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"Honestly, Osmo, I think you have had enough! Besides, I thought you had cut back on your drinking." Sheila Bright held onto his arm while he tried to use it to lift the glass to his lips.

Annoyed, he belched loudly- Sheila hoped the other patrons of the Tourist Trap paid no attention to his behavior while the two sat at a small table- then Osmo Martin switched the glass from his impaired arm and hand to the unrestrained arm and hand, and promptly downed the beverage. "So, Darlin’, you thought I gave up the booze, huh? So did I- but I thought wrong before- like the time I thought I was a friend to Albert and Jane. Huh, with friends like me- I don't even know what happened to Al, or where he went- I shoulda done something that day to help my pals!!”

She put her arm about his shoulders. "Osmo, enough of this! What possibly could you have done?! They were nice companions of ours, yes, but they fell in with the wrong crowd, apparently, like Mrs. McCleer."

"Sheila, they attended the same school I did. I played hookie with Al, for crying out loud! We went to parties and stuff together, except when Jane wouldn't let Al. Those were the days..."

"Osmo, you must get hold of yourself," Sheila Bright insisted.

Neither noticed during their conversation that Mita Morgan had entered the club. She came over to the table and greeted them. "Ah, so you two are here tonight. Great. I get to see you one last time." Mita Morgan wheeled her suitcase and a small carry-on bag on top.

Osmo Martin stared gloomily at his empty glass. Sheila turned to Mita Morgan and brightened. "How nice to see you tonight," said Sheila Bright. "Osmo isn't very good company at the moment."

Mita sat down with her own beer. "I am not sure I am much better company, Sheila.”

Sheila finally observed Mita's luggage. "Hey, Mita, what's that all about?"

Mita Morgan said, "I don't see the point of staying anymore. The World of Hope is no longer fun."

"It'll sure be a lot less fun for me, if you decide to go back," said Sheila Bright. "I was beginning to enjoy having someone to shop with for clothes and shoes."

"Me, too, I liked those trips, Sheila. But the truth is my funds are pretty low. I got a rocket ticket and I am going back tonight to Earth. Maybe I will get back in touch with my parents or something."

"This is all so sudden. You were not even going to say good-bye, then, had you not run into us here?" asked Sheila, a bit surprised.

"No, I didn't have time. I got the ticket for a bargain, but it was for tonight only, so I had to go when the ticket said. I went by your Uncle’s place, but no one knew anything about where you were, so I stopped in here for one last drink, to try and quiet my guilt- I somewhat felt too ashamed of visiting you, Sheila, anyway, or of even coming over to your table just now."

"Ashamed of what?" Sheila puzzled over what caused Mita Morgan to feel shame and guilt.

But Osmo Martin knew what. "You are right to be ashamed, Mita. You are the one who delighted to tell where Al and Jane were at, and I hope you are happy about it."

"Osmo! What are you saying!" gasped Sheila Bright. “If Mita's the one who told, she had to tell. The trouble-makers were a public menace, using and selling dangerous drugs! They had to be stopped. She did a community service. Yeah, of course I miss Jane and Albert, like you do, but you know it's their own fault. Os, we've already been over this a dozen times."

Mita told Osmo, "Look, I- I hate how it turned out for our classmates. But if I had it to do over again, I still would- except I'd warn Tretl- Security Leader Clyden not to fire those tear gas and smoke bomb missiles, of course. Think about it- those people caused all kinds of problems for Gov. Bright, a man who is trying his best to keep this place running and to govern fairly and justly. And so then, many of those people died. You reap what you sow. Isn't that what Al would say?I only feel bad for Albert and Jane. I thought they would only be deported, that's all. But the others- what are they to me? I don't know what they do, like if they give their drugs to their own kids or what. That's for the Security Agents to deal with. Need I remind you, Osmo Martin, you are a Security Agent, sworn to uphold the law. When you think about it, I have nothing to be ashamed of, like Sheila said, since I did the right thing. It's a bit wimpy to feel guilty, I think. I like law and order. I guess my conscience is clean. What about you, Security Agent Martin?”

"Yeah, I don't think I need to feel guilt. None at all," Osmo Martin answered sarcastically. "Maybe I won't, either, with another beer-"

"She's right, Osmo," Sheila Bright agreed. "It's about time you return to acting like a Security Agent. Do your job, Os!”

Osmo Martin groaned. "But- but if you could have seen how poor Al looked, when he lost Jane- How sad..."

Sheila Bright rationalized, "Let's face facts. No matter how hard you try, accidents will happen. Mistakes are made. Even in something so noble as law enforcement. Uncle Xavier tells me that all the time. But don't hate yourself over it, or waste time blaming yourself about it. You know that I think they brought it onto

themselves. If you don't see it like that, well, at least don't blame yourself for it. You carried out your duty."

He listened quietly. "Maybe what you said makes sense. If I remember it tomorrow when I wake up and am sober, I will give your speech some thought. I guess I can still do my job as a cop. I suppose, in spite of this terrible tragedy, I can still do some good things, the right thing..."

"I know you can," she encouraged him. "Now let's get back to the Governor's House. You don't need to drink anymore booze today."

"Okay. Now where did I put your truck keys-"

Sheila Bright dangled them in front of him. "I took them awhile back. Tonight, I am driving."

Sheila and Osmo stood. Osmo wobbled. Sheila looked at Mita Morgan and her luggage. "Mita, I have an idea. If you want, since you are low on money at the moment, and I presume the rent can be too high, depending, in Sparkle City, why not come stay at the Governor's House? I will try to keep the World of Hope fun for you. I cannot turn my back on a friend."

Mita smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but I can't impose-"

"It's not imposing. I value your friendship. Grab your bags and throw them in the truck. C'mon, girl."

Mita Morgan hesitated. "What will Gov. Bright say?”

“He'll say, 'Welcome,' is what he will say. Now let's go help Osmo walk to the truck."

"Then what will I do with my ticket? It's non-refundable."

"Take it back tomorrow. Mention my Uncle. They will refund you."

They struggled with her luggage and with Osmo at the same time, heading out the door. Mita Morgan asked, "Can I borrow your butler robot then, sometimes?"

"Sorry, but the dumb thing wandered off somewhere. Must've gotten a short. And we can't even locate him to give him the help he needs, because it pulled out its tracking device."

Sheila and Mita pushed Osmo Martin into the passenger seat in the front of the truck. He insisted, "No, really, I can drive. I just can't walk. But I'm not drunk. Why won't you give me the keys?" He mumbled like this every now and again for a few minutes until he passed out in his seat as Sheila drove back home.

(c) 2012 drk