“It’s a s’posed to say the other word but I know better‘n to say 'damn' so I said ‘darn’ en-stead,” he added.

Melody nearly turned inside out from trying not to laugh.

“It’s a strange Nurs’ry Rhymed—I don’t unnerstand how seashells and silver bells are s’posed t’ grow in a garden,” Duo analyzed, making good use of his improving logical skills. “But I know a petunia's a flower ‘cause you had some striped ones in our garden when it was the summer so they would grow in Mary Mary Quite Conatrary’s garden too.”

“You can see what the problem is, can’t you?!” Mrs. Meyer exclaimed triumphantly.

“Yes, I see,” Melody answered.

“You DO?” Duo looked very hurt. “I dunno what her problem is with it! What’d I say wrong?”

Mr. Owens had arrived late and had been standing in the doorway, listening. He was turning several interesting shades as he tried to keep a straight face.

“It’s okay, Duo. Where did you learn that rhyme?” he managed to ask seriously.

“From big Duo.”

Melody rolled her eyes and sighed. "I should've guessed!"

“From big Duo?”

“Yeah, from the big Duo that’s my other self from a ‘nuther timeline. He lives at Dubird’s house with the other pi-lits,” Duo answered. “Big Quatre lives there an’ big Heero too an’--”

Mrs. Meyer interrupted the child. “And now he’s making things up!”

“I AM NOT!” Duo cried. “Big Duo told us that Nurs’ry Rhymed when he stayed at our house an’ told us scary bedtime stories ‘bout birds an’ penulums an’ ‘bout the Tattletale Heart!”

Melody stepped in to try to head off this weird twist in the conversation. “Never mind about big Duo,” she said lamely. “He is Duo’s older self but it’s…complicated…”

Mrs. Meyers rolled her eyes with a “she’s lying to cover up for their tall tales again” look on her face. Melody noticed it but decided not to worry about trying to explain the whole strange situation about the chibis and their older selves. She didn’t understand it very well herself. Mrs. Meyer wouldn’t believe her anyway so it would be useless to try.

“I’ll have a word with Duo about this,” Melody assured Mr. Owens.

“What you can tell him at home you can say to him right here,” Mrs. Meyers insisted.

“No, not this Duo—I’m talking about talking to his older self.” Melody hoped that she had adequately clarified the little mix-up in the identities of the two Duos but she wasn't quite sure. She received a wary look from the harried teacher but at least she didn’t say anything more about it.

“Well, Duo,” Mr. Owens said in an amused 'this-session-is-over--see-you-the-next-time-something-happens' tone of voice. “You can go back to your class now.”

“Great!” Duo shouted and tried to do his usual victory dance but was inhibited by the tiny room, which was crammed full of people and furniture.

As they all left the office single file Melody said to Mr. Owens, “I’d like to stay and observe the class, if I may.”

“I’m sure that would be just fine,” he responded agreeably.

Melody and Duo were walking toward the outer office’s door when they heard Mrs. Meyer hiss loudly to her superior, “It’s bad enough that those men are watching through the window all the day long but I have to have their webmommie watching too?”

“She’s one of their parents and is therefore entitled to observe her children during school hours,” he answered the frustrated teacher. “And that’s that.”

Melody and Duo walked into the classroom and each of her chibis acknowledged her in some small way, a nod here, a wave there. The three devoted Maguanacs stationed at the window in the back of the room waved and smiled until she returned their greeting in the same manner. She settled herself down on a tiny chair and Mrs. Meyer resumed the class. “Now, does anyone else know any more Nursery Rhymes?” she pleasantly addressed her small charges.

Quatre’s hand shot up into the air. “I do, Mrs. Meyer!” he exclaimed happily.

“Okay, Quatre,” Mrs. Meyer responded with a smile. “Stand up and tell us your rhyme.”

Quatre stood next to his desk and proudly recited: