Kit put up her hands and watched her stubborn sister walk back inside.

Bette’s room…

Alice, Bette’s best friend since the first grade looked behind her when she heard the chime. She was dressed in the same white blouse, black slacks, and BuyArtMart badge, the same as Bette. Unlike Bette who taught basic art lessons at the BuyArtMart, she worked customer service at the BuyArtMart, right after graduating high school. Big Charlotte, the BuyArtMart manager- a hefty woman of fifty two with a deep loud voice that spoke authority, thought her high energy and ability to talk the ear out of anyone would be an asset for customer service. So nine to five – Monday to Friday Alice owned and manned that desk.

“Wow! Look! Blast from the past Helena Peabody just sent you a message.” Alice shouted, as she brought a paintbrush to her nails.

Bette who was bummed about being reminded of Kelly Freemont sat up from her bed and threw the covers off.

“Maybe she remembered your birthday!” Alice continued blabbering as she painted her other hand. Bette looked at her and shook her head.

“You know it’s time for you to go home.” Bette took back her paint brush that Alice had been using to paint her nails with. Sometimes she wanted to choke Alice, but she had always been there for her and she loved her despite everything. Alice was a great friend.

“Is it that time?”

“It is, buddy. Pedal safe!” Alice didn’t have enough money with a BuyArtMart job to own a car. She did however have a gorgeous purple huffy bike from high school that she tricked out, it had a silver bell. It was her pride and joy.

Bette stood in front of her iMac with her arms crossed. She wondered what may have had gotten into Helena to have all of a sudden send her a message. She contemplated wondering whether or not to open or trash the email. There was so much thought.

She opened it.

A torrentof images invade the monitor.

"A virus?  Hey thanks, Helena."

She sees pictures: Bacon. Owls. A cup of tea. Tootsie pops. A Professor doing maths. A polar bear. Old couples at the beach. Splash. Strange. The images pick up , Bette is transfixed. Her face goes slack, her hands begin to shake. Something’s happening. Finally she blinks, and –BOOM! — Sunlight fills the room.