Saint Joseph School

"Well, it depends on what they think you mean, and what you mean," Kris shrugged. "I guess it's all about the communication. One of the confusing things about English is that so many meanings can be assigned to one word. And, that can make it a bit difficult."

"Well, for right now, I think I should just try to understand Earth before I start trying to understand Boys!"

Absentmindedly, Annie looked at the shrimp and the jam, almost seeming to think through something.

"What else has been happening with you two? It's gotten so busy around here, I totally feel like I'm back in Alpha Centauri getting letters back from students!"

"Uhmmm... Helping Lucky figure out how to secure her powers back," Kris almost asked more than stated, before dropping the volume of her voice to a near mumble. "And... Well... Regaining my sanity little by little."

Annie didn't know what to say as she heard her friend talk about the problems of her own life. Sanity was a term humans used to describe a normal working mind, but Annie saw so many different beings on Earth, each of them with so many ways of describing the same place or situation, it was hard for Annie to fully grasp what a "sane" Earthling was. Sometimes she heard Bad Earthlings like the Freakshow described as "insane", but did that mean that all Earthlings who last some of their "sanity" were bad? No, that couldn't be it! Kintarian Regulators were all male because of their genetic disposition towards EM field manipulation, but not all Kintarian men were Regulators!

"Is Lucia doing all right? It seems so sad whenever I hear about an Earth Hero losing their powers!"

"Yeah," Kris sighed relief. "She's seing a whole array of specialists! Sooner or later, the right one will come along, and she'll be right as rain, again!"

*Francis' distinctive pink mop popped momentarily through the door*

"Oh hey Annie? I'm off to Steel Canyon for lunch with Mis, while I'm there I'm gonna grab that new upgrade for your translator from Cooke's. What model are you running again?"

*leans backwards to look at frankie* "Mis huh?...good choice"

"Uhhhhmmmm, I'm using a Cirrus 7 Multilock trans-species telempathic translation device, I think. It's all kinda over my head, but when I looked at the manual last, they seemed to stress the need for 'biotransitive' thingies. Does that help? Ooooh! And the people that made it, like totally had five arms, Ya hear?"

Annie looked puzzled for a second, trying to figure out what it was that suddenly felt odd about the end of the conversation.

"I-I mean... uhmm, it wold teh roxxor....."

Francis quirked a confused eyebrow.

"Huh?"

"Wow, I'll grab that part...before you dip into a combination of John Wayne and the Beatles. Toodles!"

As Francis left the quad, Annie still looked a bit confused but smiled as her friend left for her date.

"OMG, Phranciz iz teh ub3r! Ha\/3 a g00d t1m3!!1!"

"Franky and Mis, huh? I didn't see that one coming," Kris said with a tone of surprise, but approval. "When did they become a thing?"

"Well I'm glad they did get together...She was spending to much time brooding...",Cricket said with a sigh, "Anyways...about this slumber party Annie..."

"Yeah, Annie! Let's talk plans," Kris said excitedly, turning to her aquatic friend. "How do we want to do this?"

Opens door.

YIPPEE!!! All the ladies are here!!!

Must...install....cameras....to....keep....up....with.....RUMORS!!!!

Cricket glares at the strange boy that has barged into the room. "Get...Out...Now..",she says quietly with narrowed eyes