My mind went back to our first meeting, and began to move forward at that moment, step by step. Hands on my shoulder, gently shaking me, brought me back to today. I looked up startled and saw that it was Jess. "Wish me luck Barry, huh?" He smiled and said: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed, kid, that they will be able to find you something suitable. Again... Wish me luck?"

Standing up, I bumped him on the shoulder. "Sure Jess. Lots of luck.' Everyone began leaving the room and I saw down, waiting for Mr. Bishop to talk to me again. When they were all gone, I asked him: "Mr. Bishop, have you heard anything from Julie?"

"That's your fiancee, isn't it Barry?" I nodded yes. "She's in town now, waiting to see you, but I haven't agreed for the meeting. She wouldn't be sent back home, or back to college. She transferred here and has a part-time job. She's waiting, but not very patiently. She calls every day to find out if she can see you." I smiled and said: "She's pretty persistent all right. I agree, that she shouldn't see me like this." I held up my hands which were blue.

"I think that's best Barry. But let's talk about you. I'm sorry I can- not offer you any more hope than I have. The doctors have re-evaluated you, and rechecked the possibles. There isn't a body in the country that is anywhere near right. There's just one remote possibility. I didn't even want to reveal it. I held back until the last medical report a few minutes before the two of you came in.

"When I saw the report on you, I knew I would have to offer it to you, regardless. A trace of the blue is beginning to filter into your bloodstream. It is a microscopic amount right now, but tomorrow? Who knows?

"Barry, would you

could you

I mean, as a last resort, rather than be frozen what is the only thing we could offer you was a . . . a female body. Son, would you take that until we could do better?"

I know I saw there opening and shutting my mouth for two minutes before a word came out. "What?"

"You heard me right Barry. I'm sorry. The only skull and healthy body available, that fits your need, and that we can get any time soon, is female.