Hi Elrod,
What a wonderful story and what a wonderful writer that you are always. I really like the Bikini Beach Universe that you have created in both the settings and the characters. With something that has been going on as long as this has been there is bound to be ups and downs. But you have a track record of recording a lot more hits and very few misses. If we were perfect then what would be the fun of that? Of course being able to generate controversy is an endorsement of a writer. We only respond to things that we really care about and it takes a great writer to be able to do that. Sure other writers may write something controversial but it gets passed over without reaction since the characters were not compelling enough to care about.

I hope that you go on writing for a long time to come and keep the mythos of Bikini Beach fresh and alive. Just know that some of the things that you may count failures since they were misunderstood are a lot better than any of what some other writers might count as their biggest successes. Please continue to write even if the vocal among us are skewed toward the negative. The silent majority is behind you and is loving every word that you write. Good Job! Keep writing!

Elrod, if you are wondering a follow-up story would be appreciated as Jasmine already had an invite to be part of a team, and Jeff enjoyed the diving lessons. He seems to be hinting at a return of Jasmine. :) If he thinks he knows, let him go for a life lesson.

Hugs, Jessie

Hey,

these are younger kids. Nice to see a tale of teenage angst, fun and self discovery.

Not every BB story need involve great interreges.

Though our Natty has a potential problem. Her current boyfriend nearly sussed her secret past.

If they get serious she may need to tell him all.

THAT could be a very sad or very a happy day.

Jesse, so many characters now. Almost need a gazetteer or cast list or something.

-- grin --

A testament to the strength of the BB premise.

John in Wauwatosa

P.S. As I said indirectly before. A quiet tale like this one could be the prequel to a big dramatic one.

Will one of the boys on becoming a girl again give in to THE PINK SIDE?

Will Natty's heart be broken if Jeff finds out BEFORE she can tell him and her dumps her?

Plus Natty's aunt and her love may want to have a child someday. Can Grandma, Anya or help from Grandma's SRU wizard pal make that possible?

And we still have Anna's struggles with the dark forces that destroyed her mom. Lots of minor and not so minor possibilities abound.

P.P.S. Just had A weird thought. What if a pregnant woman came to BB and went into labor while in the Water?

As we found out with dying boy in The Runaway sometimes the magic can interact in strange ways. That was due to the amulet. And we have Vicki who was a victim then eventually the happy recipient of an interaction between one of the SRU wizards *prank* and BB's water.

Presumably a child would revert at the same time as any pass., I suppose. But of the mom was a former man with lifetime? Or a born woman with a life time? Would that then affect the newborn? Hoe *discriminating* is the magic between a mom and her newborn born in the park?

What of twins who used the park? Would the magic distinguish between the?
Would a twin boy who bought a lifetime pass cease to be the twin or become a fraternal twin? Or would the other twin change to match her?

Grandma and Anya are far more careful about acting as judge and jury or in accidently harming innocents but they do make mistakes. Only recently has Anya with Dani's help begun to learn sufficient magical analysis to unravel the spells of the SRU wizard and presumably her Grandmother.

Or say someone had a rival or felt spurned/wronged by a guy or gal. And they stole some of BB's water to use on their rival for a girl's affection or to punish an ex who in their mind wronged them or to turn a rival into their own girlfriend or sister?

Anya, Grandma and Selena their new friend/protégé are good but not infallible.

Heck we have seen siblings use BB on each the other for good or...?

gotta love another Bikini Beach story. as always I look forward to the next one.