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Planning Ahead

“I don't know if I want to be the mother this time. I was the mother two times ago. I want to do something else this time.” Tehl looked at the pad in her lap.

“Okay, then. I haven't been the mother in ages and ages. I think I need to be the mother and learn some new things. I still haven't mastered patience. Being a mother is good for that, isn't it?” Soan looked at the others, most of whom nodded. “Okay, then. Who's going to be the father?”

“I'm already down as your brother,” Teres said. “So I get to be uncle!”

“Who do you want to be your father this time, Jethe?” asked Soan. She made notes on her pad, sketching in details of a life. “And what age difference?”

“Zeni and I need to work out some things together, so he's going to be the father,” said Jethe. “He's already set up who he's going to be born to, and you and he can work out the details of your life together.”

“Zeni. Oh cool! We weren't even in the same lifetimes last time,” said Soan. “We've been talking about being a couple sometime. I'm going to become incapacitated later in life so Zeni can practise nurturing.”

“I'm going to be a handful, you know that, right?” Jethe said. “You want patience, I'll test it for you. I need to learn to be independent; I tend to rely on everyone around me.” Jethe made notes, outlining daily life, specific goals.

The friends sat on benches in warm sunlight, choosing roles and lessons. Here in the Between, it was easy to recognize their own weak spots and strengths, and to choose which weaknesses needed to be explored and how to help each other.

“How will I know you?” Zeni arrived to work on the plans.

Soan smiled. “Let's use that 'I KNOW you' feeling. It's always so cool.”

“Will we both feel it, or just one of us?” Zeni asked.

“This time, I think both of us. It's important for Jethe that we get together and get settled early on.” They sat down and worked out the details of when and how they would meet and marry. Around them, the others planned and erased and created until they were satisfied.

“I'm off, then,” said Zeni. “I'm going to be the oldest one in this group, and my parents are waiting for me to be born. See you soon.”

“Soon for us here,” said Jethe. “But time runs differently down there, remember?”

Zeni nodded. “I know. It'll be years yet. Have fun. Keep an eye on me, make sure I stay on my path, okay?” The others nodded and Zeni left them to be born once more on Earth, taking up yet another life.