Kids Can Fly: A Real Mother

"Think nothing of it," said Trent, "Actually I'm the one who should be thanking you. It was, after all, your money that financed the first full procedure, and it was thanks to you that we got the funding started for the City. Without you, and Barbara, this project might not have been at the stage it's reached for another ten or so years."

"We were glad to help. It was like we were giving our daughter another chance to live."

"Live?" said Trent thoughtfully, "I have trouble with that word. By some definitions she is alive, but I can't say that I agree with them. It's too much to ask, at this stage in the project, but, hopefully, some time in the future, we'll be able to come a little closer to the real thing."

"But she looks so real now!" said Christine.

"An illusion," said Trent, "I told you it would be like this. All the other people in the City are illusions too, along with the entire City. None of them can see us, or hear us. If we were out there, in the arena, we could walk right through everything and not disturb the picture. I almost wish it wasn't so real. It gives one the impression that they know what we've done to them."

As if to demonstrate his point, Trent tapped some instructions into a keypad and sent an instruction to Barbara's television. It switched off.

"Watch this," said Trent.

Barbara leaned forward and pressed the on-off button. She frowned. The screen remained blank so she thumped the side of the set with her fist.

"That's what she always did," said Travis, "I told her not to a thousand times. You can't fix electronics by thumping them I said!" He laughed.

The television blinked back on.

"And that's what usually happened, isn't it Travis." Said Christine.

"Yes dear," said Travis, "I don't know how she did it."

Barbara sat down again and relaxed. She sipped from her cup and watched the screen.

"If only I could go to her," said Christine very quietly, "I would tell her we still loved her. Is that possible, Mr Coverdale?"

"I'm afraid not" said Trent, "The only way you can get