ARE YOU THERE?

September 13, Penelope's birthday. She would've been twenty-five today.  

'With your photographs of Kitty Hawk...'

A cool and gentle breeze from the ocean swept over Mission Beach on this bright and beautiful morning as Al Stewart sang Penelope's favorite song from Penny's new P-phone, which was attached to her belt.

'...and the biplanes on your wall...'

Three days ago, Suzie had Penelope's weird funeral/costume party in 'toon City, finally allowing her friends to say goodbye to the Pink Saint on Wheels. But freeing her would be a private affair, so I was honored when Suzie and Penny invited me to join them. Now, I stood by the Lamb and the Dragon and, with tears in my eyes, shared their lose.

'...you were always Amy Johnson...'

The waves licked our bare feet as Suzie opened the urn, scooping out a handful of her lover.

'...from the time that you were small...'

Murmuring a prayer, she tossed the ashes into the sea. She held the urn out to Penny, who reached in and scooped out a handful of the only mother she ever knew.

'...no schoolroom kept you grounded...'

"Goodbye, Mom," she said, scattering the ashes to the sea.

Suzie then held the urn out to... "Me?"

'...while your thoughts could get away...'

"You save her...you saved us...from being a trophy."

I smiled. "I'm honored."

'...you were taking off in Tiger Moths...'

And with that, I scooped up some of Penelope. I never knew the person who was now dust in my hand, but for the past month, I learned a lot about her from the friends I now stand with. It honestly saddened me that we never met.

'...your wings against the brush-strokes of the day...'

I tossed Penelope to the wind...and began to see something forming in the sky over the sea.

'...are you there...'

The image of a beautiful woman dressed in a pink and purple racing outfit with a helmet tucked in her left arm, her long, blond hair blowing in the breeze. Beside her was a feminine pink sportscar with large lips as front bumpers and a small parashaw over the driver's seat.

'...on the tarmac with the winter in your hair...'

I glanced to the Lamb and the Dragon. Neither reacted to the phantom in the morning sky.

'...by the empty hangar doors you stop and stare...'

Only I could see her. The specter glanced straight towards me and flashed her pearly whites, winking as she gave me the thumbs up. She looked exactly like that picture of her at the Claw's phony funeral.

'...leave the oil-drums behind you, they won't care...'

Then, she tossed back her hair and put her helmet on, hopping into her roadster, which slowly faded as she drove off unto the blue and cloudless heavens.

'...Oh, are you there?'

"Godspeed, Penelope," I whispered.

"Goddamnit! Let go!" cried a voice behind us.

Upon hearing said voice, Suzie eyes widened in horror. "No. Not him..."

We turned around to find a small Chinese girl, dressed in jeans, a white tee-shirt and a baseball cap, with a large fat man in a headlock, pulling him towards us. Suzie's face soured as she saw the pair.

"C'mon, fatso!" yelled the girl. "You've been miserable for three years. Now's the time to settle things."

As they reached us, the girl released her victim, dropping him to the ground. "Is this anyway to treat your father?" the man growled as he picked himself off the ground, dusting sand from his blue suit.

"Annie!" Suzie called. "What are you doing here? And why did you bring HIM?"

"Oh, I don't know," she smirked sarcastically. "Maybe me and my brothers and sisters miss you and we want you back in the family again. And The Amazing Chan here," Annie glared at her father, "keeps beating himself over the head for being a stupid wise man. Right Pop?"

Mr. Chan bowed his head in shame.

"Good," the Dragon snapped, turning her back to them. "Now please leave. I'm saying goodbye to Penelope and you've already spoiled..."

"No!" Annie returned, running in front of her. "Didn't you just hear me? It's more than just him. It's Alan and Henry and Stanley and Tom and Flip and Nancy and Mimi and Scooter and...it's me. We all miss you. Even little Chu Chu."

"Who's Chu Chu?" I whispered to Penny. "Another kid?"

"Chu Chu's their dog," Penny whispered back.

"Oh."

"I...miss you too," Suzie said. "I even miss...I'm sorry. I can't..."

"Look, at least hear him out," Annie pleaded. "Let the man state his case."

Annie then nodded to her father. He walked up behind the Dragon, who stood as firm as the Great Wall of China. He drew a deep breath and began. "Suzie...I thought I knew what to say. I thought about this moment for three years, of what I could say to explain my feelings about..."

The Great Wall wasn't budging. The Amazing Chan continued the seize. "I'll be honest with you, Suzie. I don't understand it. I meditated on it, trying to comprehend this choice of yours. I mean, is it a choice? I don't know. Some mysteries of the Human Condition defy even the wisest of men. But I won't lie to you. I respect you too much for that. I will never understand homosexuality."

The Great Wall still didn't move. "Are you through?"

"No," the Amazing Chan retorted. "I said I will never understand it, but that doesn't mean I can't accept it. In fact, I thought Annie was going to be the..."

"Daddy!" Annie responded.

"Well, you dress like a boy all the time!"

"Look, would you just get this over with so I can finish saying goodbye to Penelope!" The Dragon demanded.

Again, the large man drew a deep breath. "Suzie. I worry about you. This is a dangerous world. There are people who would hate you...even kill you...because of what you are."

I leaned beside Suzie and whispered into her ear, "He's right, you know. Rev. Fudd only 'thought' I was sapphic and look at all the crap he did to me."

The Dragon's hardened face began to soften. The Great Wall was beginning to give.

'...are you there...'

Mr. Chan continued. "Suzie, you are my daughter. My Number One Daughter, and I have to accept you no matter what."

'...do you have a thought for me that you can share...'

The Dragon's lower lip began to quiver. The Great Wall was crumbling.

"Can you forgive a foolish old wise man?" Mr. Chan asked.

'...oh I never thought you'd take me unawares...'

Gently, Penny took the urn from Suzie. "I never knew my real parents," the Lamb told the Dragon, "and the only ones I even knew are both gone. You still have one left."

'...just call me if you ever need repairs...'

And with that, the Great Wall fell. Suzie turned towards her father. "You're my father," She said, smiling through her tears. "I have to forgive you no matter what."

'...oh are you there?'

Then, the prodigal father and daughter embraced, jabbering to each other in Chinese as Penny, Annie and I looked on. "How did you know we were here?" I whispered to Annie.

"A little birdie told me," she replied.

"A little birdie?" I questioned before noting that Penny was whistling in a vain attempt at looking innocent.

"Hey guys," Suzie called to us, "I'm going to spend the next few days with my family." She glanced back to her father and sister. "We have a lot to talk about." She then glanced to Penny. "So this is why you wanted to spend an extra week in San Diego, you little asshole." Again, Penny tried to look innocent. Suzie knelt before her, giving the child an appreciative embrace. "Thank you."

"Oh and Miss Dinkley," Mr. Chan called to me, "I want you to know that we will always consider you a member of the family."

"Uh, thanks," I returned. "But exactly what are you talking about?"

"Well, I thought that you and my daughter were, you know..."

Before I could make a rebuttal, Suzie struck first. "Daddy, Velma isn't sapphic."

Mr. Chan's eyes widened in surprise. "She's not?"

"No," I answered bluntly.

Mr. Chan then smiled. "Well then, are you doing anything tonight? Maybe we could..."

"Daddy!" Suzie and Annie yelled in unison.