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gallery, being framed. Meantime, your dad has had a long, hectic day, and he needs to kick back and take a breather. So where's your sister?"
    "Upstairs. She says she's doing her homework, but she's probably hanging out on Facebook. So where are you going to hang the pictures, once you get 'em? It's not like we have tons of wall space left, you know. I swear, our house is turning into one big art gallery."
    "Your mother and I are art collectors, Ben. And who knows, maybe someday we can sell off some of our collection to pay for your college education."
    "Gee, Dad, why don't you let a guy get through the fourth grade first." Ben reached for a slice of the pepperoni pizza and began to walk away.
    "Where are you going?"
    "To watch some TV , if that's okay."
    "As long as it's Disney Channel or Nick at Night."
    "I know, Dad."
    Ben disappeared. Scott listened to the sounds from the television set in the family room while he enjoyed his pizza. Finished, he put his plate in the dishwasher and headed upstairs. He walked down the hallway, softly tapping on one of the doors before opening it.
    "Hey, Sarah. What's up?"
    "Hi, Dad. I'm busy doing my homework."
    "No Facebook," Scott bluntly announced.
    "But Dad." He heard the whine in her voice.
    "Don't 'but Dad' me. You know the rules, and don't think for one minute that just because you're fifteen now I can't spank you. No Facebook for you young lady until you're homework is finished. Period. That means all of your homework, too. And yes, I will be going over your Facebook wall later on tonight, just like I do every night."
    Sarah began to grumble, but Scott stood his ground until she exited Facebook and opened the files with her homework assignments.
    "I'll be back to check on you later, and I'd better not be catching you on Facebook."
    He closed her door and headed down the hallway, walking into the master bedroom. "So how are you feeling?"
    Maggie Andrews had been bedridden with a bad cold for the past three days. He could see that the color had finally returned to her face, but her nose was still bright red. Her fair complexion and short blonde hair made it even more noticeable.
    "I think I'm slowly returning to the land of the living." The sound of her voice revealed that she was still heavily congested. "So how was the show at Hanson Sisters? Was it as good as the last one?"
    "It sure was, and I bought two new pieces to add to our collection of nudes."
    "Really?"
    "Yes," He motioned to the photos of a blonde nude on one of the walls. "This time the model is a brunette, a really pretty one too, and the photos are nicely done. They have to be framed. They should be ready day after tomorrow."
    "I see. So where do you think we should put them?"
    "How 'bout right here." He pointed to the wall directly above Maggie's head. "Over the bed is perfect. We can find a spot somewhere downstairs for the painting that's there now."
    "All right. I should be up and about in the next couple days, so I'll pick them up and hang them over our bed."

Seven
     
    C arrie heard the beep from her cell phone. She picked it up off the coffee table and smiled. It was a text message from Scott, asking if she was busy that day.
    "Not too busy for you," she replied.
    It was a Saturday morning. She'd just returned from doing her laundry and had no place special to go. Her phone beeped again. This time Scott wanted to know if he could stop by.
    "Of course," she replied. She gave him her address and took her phone with her as she headed off to change her clothes. Scott soon replied to let her know he'd be there in about an hour. Exactly one hour later she heard a knock at her door.
    "Come on in, Scott. It's good seeing you again."
    "Likewise, although I now have those two photos of you hanging on the wall over my bed. You're the last thing I see before I go to sleep at night, and the first thing I see when I get up in the morning."
    "I see." His comment, while well meaning, still made her feel a little ill at