asked you not to give out his address."

"Okay, Momma. That will be easy to do since we don’t know where he lives anyway."

"That’s my good girls!"

As we drove up into the parking lot behind the fire station, it was empty of cars. The lights were out in the meeting room which had a separate door to the outside.

"Looks like no one is here yet. What do we do now?"

"We can go around to the front and ask the fireman to let us into the meeting room from its other door inside the building. Dr Moss said to speak to a Fireman named Thomas Moore if we were to arrive before she did. Girls, follow me."

Jenny and I followed Momma around to the front of the fire station and she knocked on the door and we were met by a fireman.

"Hello, I’m Teri Hastings and these are my daughters, Betty and Jenny. We were supposed to meet Dr Cindy Moss here. A fireman named Thomas Moore was supposed to let us into the meeting room to see it."

"Hello, Mrs Hastings. I’m expecting you. I’m Thomas Moore. I can let you into the meeting room to wait for Dr Moss to arrive. If you all will follow me."

"Thank you, sir."

He led us to a door and unlocked it and opened it. It was pitch black inside as we three tried to see inside the room. a dim sliver of light let thru the door illuminated the other door and the switch plate for the lights there.

"Ladies, I’m afraid that the only light switch is the one you can dimly see by the other door. Just a ...."

"Errr Ahhhh Oooo! Engine 51, Squad 51 Dispatch to 111 Martin Lane. EMS in contact. Time Out 1:41 PM"

Fireman Moore was already running to get ready to go out on the fire call. He called over his shoulder, "Got to go!"

"Girls, let’s wait in the room. Can one of you go turn on the lights?"

"I will, Momma."

"I’ll go too! Betty, if we hold hands and go it won’t seem so scary till we get the lights turned on."

"Thanks, Sis!"

"Thank you, Girls!"

I took Jenny’s hand and together we braved the dark to get to the other side of the room and the light switch. Before we had gotten too far, all of the sudden the lights came on by themselves and we were surrounded by the sound of girls screaming out,

‘Surprise!’

I could not help it! I squealed right back at them and Jenny joined right in with me. I looked around and saw the room as Momma had described it but in addition there were various banners announcing the Junior Girl Scout Troop #121. Eight cheering girls surrounded us and we found ourselves in a wonderful group hug! Looking back at Momma and the lack of surprise on her face, told me that we had been set up for this surprise. I felt really loved to think that they had all gone to so much trouble to welcome me. Jenny was just as surprised as I was so I knew that she had not been let in on it either.

"Okay Girls! Let Betty and Jenny catch their breaths. Go take a seat in the circle and we’ll make the introductions for everyone."

"You heard Dr Moss. Let’s take our seats girls!"

Not only was I amazed that one of the girls had spoken up like that and the other girls immediately complied but I was also amazed by her appearance. She had a strikingly beautiful and her Girl Scout Uniform had been tastefully augmented in a manner to make a real fashion statement. On top of everything else she seemed to be a bit older than the other girls since she had already begun to develop a figure.

I whispered to Jenny, "What’s got into Paris Triton? I’ve never seen her act like that."

"She’s all sweetness and light around a mixed crowd but we’re all girls here and she assumes the role of queen bee among us."

I wanted to learn more but with the look that Momma gave me, I knew I needed to take my seat and be quiet.

"Girls, I would like you all to meet Betty Hastings. She’s Jenny’s sister and Mrs Hasting’s daughter. It’s an interesting story how she comes to be with us, now when we need her the most. Many of you may know Tony Hastings, Jenny’s brother. What you don’t know is that he is fraternal twins with Betty. When Betty and Tony were born, Mrs Hastings divorced their father, soon afterward. In the divorce settlement, they decided to split up the twins and Betty was raised by her father and Tony by his mother. Recently Betty uncovered the fact that she had a mother and twin brother. Understandably, she wanted to visit her mother and Tony his father. Their parents agreed to a swap for the summer, so Betty is going to be a part of our Girl Scout Troop while she is here. Lucky for us, Betty makes the 10th girl in our allotment for the WNBA Cookie sale tomorrow. I hope that you all will make her welcome. She wasn’t able to be a Girl Scout where she has been living so she’ll need all her help to get her acquainted with us and the way we do things. Betty would you like to say something to the girls?"

"Thank you Mrs. Moss, I’d like to do that. Hi Girls! I’m Betty Hastings and I’m very glad to be here. It’s been wonderful being with my Mother and Sister and I look forward to being friends with all of you here. My Daddy has raised me to be a Tomboy and I am enjoying discovering the joys of being a girl. I am very thankful to be close enough to be around other people since Daddy is a hermit. I’ve also never gotten to be on the internet before so communicating with people and learning things that way is new to me. Thank you for such a warm welcome. I guess that is all that I have."

"I don’t you to be left out Jenny, so you can go next and then we’ll continue introducing ourselves around the circle till everyone has introduced themselves."

"Hi, I’m Jenny Hastings! I’m so glad to finally meet and be with my sister, Betty. Even as short a time that I have known her, I feel like she will be a great asset to our Girl Scout Troop. As much as I love you, Betty, I also love my brother, Tony. I’m going to be glad when he gets to come back home at the end of the summer. It really is hard because they don’t have phone or internet there so I haven't been able to talk to him since he started living with his Daddy"

"Hi, I’m Krissy Moss. I’m our Troop Leader’s daughter. I love to shop and I’d love to help you shop, Betty. When Mom and I ran into you at Target, you seemed to be catching on to shopping just fine. I’m really interested in Medicine and I’d like to be a Doctor like my Mom when I grow up."

"Hello, Betty! I’m Rebecca Moray. My family comes from the Highlands of Scotland. I really enjoy going to Highland games and I’m involved with traditional Scottish dancing."

"Hola, Betty! I’m Adonia Gomez. My family comes from Mexico. I enjoy cooking, especially Mexican dishes."

"Hey, Betty! I’m Keisha Jones. My father is an architect. I really enjoy seeing buildings built in different styles. I feel like I would love to design homes for people which use energy saving technology."

"Hi Betty! I’m Ariel Walker. My parents say that they took one look at my fiery red hair which I get from my Mother and named me after Disney’s Ariel, The Little Mermaid. I enjoy collecting Little Mermaid items. I even have a China doll that my Aunt bought for me of Ariel in her wedding dress which is my most prized possession."

"Hello Betty. I’m Keiko Kendo and I’m of Japanese American decent. I enjoy Japanese Culture and I enjoy traditional dress and the art of our ceremonies."

"Greetings, Betty. I’m Paris Triton. I’m the daughter of Horace Triton, CEO of Triton Industries. I’m the oldest of the girls here and I’m going to be having a huge birthday party next Tuesday that you and all of the girls of our troop are invited to. I’ll be turning eleven but I’ve got special permission to stay with the troop thru the cookie sale. I know that I am speaking for all the girls by saying that you are welcome here, Betty. Anything that we can do to make your stay easier, just ask. Thank you."

"Hi Betty! I’m Buffy Livingston and I enjoy slaying vampires. No not really but you should have seen your face. I am a fan of the series and most science fiction and fantasy television and films. I really loved the new Star Trek movie and I’m making my own red mini dress. I thought Uhura rocked in that movie!

"Thank you Girls! There is refreshments on the table over there and you can get acquainted."

I had hardly gotten up before Paris had come over and put a hand around my shoulder to lead me to a quiet corner of the room. I looked longingly towards the table which had Girl Scout cookies and Punch on it but that was not to be yet.

"Betty, I’m so glad that I can talk to you. You can help me avoid a major disaster."

"What is that, Paris?"

"I’ve got a major crush on Tony. Your brother is a hunk! I just have to have him at my birthday party. I realize that he’s having a chance of a lifetime getting to know his Dad but he can spare a day to be with me on my special day. I can get him a seat on the Triton Corporate Jet so that he can fly out here for the party and fly back right afterward. It will be great. Where do you live with your father, Betty?"

"I’m sorry Paris but my father, Carl Kessler is very private person. I’d get in trouble if I gave the address to anyone."

"That’s not very cool of him, Betty but I don’t want you to get in trouble. Maybe there is another way. Just a second, please."

Paris pulled out her cell phone and pressed a speed dial key.

"Hello, Thomas. Could you do a trace on Carl Kessler, Tony Hasting’s father. He’s a hermit and so he’ll be off the beaten path. ..... Thanks I’ll hold..... Wonderful ... Thank you.. Good bye"

"Hello Daddy. I just have to have Tony Hastings at my birthday party but he’s off at his father’s for the summer. Could you have someone contact his father and offer transportation to my party and back on the corporate jet. Thomas has the address and the details that he found on Tony’s father Carl Kessler...... Thank you, Daddy. You’re the best daddy in the world. Love and Kisses, Byeie!"

"Betty, it’s all set and you can honestly say that you had nothing to do with it. I know that you’ll be glad to have your brother around even if its only for the party, I know that I will!"

I put on my sweetest smile. "I love my brother and it will be so good to be with him. Thank you, Paris!"

I excused myself and found Jenny talking with Momma.

"Momma, I just came from Paris. She’s got a crush on Tony. She tracked down his father and she’s going to offer to fly him down for her birthday party on Tuesday! What are we going to do?"

I looked over at Jenny and she was surprised but Momma looked absolutely terrified. With no answer forthcoming, I wondered if my time as Betty was about to be over before it even got started good.