Tara and Rachel spent their day off together.  Much of it was spent in bed, though they did burn off some of their energy jogging together to a few of the nearby parks.  When it came time for dinner, Rachel made a pointed comment about missing Sasha’s cooking.

Tara talked to her ring, and through a series of blinks learned that it was content enough where it was, but it definitely preferred it when it had a skirt.

Over the next few days they settled into something of a routine.  Work occupied their days, and they spent the evenings together.  Rachel gave Tara a crash course in lovemaking, and Tara proved an able student.

“Alright,” pronounced Rachel on Thursday.  “Enough of the basics.”

“That was the basics?” asked Tara with a grin.

Rachel held up the ball, which hadn’t been used on either of them in days.  “Now we add magic.  You were pretty good with a cock the last time.  Let’s see what you’ve learned.”

Tara’s grin grew wide.  “Oh, yeah.  Though... not fertile, right?  I’d like to have kids, but not quite yet.”

Rachel’s gaze dropped to the ball.  “Are you sure you want kids?  It’s a big responsibility.”

Tara stepped within hugging distance, and put a finger under Rachel’s chin to encourage her to meet her gaze.   “I do.  Soon.  With you.  I don’t know what kind of mothers we’ll make, but Sasha will be fantastic.”

Rachel got a misty look.  “So she’ll be the one pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen?  I can see it.”

“Disappointed?”

“At?”

“Sasha’s imaginary pregnancy.  You sounded like you wanted it.”

Rachel nodded desperately.  “So, so much.  Like... I’ve never even thought about it before and now I can’t get it out of my head.  If I try to transform you, you’ll probably end up round as a beach ball.”

Tara giggled.  “Not entirely averse, but a magic baby is probably a bad idea.  C’mon, let’s go for a run, and pick this up after we’ve settled.”

Rachel smirked.  “Maybe you should go for a run with your new equipment.”

Tara snagged the ball, gave it a few squeezes, then tossed it straight up.  She snatched it out of the air with a slap.  As with her mother, the light coursed over her and down to her crotch, and a bulge started to form in her leggings.

Rachel licked her lips. “This should be fun.  You sure you made it big enough?”

“I... uh...”  Tara blushed.

“C’mon.  Let’s go for that run.”

They returned fifteen minutes later, with Tara mincing her way gingerly into the room.  “I don’t know how guys do this!”

“Different hip structure.  Plus, despite their boasts, they’re mostly not hung like a horse.”

“Supportive underwear?” asked Tara, glancing over toward the ball.  It had recharged while they were out.

“Sounds like fun.  I’m game.”

Tara blinked at her.  “Wait, what?  I feel sweaty and weird and gross, and you’d be okay with that?”

“Sweaty is good, if it’s the right kind.”

“You’re mad,” breathed Tara.  But the ball was already in her hand, glowing.

“And you love it.”  Rachel grinned as the ball arced toward her, and her grin got broader as she dwindled, until her head slipped away into the broad elastic waistband.

Tara picked up her new, very supportive underwear.  She stripped out of her leggings, slipped it on, and sighed happily with relief.  “Oh yeah.  So much better.  Thank you... Rachel.  Try to remember who you are, hm?  This might get intense.”

Tara put her leggings back on, and went out to resume her interrupted jog.  She made sure to talk to Rachel the entire way, hoping to keep her mind exactly where she wanted it.

When she returned and used the ball to restore Rachel, Rachel staggered to her feet.  The look of lust in her eyes told Tara she’d hit her mark perfectly.  Rachel dragged her off to the bedroom, and soon had Tara stripped.  Unfortunately, Tara had indeed overdone it when she’d created her trouser snake, and Rachel proved unequal to the task.  Between hands, breasts, and lips she did manage to get Tara very hard indeed, but she couldn’t fit Tara’s “monster” inside.

While Tara was staring at the beast Rachel had unleashed, Rachel slipped out of the bedroom, then returned with the ball.  A toss later, and Rachel’s body was made of rubber, stretchy in all kinds of fun ways...

After Tara was thoroughly worn out, they snuggled together on the bed.  Tara protested that she was all sweaty, but Rachel just squeaked a finger over her rubbery skin and shrugged.

“Can’t you talk?” panted Tara.

Rachel shook her head, and shrugged again.  Tara debated whether or not she had the energy to get out of bed to fix it.  “Are you okay staying like this for a while?”

Rachel nodded eagerly.  Tara snuggled up to her and dozed off.

In the morning, Rachel was back to normal and both were in dire need of a shower.  Tara darted ahead of her to be first into the bathroom, but forgot to lock the door.  When she finished peeing, she looked up to see Rachel watching again.  “Privacy means nothing to you, does it?”

Rachel chuckled warmly.  “You don’t actually mind.  Going to keep the beast today?  Might raise some eyebrows at work.”

Tara snorted.  “God, would it ever.  I’d rather go without any bits at all.”

“As you wish.”  Rachel grabbed the ball, and started to squeeze.  “Just for today, or something you can work with long term?”

“Oh, you want something fun for later, too?  What do you have in mind?”

Rachel grinned wickedly.  “You’ll see.  But first, lose the ring.  Don’t want it to get caught in the change like mine was.”

Tara slipped her ring off, and gave it a quick kiss.  “What happened to yours?”

“Back to the original cock-ring, when you changed me back from being your underwear.”

“Whoops,” said Tara with a wince.  “This weekend we’ll go get proper rings, okay?  I can’t afford anything too fancy, but magic-made rings don’t last.”

“We could go to the Catgirl Emporium, to do some permanent changes...”

Tara shook her head.  “Real rings.”

“Okay.  Monday, when we’re both off?”  At Tara’s nod, Rachel continued, “would you make mine for me again?”

Rachel held the ball out to Tara, who gingerly accepted the glowing object.  The glow remained.  “Whew, that worked.  I know it takes impact to activate, but...”

Rachel returned with the same cock-ring as before, and soon it was a glittering band even prettier than the previous version.  “Are you sure we can’t do magic rings?  There’s no way we can afford one like this.”

“If there’s a real ring underneath, I guess it’d be okay...”

Rachel picked up the ball and studied it.  “Hm.  First things first.  Restore you, then change you.  Bye-bye Mr. Trouser Snake, you were fun while it lasted.”

Tara snickered.  “That is not its name.”

“Tara-two?” asked Rachel with a bigger grin.

“No!”

“Slithers?” giggled Rachel.

“That’s even worse!” exclaimed Tara, starting to laugh along with her.  “Why does it need a name?”

“Because it’s special.  Very, very special and dear to my heart.  You are going to have a cock on a regular basis.”

“I am?” asked Tara, as if surprised by the idea.  “Oh.  That sounds...”  She frowned as she contemplated her experience with it over the past half day.  The sex had been fantastic, as had the power it had given her over Rachel.  She nodded slowly.  “That sounds good.  I’m not ready for it full time, but...  Yeah.  As long as I get some underwear I can jog in, anyway.”

“I’ll volunteer,” offered Rachel.  “Whatever it takes.  I love this look on you so, so much.”

Tara posed with a grin on her face, flexing as if for a bodybuilding competition.  Rachel cheered her on, then mid-flex tossed the ball to recharge it and change Tara back to normal.

Tara continued to flex, studying Rachel’s reactions.  The other woman was focussed on the ball, eyes half-lidded in concentration.  Rachel held the pose, and when the ball hit she watched the magic course to her breasts and crotch, where they wiped away detail in an almost familiar way.  Another flare of magic eeled upward to settle in her neck.

Tara cleared her throat.  Something felt distinctly odd, even... slithery.  “What did you do?” she murmured, not quite trusting her voice.  It sounded mostly the same, just a little deeper and more resonant.

“Stick out your tongue.”

Tara did so, and the slithery feeling got more pronounced.  She frowned, and pushed her tongue out further.  And further, until there was a two foot long, muscly tentacle waggling from her mouth.  She had to breathe through her nose, it was wider at the base and gagged her quite effectively.

“Now that is going to be some fun indeed,” purred Rachel, looking far too pleased with her own creation.

After some trial and error to understand how her new muscles worked, Tara reeled her tongue back in.  “You are a wicked, wonderful woman.”

Rachel grinned, and curtseyed to Tara.  “Why thank you.”

“But unfortunately, we have to work.”

Tara and Rachel were soon ready to go, though the former bemoaned the lack of her favourite workout dress, and not for the first time.  Rachel promised to help make one that night, and was true to her word.  Tara tried it on, and pronounced it almost as good as the original, save that it wouldn’t ruffle its skirts under its own power.

They danced in the main room for a time, before Rachel dragged Tara off to bed.  The dress was soon discarded and Tara’s new tongue was exercised to its limit.  She also discovered that despite her sleek and sexless look, there were places Rachel could touch her that made her feel very good indeed.

The next morning as Tara put her new dress back on, Rachel studied her with a broad grin.  “You’ve forgotten something.”

“Oh?”

“Panties.”

Tara shrugged.  “It’s not like there’s anything to see... though I certainly felt whatever you did.”

Rachel waggled her eyebrows.  “All the nerves are still there, just sealed up behind blank flesh.  So the right sort of massaging...”

Tara grinned and nodded.  “I see.  I could work with this for a while.  Do you mind?”

Rachel snagged Tara’s tongue and drew it out to half its length.  “You’re getting pretty good with this.  Might need some upgrades, though.  Suckers, knobbly bits, that kind of thing.”

Tara wriggled her tongue free.  “I’m in.  Later.  For now... Kickboxing 3 awaits.  I want to see the look on James’ face.”

Rachel snickered.  “Going to repeat your offer to turn him into a girl?  I’d be willing to give up one of my charged toys for that.”

Tara tucked the magic ball and a couple of Rachel’s less obscene looking ‘chargers’ in her day bag, and headed off to the gym.

As far as she could tell, nobody noticed her lack of panties.  She got a few compliments on her confidence, which made her grin and start to seriously contemplate living for some time in the body Rachel had invented for her.  It felt almost the same as normal, just a little smoother through the middle.

At lunch she talked the idea over with Penny, who encouraged her to do what felt right. She hadn’t heard any complaints, and figured “cheerful Tara is best Tara”.  Rachel overheard, and agreed wholeheartedly.

When it was time for Kickboxing 3, Tara entered the studio feeling more than ready to take it on.  As usual, James was there early and looked her over.

“You have a more masculine vibe than usual,” he said with an appreciative grin.  “I like it.  What did you do this time?”

“Try that ‘undressing with your eyes’ thing agan.”

James did so, starting with a lascivious scan up and down her body.  He frowned, then furrowed his brow further in a comical show of fierce concentration.  That made Tara giggle, so he ramped up further by looking at her through mimed binoculars and adding pinging sounds to boot.

“Well?” asked Tara once she’d stopped laughing.

“I’m getting nothing, Captain.”

“Just so. All the sexy bits are smoothed away.”

“Ah!” exclaimed James.  “It really suits you, you look... relaxed in that body.”

Tara nodded eagerly.  “I might stay this way.”

“What do your lovers think?”

Tara stuck her tongue out to half of its new length and waggled it at him, getting a snorted laugh and a knowing smirk in return.

As the other students filed in she slurped her tongue back in.  There were a few odd looks, to which she replied with a serene smile.

Tara kept to low kicks for the first half of the class, waiting for the right moment.  She asked James to spar with her to demonstrate a move, and kicked a high feint that she knew would expose her.  His comical boggled look was everything she could have hoped for.

“There are many ways to distract an opponent.  Be wary.  Now pair up and practice what I’ve shown you.”

Of course, James stayed to pair with her as the odd student out.  “Really?” he asked softly.  “Not wearing any at all?”

“Nothing to cover.”

James grinned and nodded to her, then proceeded to give her a very good workout in the spar.

After class, Tara gathered up her gear and loaded her bag once the students had all left.  She headed out of the studio and into the hallway that connected the various studios to the main part of the gym.  Standing in the hallway were three figures.  James was arguing with the new student, a friend of one of the other regulars, Malcom.

The new guy grinned at her toothily.  “I hear there’s an opening under that skirt.  I’d like to fill in.”

Tara smirked, and inwardly was surprised at her lack of reaction.  The last time a male student had been so blatant with her she had recoiled in revulsion.  This new guy was even worse, and yet... nothing.  She found his antics amusing, not intimidating.

“Damn it, Nathan, you don’t talk to women like that,” growled James.  Malcolm was just looking uncomfortable with the whole scene.

Tara pulled out her phone, and glanced at the DME app.  Her eyes widened at Nathan’s entry, and she started tapping.

“I talk to women like that all the time,” said Nathan.  “Doesn’t work often, but when it does, boy howdy, the ride is more than worth the ticket.”

“I cannot believe that works, ever.”

The argument swirled on from there, but Tara was paying more attention to her phone, where a very interesting reply had popped up.  After a little back and forth, she looked up to see the argument had gone nowhere.

Tara grinned at Malcolm.  “Today is your lucky day.  You do, indeed, get under the skirt.”

“But...” protested James, then stopped when Tara held up a glowing ball.  “Ooooh, you brought it.”

“You’re negative valued, more so than anyone I’ve ever seen.  You’re a waste of air that even your family isn’t overly keen on.  Your mom said I could keep you as long as you show up for your niece’s eighth birthday party.  I’m assuming she’s seven, not six or five.”

“That’s two months away!”

“On the count of three, if you’re still here, you’re mine.  One...”

Nathan licked his lips uncertainly.  “You’re bluffing.”

Tara gave the ball a squeeze, brightening its glow.  “Two...”

“She’s not bluffing,” drawled James, leaning back against the wall and watching with a broad grin.

“Three.”  The ball flicked out, and Nathan swiftly dwindled away to the pinkest, frilliest pair of panties anyone there had ever seen.

James started to giggle.  “Oh my God.  You’re not going to wear those, are you?  They’re so... girly.”

“And I’m not?”

“Right now you’re neuter.  Which somehow makes it even more perfect.  Do it!”

Malcolm just shook his head.  “I’m sure he’ll enjoy himself even so.”

“I’ll see to it.”

“Why?  He was an ass to you.  Why do something nice?”

Tara leaned in close to Malcolm.  In a throaty voice thickened by her modified tongue she purred, “By the time I’m done with him, he’ll desperately want to stay pretty and girly.  It’ll pass... but I’m looking forward to seeing his face when he realizes.”

Malcolm snerked.  “Perfect.  Can I be there when you do it?”

“If not, I’ll be sure to post the picture.”

Malcolm held out his hand, and Tara shook it.  “You are a wicked woman, and I hope that works.  He could use taking down a peg or twenty.  Either way, he’s getting a hell of a ride.  I’m almost tempted to ask, myself.”

James snickered.  “Maybe I should wear you.  I’ve been wondering what it’d be like to be a girl for a day, get ogled at and flirted with by sexy guys.”

Malcom laughed.  “I’d rather take girl-you out dancing.”

Tara dropped the magic ball into her bag, directly onto one of the charging objects she’d brought.  She winced at how the innocuous looking orb turned into a foot long dildo, and quickly closed her bag to hide it.  She held up the ball once more.  “Did I mention there’s a way to recharge it quickly, now?”

James turned wide eyes on her.  “Now.  Like... right now, just after the hot friend I’ve lusted after for years just asked me out, but only if I turn into a girl?”

“Hey, it’s not like that...” protested Malcom.  At James’ accusing gaze he looked away, abashed.  “Okay, yeah.  It is like that.  Not attracted to James physically at all, but just the idea of James-as-a-girl is...  You’re trouble, Tara.  I’m in trouble.”

“How do you figure?” asked Tara gently.

“Because...  I’m asking him to do something so far from his true self, just because...  It isn’t fair to him.”

“Hey,” said James, putting an arm on Malcolm’s.  “I’m flattered.  Honestly.  This would be so, so weird... but hell yes.  I’m in.  Show me a good enough time, and I might stay.”

Malcolm’s head snapped up to stare into James’ eyes.  “You wouldn’t!”

“Why not?  I’m not trans, but... I’m not massively attached to being male, either.  Let’s go on a date, and see what we see, okay?  One magic night that we can walk away from tomorrow if either of us hates it.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this but... okay.  One night, no strings.”

James nodded to Tara.  “Do it.”

Tara squeezed carefully, counting out her best guess at a day’s worth of charge.  She studied James, tried to imagine what Sasha would do to feminize him, and held that image in her head as she tossed the ball.

Malcolm studied the changes as they flowed over his old friend.  No change in height, and only a little softening of the face.  Crew cut blonde hair flowed out to shoulder length.  The curves below, however...  Those were very new.  He wiped a sheen of new sweat from his forehead.  “Yowza.”

James pirouetted to show off his new body.  “You like?”  He flexed one arm, grinning at it.  “Oooh, still strong.  I feel...”  He glanced over at Tara.  “Is it like this for you?”

“A revelation that you can’t begin to describe, that your body is still you, despite major alterations?”

James nodded.  “That!  Yes, that.  This is... still me.  I was afraid it would be all weird and wrong and it just... isn’t.  Have you been...”

“Male?  Enough, yes.  Enough to know exactly what you mean.  Go have fun, you two.  And Malcolm?”

“Yes?”

“First, compliment her hair.  Then kiss her like you mean it.”

Malcolm did so, to much cheering from Rachel and Penny, who were watching from the entrance to the hallway.  James snuggled up against Malcom’s broad chest, and almost looked like she was going to purr.

Tara watched them head off to the door, hand in hand.  She was grinning just as broadly as Penny and Rachel were.

“Good job,” said Penny after they’d left.  “James has been pining for Mal for a while now.”

“He has?  He hasn’t shown it in class.”

Penny shook her head.  “Got to get him drunk first.  He’s a good egg, I hope this works out somehow.”

Gossip about the two occupied the gym for the next day, especially as neither of them showed up for their usual session.  When they showed up hand in hand the following day, there was more than a little cheering.  James bowed elegantly, Malcolm just blushed.

“So?” asked Tara.  “What’s the plan?  I brought it...”

James shook his head.  “We’re still sorting it all out.  Mal’s not as straight as he thought, and I’m not as male as I thought, and we want to figure ourselves out before we throw more magic at it.”

Tara smiled at him happily.  “That’s great.  Any time you want to experiment, drop by.”

Malcolm chuckled.  “We’ll probably do that.  I might try being the girl.  James made it sound very... appealing.”

James blushed profusely.  “Girl me is a screamer.”

*** *** ***

Before Tara knew it, Sunday had come around again.  Rachel prodded her gently about whether Sasha should be beside her at church, then headed off to work.

Tara paced, glanced down at her ring, and paced some more.  “She’s right.  I know she’s right.  Hey Sasha, are you ready to face church with my family?”  The ring blinked up at her once, to say “yes”.

Tara sighed, and went to retrieve the magic ball.  It was charged, so first she transformed one of her lesser trophies so that the figure looked like Rachel.  She smirked at the likeness, and briefly wondered what it would be like to be stuck on the shelf, then shook her head.  Tara smacked the ball against her ring, and held Sasha close as she grew back to being human.  Dawn appeared behind her, hugging Sasha from behind.

“Hey,” said Tara.  “Sorry about costing you bra time.”

“Bra,” said Dawn, nodding decisively.

Tara glanced at Sasha, who shrugged.  “Very pretty bra.”

“Pretty bra,” agreed Dawn.

Tara paced over to the charging station in the kitchen, and checked on Dawn’s phone.  She shook her head.  “No payment.”

Sasha nodded.  “Pretty bra.”  Dawn was still cuddled against her back, hands cupping her chest.  The former and future bra made a happy little mewling noise and snuggled in closer.

“Pretty bra it is, then.”  Tara handed the ball to Sasha.  “Your turn.”

Sasha squeezed it a few times.  She tapped it against her pretty bra’s hands, and wriggled out of the bra before the change could completely overtake her as well.  She still ended up with most of her torso turned to maroon fabric.

Tara snuggled up against her transformed sweetie.  “Mmm.  You do feel nice like this, Sasha.  Pity it won’t last long.”

“It will if you do it again after we get home.”

“Temptress.”

Sasha kissed her on the cheek.  “Fiancée.”

Tara wriggled happily. “Oh, right.  It feels wrong to keep doing this to you, given...”

Sasha pulled her into a ferocious and fervent kiss that almost cost them any chance of getting to the church on time.  When Tara broke away she was panting.  “What?”

“Being your ring was so intense.  I got to see and hear so much!  I love being yours, being used and worn by you.  Do not give that up on my account.”

Tara’s grin was incandescent.  “Oh!  So... it’s okay?”

“Yes, love.  Transforming me into whatever you want is more than okay.  I love it, just as much as I love you.  But now we need to get ready.”

As before, they were picked up by Tara’s parents.  Tara had talked to her mother a few times through the week, but their talk had been kept to incidental things.  Her mother had said nothing about her father at all, apart from asking Tara to pass on her thanks to Rachel and Sasha.  So she was a little surprised to see her father looking perfectly normal, and male as always.

“No Trish?” asked Tara mildly.

“We’ll explain later,” was all she got in reply.

Tara’s mother asked after their outfits, and Tara admitted that they’d run out of time to make something fancy for Sasha to wear this week.  Sasha winked at her while she said that, and glanced down at her chest with a slight grin.

Tara’s eyes widened at the implication that Sasha was wearing someone to church, but decided not to make a fuss so her parents wouldn’t pick up on it.  She was asked if she was wearing anyone, but was able to honestly say she wasn’t.  Her new panties had only been worn once, for an hour or so, and she realized she’d been neglecting her nightie.  She vowed to correct her oversight that very night.

Tara paid little attention to the service, and much to her father.  He seemed fine, perfectly at ease in his body.  Which seemed odd to her, as she didn’t recall him seeming this relaxed even a week ago.  She wanted to know what had changed, but answers to those questions were not to be found at church.

Once again, toward the end of the service prayers were asked for “lost ones”, and Tara found her mind once again going out to those she knew, those she’d touched.  Had she saved them?  Or was she taking advantage of them?  Did anyone miss them?

Back at her parent’s house, Tara asked after Trish once more.  Her father grinned, and touched his watch.  A moment later, Trish was standing where he had been.  “Tada!”

Tara boggled.  “What did you do?”

“We found a store that carries a line of ‘snapshot’ watches that can store transformations.   I can swap back and forth whenever I like, and so can...”  Trish blushed, and looked to her wife.  “Sorry.”

Mrs. Stark smiled indulgently and patted her new watch fondly.  It looked like the same slightly chunky design as the one Trish was wearing.  “I’m not sorry in the slightest.  The last week has been like yet another honeymoon.”

Tara blushed.  “Oh.  Need us out of the way?”

Her parents both giggled.  “We’re not twenty any more,” said her father.  “We know we have time.  Lots of time.  I’m going to be sixty-one in a few months, and early retirement will be an option.  Until then, Trish is a part-time thing.  After that... well, we’ll see what the church thinks of the new me.  I don’t expect them to be too upset, but I’d rather only face the gossip once.”

Tara nodded.  “I hope they don’t make a fuss, I want to get married there, with Trish walking me down the aisle.”

Sasha sighed happily.  “Being a wedding dress will be so amazing.”

“I...”  Mrs. Stark looked slightly abashed.  “I have another slot in my watch.  Could you...”

Tara grinned at her mother.  “Bikini, lingerie, or dress?  Swishy dresses are lovely fun.”

“While that sounds tempting, I know what I want.  Swishy lingerie.  We’ve come to a sort of... agreement in principle.”

“Oh?” asked Tara, bracing herself for yet another revelation.

“You can’t be married to an object.  So while I am your father’s lingerie...”

Tara smiled warmly.  “Oh, Ma.  That’s sweet.  Um... how long do the snapshots last?”

“As long as you wear the watch.  As an object, it’d need to be in the same room, wasn’t it?”

Trish nodded.  “Bedside table should work.  I could just leave it on the charging cradle.”

“So you can’t change back on your own?”

Mrs. Stark shook her head, but she was smiling just the same.  “Trish could keep me quite stuck should she wish.”

“Should I be worried?”

Her parents glanced at each other, and exchanged shy smiles.  “No.  I’m looking forward to it.”

Tara pulled the ball out of her purse.  “Ready?”

A tap made the watch start to glow.  “Ready.”

Tara’s mother smiled as her body dwindled, melting into a pile of translucent black fabric.  Trish scooped it up and hugged it to her chest.  “Oh, this will be so wonderful.  It’s all she has talked about for days.”

Tara smirked as she picked up the watch and handed it to her father.  “You have someone in mind?”

Trish nodded.  “Mr. McGregor.  He’s been our neighbor for forty years, and his wife died about five years back.  We know him and trust him, and... you probably don’t want to know.”

Tara smiled at her father warmly.  “Stay safe, stay happy.  It’s all good.  Oh, and remember to tell it what a lovely set of lingerie it is.  Call it lingerie, tell it how pretty it is, how much you love it as it is.  It will be very happy if you do.”

Trish smiled.  “Are you really sure that works?”

Tara gestured to Sasha, who nodded eagerly.  “Oh yeah.  I love it to bits, being praised for doing your job well is so...” she sighed happily.  “I’m ready to go back right now.”

“I’d offer to drive you home, but...”

Tara smiled.  “We can hoof it to the bus stop.  Sasha here could use the exercise.”