Halloween For Life Chapter 17 (Timeline 1) free porn video

Chapter 17: Playtime Gets Real Jordan sat back and surveyed the courtyard. He sipped on his glass of punch. 'This is a really nice party,' he realized. 'And... I'm having fun.' This was a minor revelation after how it had all started. First the teasing about dating Matt, then getting caught going out for a smoke by Angela, then the 'girl to girl' talk from her mother, and finally, all of the football wives trying to set him up with Matt at the American Cancer Society Gala Ball. Finally, all of that was behind him. Jordan was now able to just sip his punch, nibble on some of the excellent Tex-Mex, and enjoy the party. And what was amazing is that people would randomly just sit down to talk to him! Even more amazing was how everyone just loved that Jordan knew something about sports and football in particular. He could make the most innocent comments and suddenly he was engaged in lengthy conversations about strategy and plays. For example, Jordan asked Emmitt about the difference between the 4-3 defense and the 3-4 defense and how they were handled by the Cardinals offensive line. Suddenly, Emmitt had gathered the entire offensive line and then assembled the coaches and other players to give him an actual life-size, slow-motion demonstration as to how the different defenses worked, and how the offensive line had to react to each one to protect the quarterback or open gaps for the running back. It was amazing! Jordan, for the first time in his life, understood how gap-protection worked and how the interior battle at the line (something that almost nobody watches or notices) completely defines the game. A whole crowd had gathered to watch. And Jordan was able to get up and actually walk between the players, asking questions! It was... incredible. "Of course, a good quarterback, check that, an *amazing* quarterback, makes all the difference," Emmitt said. "If they can see the blitz and react to it, they can make 'em pay, and that is *so* satisfying." Emmitt glanced over to Matt Coleman, and then back at Jordan. And in that moment, Jordan understood. 'He's only going through all this because I'm a girl,' Jordan realized, shocked. The fact became blindingly clear as Emmitt patted his hand and smiled down at him. 'Because I'm Matt's girl!' For the first time since he had moved to Phoenix, Jordan saw the advantage of being a woman. Oh sure, being pampered at the spa was nice, once you got over the anxiety of, you know, being a man in a spa getting his makeup and hair done! But here... chatting with football players, all of them over 6 feet tall, massive, athletic, and *smart* - crazy smart - about football... none of them would have bother to even acknowledge Jordan as a man. But here he was a woman - Matt's woman - and they were fawning all over him! Happy to teach him about football, and just pleased as punch that he... well she... Jordan the woman... took any interest in their job at all! It was... incredible. Jordan felt... powerful. And included. And grateful that he had had this opportunity. For someone who had watched sports his entire life from the other side of the Television Screen, this was like winning the lottery, three times over. And Matt, watching all of this from the other side of the courtyard, was astonished. No woman he had ever met had taken such an interest in football. "She's really something special, isn't she?" Matt looked over at Chantel who was grinning up at him. "Yeah, WOW," Matt said, shaking his head, amazed. Watching the whole O- Line get together like that to teach Jordan about something as technical as the advantages of the 3-4 defense, made Matt realize, how incredible Jordan was. Not just as a woman... but as a person. * * * "Jordan?" Jordan looked up. An eager-looking older lady with long hair was smiling down at him. "Yes?" "Hi! I'm Annette. My husband and I are putting on the play. Isabella said that you'd be willing to play a part?" "Oh! Yes, I did agree. What do I need to do?" Jordan looked over and saw another man gathering guests and distributing costumes. "It's super easy," Annette said. "First, we have a fun dress for you to wear..." Annette pulled put a big pink poufy gown, "if you don't mind?" Jordan sighed. Well, at least he'd be able to cover up his too-short white dress, he reasoned. And so Jordan got up and let Annette fuss over him. She first hid his existing dress collar by tucking it inside. Next, Jordan, facing the costume dress, slipped his arms into the sleeves and then turned around so Annette could zip him up in back. The dress had a fitted bright-pink satin bodice, gauzy pink sleeves with satin cuffs, long, flowy pink satin skirts (with a full, tulle underskirt) and a bright white satin collar which started at the top of his cleavage and then flared out over the shoulders. It definitely looked like a Disney-style princess dress, but Jordan couldn't think of what Princess this one represented. Annette pulled out some stage makeup and quickly did up Jordan's face. She made Jordan's cheeks more prominent, added more blush, quickly did the eyebrows and added some red lipstick. Finally, she pulled out a brush and brushed out Jordan's hair, before adding a gold tiara with red jewels. "Perfect!" Annette said. "You look just like her!" "Like who?" Jordan asked. But Annette either hadn't heard him or was too busy to answer. "Now here's your lines," Annette said, handing Jordan two index cards. Jordan looked at them, but all they said was "Yes" and "Yes!!". Jordan handed the cards back to Annette. "Don't you need them?" she asked. "I think I can remember," Jordan laughed. "Where do you want me?" "Over here on the chaise," Annette led Jordan to a chaise lounge. It was the same one from the powder room, but transferred out to the courtyard. "Lay here on your back and close your eyes. Oh! And hold this rose." "Is that it?" Jordan said. "How will I know when to deliver my lines?" "Easy," said Annette. "Someone will tap you on the shoulder and then ask you a question." "Oh! Okay," Jordan said. "That's easy. Thank you, Annette!" "No, thank *you* Jordan," Annette said, hurrying off to prepare the next guest. Jordan closed his eyes. The rose rested on his chest, nestled in between his cleavage. Jordan could hear people milling about and getting into their places. By now Jordan had drunk about five cups of Chantel's special spiked punch, this on top of the two doses of Angela's special relaxation pills. 'This is comfortable,' Jordan thought to himself, feeling relaxed. The weather was typical weather for Phoenix in November: Mid 70's, warm but not too warm, clear, sunny and beautiful. Jordan felt the sun on his face. After about 90 seconds, he was sound asleep. * * * "Time to get things started," Annette told Leopold, her husband. Leopold looked around. Everyone was rehearsed, in place and looking at him with eager (if slightly nervous) smiles. "Check out sleeping beauty," Annette said, grinning, nodding over to where Jordan was fast asleep on the chaise. "Is she really sleeping?" Leopold asked, delighted. "Now *that's* method acting!" * * * The play was titled: "The princess without a mother! (who was more beautiful than any other)" and it was all about a young girl (Isabella) who went on a quest to find a mother. Isabella was escorted on her quest by the king's trusty servant, "Lord Burps-A-Lot", played by Leopold. And Jordan, sound asleep on the chaise, missed it all. He missed Isabella, dressed in a pretty yellow ball gown, go to RoseMarie and Angela and ask: "Are you a princess? My Daddy needs to marry a princess!" "No!" said RoseMarie and Angela together. "We're witches! And we eat little girls for dinner! Unless..." RoseMarie and Angela looked meaningfully at all of the little girls and boys, "unless you ate your vegetables today?" "I ate my carrots!" said Isabella, proudly. "I like carrots!" "Oh, darn!" said RoseMarie. "Well, I guess we can't eat you then." "Try over there," suggested Angela. "They look like they could be princesses!" And so Isabella went to the cluster of football wives who were all dressed as maids. "Are you a princess?" Isabella asked. "My Daddy needs to marry a princess!" "We're so sorry!" said Chantel and the other wives. "But we're already married!" And then they sang: "Isabella, Isabella Wants a princess for her fella, It's your duty, Don't complain, Find a beauty, with a brain! We're sure you're gonna find her and It's 'cause there's no one kinder than, 'sabella, Isabella, Isabella!" "Now I think there may be a princess down that path," Chantel said, "but be careful! I hear there are dwarves in the forest!" And so Isabella skipped down the path where she came across the entire Cardinal's front five, dressed with pointy hats and looking like massive, six-foot-six-inch tall, 350 pound garden gnomes. "Are you a princess?" Isabella asked. "My Daddy needs to marry a princess!" "NO!" said the football players. "We're dwarves!" And then they sang and danced across the courtyard: "Hi ho! Hi ho! We love to run and throw! We hit and block like buffalo, hi ho! Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho!" And, of course it was such a hit that they had to sing (and dance) it all two more times. 'That's kinda true,' Matt mused to himself. 'Our offensive line coach did come from the Buffalo Bills.' "But we know where there is a princess," said Emmitt, for the group. "She's over there!" And he pointed to Jordan. * * * Meanwhile, Jordan was dreaming. He and Anna were in the park, like they used to do on weekends, and he was laying on the soft grass. Around them, people were enjoying the park. There were people playing touch football, there were people cooking bar-b-que. And Jordan was blissfully happy, with Anna snuggled by his side. * * * Isabella walked over to Jordan and said, "Are you a princess? My Daddy needs to marry a princess!" The entire courtyard held its breath, waiting to see what Jordan would do. Would he be the princess that Isabella was looking for? It was as quiet as church on Tuesday. And just then, Jordan opened his mouth, took a deep breath... ... and snored. * * * Jordan, in his dream, heard people laughing and shouting. "What a nice park!" he told Anna. "It's so full of happy people!" * * * Isabella ran to Matt. "Daddy!" she said. "Jordan's sleeping!" "I can see that, sweetheart," Matt said, trying his best to hold a straight face (and mostly failing). "What do you want me to do?" "You need to go and kiss her to wake her up!" Isabella said. Matt walked over to Jordan. She looked beautiful, her face completely relaxed and at peace. And with every snore, the audience broke into more snorts and giggles. "Jordan," Matt whispered, tapping Jordan on the shoulder, like Annette told him to do. But Jordan just reached up in his sleep and brushed Matt's hand away. "Daddy," Isabella said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You have to kiss her!" * * * Meanwhile, Jordan felt Anna tickling his shoulder. "Stop," Jordan said, in his dream, trying to brush Anna's hand away. "Jorrr-daaan," Anna said, in a sing-songy way. "Come, kiiiiss me," she said. Jordan felt Anna put a hand behind his head and draw him to her. He parted his lips to give her a kiss. But strange, he thought to himself. Her hands are so big. And her arms are so strong. Jordan felt good in those big, strong arms. Comforted. Safe. Secure. Horny. Jordan opened his lips and kissed Anna, moaning in pleasure. 'Oh Anna,' he thought to himself. 'How I miss you.' But why were her lips so scratchy? he wondered, continuing the kiss. But the scratchiness didn't turn him off. Strangely, it made him even more horny. And then gradually... slowly... Anna morphed into... into... * * * "Matt..." Jordan breathed. The entire courtyard held its breath. As Jordan came out of dreamland, he opened his eyes and finally realized who he was kissing... "YEEEEAAAHHHH!!!" Jordan screamed, scrambling backwards and falling off the chaise, a tumble of skirts flying every which way. "WHAT THE....???" he squealed, "MATT??" The entire party burst into gales of laughter. "Oh god, oh god, oh god!" Emmitt said, on hands and knees because he was laughing so hard. "Hey Matt!" He called out. "Way to wake up the lady!" Angela and RoseMarie were clutching each other, trying not to fall over in hysterics. Chantel was laughing so hard that tears of mascara ran down her cheeks, her makeup ruined. "I'm so sorry!" Matt said, holding out his hands. "Jordan! I'm so sorry!" "You... what... I..." Jordan sputtered, his ass hurting where he fell, still scrambling backwards, but slower now. His breasts hurt too because they jiggled so hard when he bounced on the ground. Thank god they were glued on, Jordan thought to himself, imagining what would have happened if they ended up someplace they shouldn't have been! "She's awake!!" Isabella announced. "Are you a princess?" "What?" Jordan asked, looking wildly around the courtyard. Suddenly he realized that everyone was watching him. "Are you a princess?" Isabella asked again. 'It's the play!' Jordan finally remembered. 'I'm in the play! I fell asleep, but I'm supposed to be in the play. And wait... what are my lines? He thought back. Oh, no...' "Yes," Jordan said. "Yaaaaayyyyy!!!" Isabella squealed, running over to Jordan and knocking him flat on his back. "I've found the princess! I've found the princess!" Matt walked over to where Jordan was laying, and extended his hand. Jordan looked up at him. 'Oh god,' Jordan realized. 'I kissed him. I kissed Matt Coleman.' Jordan looked around. 'I kissed the starting quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals in front of a hundred people.' And not just any kiss, his subconscious muttered into his ear. Jordan lay there for what seemed like hours, but was really only about 15 seconds, as Matt, patiently, held out his hand, smiling down at Jordan. Jordan's touched his lips with his hand. It was as if he could still feel Matt's kiss, still feel his manly lips and scratchy face, still smell his scent, still taste him... Finally, Jordan sat up, grasped Matt's hand and let Matt pull him up. Everyone applauded. "Remember," Matt whispered into Jordan's ear. "This is only a play, okay?" "Okay," Jordan whispered back. "I have one more question I have to ask," Matt whispered. Suddenly, the noise in the courtyard hushed as Matt knelt down before Jordan. He reached out and held Jordan's hand. "Will you marry me?" Matt asked, looking up into Jordan's face. Jordan remembered his line. He had received only two lines from Annette, and now it was time to deliver the second one. 'This is only a play,' he reminded himself. 'It doesn't mean anything. Oh, god! I hope this really doesn't mean anything!!' "Yes," Jordan said, trying his best to smile, as everyone broke into wild applause. "And thus ends the play of 'The Princess without A Mother'!" Leopold announced. Matt got up and hugged Jordan quickly. "Thanks for being such a good sport about this," Matt said. And then everyone on the play lined up, with Isabella up front in the center, and held hands and bowed. "And now, let's all sing Happy Birthday to Isabella!" said Annette, leading the entire party in a rousing rendition. * * * "Well, there's a performance I'll not soon forget!" Leopold said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "I hope we can get a video. It would be wonderful to post that on our web site." "Probably," Annette said, grinning. "There were at least a dozen cell phones recording it." "Oh, Annette, I love you," said Leopold, hugging his wife, caught up in the emotions of the day and the thrill of a good performance. He knelt to the ground. "Will you marry me?" he asked, repeating Matt's lines from the play. "Forever and for-always, Leo, my sweet," Annette said, pulling him up and into a kiss. "Even if my married name would become 'Annette Burps-A- Lot' ." * * * Jordan got lots of compliments on his performance. And while he accepted them as gracefully as he could, inside he churned inside with warring emotions. 'How could I have been so stupid to fall asleep like that?' He berated himself, over and over. Of course, the drugs and the alcohol and the warm sun and the comfortable chaise had all played their own parts in the disaster. And then there was the kiss. Oh... the kiss. Jordan had awoken from his dream to discover that he was kissing a man. A MAN!! It seemed burned into his memory, so much so that he kept touching his lips, wondering if the kiss had left a mark. And if he thought about it too much, he realized that he actually... But no - that was too dangerous to think about, and so Jordan resolutely moved on... ...to thinking about the marriage scene. "Will you marry me?" Matt had asked, and Jordan, faithfully repeating his lines had said, "Yes." "It's just a play," he kept telling himself. "It was just a play." It didn't help that Isabella was running around yelling, "I have a mommy! I have a mommy!" and then randomly coming over to hug Jordan. That *really* didn't help, even as Matt, multiple times, tried to explain to Bella that it was all just a play and that Jordan was just playing pretend. "That's right, Bella," Jordan emphasized. "It's just pretend. Okay?" "Don't you *want* to be my Mommy?" Isabella asked, her eyes wide and trusting. Now what do I do? Jordan wondered. "Look, Isabella!" Jordan said, pointing. "There's cake and ice cream!" "Cake and ice cream??" Isabella whirled around and raced off to the desert tables. "Close one," Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. "I've *got* to get out of here, and fast." Jordan went to go find Angela. Maybe he could convince her that it was time to leave. * * * "Oh, Jordan!" Angela said, "I'm so glad you're here." Jordan had finally found Angela and Matt talking in the kitchen. "Hey Jordan," Matt said. "I hope you don't mind, but I really need you and Angela to stay late, after the party." "Late?" Jordan asked, wondering if he was *ever* going to get home. "Why?" "I have to leave," Matt said, apologetically. "I need to go check into the team hotel, and someone needs to look after Bella." "The hotel? You mean - you're not spending the night here? In your own house?" "No," Matt explained. "The night before the game, there's a team dinner, some last minute meetings to review the game plan, and then everyone stays at the hotel. Management realizes that there are, uh, too many distractions at home." Matt looked out the window at Isabella who was playing on the castle stage. She was being chased by Annette, who was trying to get her to change out of her princess costume so the players could pack up and go home. Jordan had long ago given up his 'Sleeping Beauty' costume and was back to just wearing his white, sporty, body-hugging dress. "So normally," Matt continued, "the nanny, Jennifer, comes to take care of Bella, but she's just called and she'll be late. Apparently there's some sort of problem downtown, and her car's been blocked in by some emergency equipment." "I see," said Jordan, realizing that his chances of getting home quickly had now disappeared. 'Well, at least it will be just me and Angela,' he thought to himself. 'And Isabella.' "Of course, Matt," Jordan agreed. "I would be happy to stay and help take care of Bella until the nanny gets here." "See?" Angela said, punching her brother in the arm. "I told you she'd be good with it. Jordan, you're the best. Thank you." * * * 'The problem is I'm too nice,' Jordan thought to himself. 'I should have just told Angela I was tired. I should have demanded that Matt get us separate cabs home.' Jordan sighed, realizing that there was nothing he could have (or would have) done. The needs of a (now) four-year-old girl would trump any excuse that he could have come up with. The entire party was gathered for the last event, unwrapping presents. This was held in the living room, with Isabella surrounded by an enormous mound of gaily wrapped boxes. She carefully unwrapped each and every one, admired it, and said 'Thank you'. "She's so polite," Jordan whispered to Angela. "It's the nanny," Angela whispered back. "She rehearsed proper gift opening etiquette ahead of time." "Thank you Aunt Angela!" Bella said, showing the fairy wings to everyone. "They're beyoootiful!" "You're welcome, Isabella." "Can I put them on now?" "Of course!" "So, Jordan, do you think you'll keep the nanny once you get married to Matt?" Chantel whispered. "Chantel!" Jordan exclaimed, a little too loudly. Everyone stopped and looked at them. "Sorry!" Chantel giggled. She gave Jordan a kiss on the cheek. "I couldn't resist," she whispered. "I saved the best for last," Isabella announced. She held up Jordan's present. "Oh, it's just a little something," Jordan tried to lower expectations. "A heart!" Isabella said, looking up at Jordan with such earnest eyes that Jordan felt a weird tug somewhere deep inside. "I love it! Thank you, Miss Jordan!" Isabella hopped up and ran over to Jordan, giving him a big, crushingly hard, hug. "Thank you," she said again. "Oh, ah... you're welcome," Jordan said, not exactly sure how to handle such a heartfelt display. No present he had ever given had ever been so appreciatively received. "Happy Birthday, Isabella," Jordan added, returning the hug. Everyone in the room, RoseMarie, Chantel, Angela, all of the football wives, and Matt... all watched the back and forth between Jordan and Isabella and thought the same thing: 'Jordan better marry Matt, or Isabella's heart will be broken.' * * * After the party was over and everyone had left, Jordan, Angela and Isabella played with Bella's presents for a while and then had an early- evening snack of party leftovers. "Miss Jordan, would you help me get ready for bed?" Isabella asked. "Go ahead," said Angela. "I'll put the food away and clean up the kitchen." And so Jordan accompanied Isabella to her bedroom, where Bella immediately stripped down to her panties, throwing her party dress and shoes aside, and then went to the closet to fetch her 'Disney's Tangled' nightshirt. It was purple and pink and had cute ruffles at the sleeves and skirt. "Help!" she said, simply. Jordan looked at her, agape. It had all happened so fast. Here was a little girl, who stripped right in front of him as if it were nothing. 'Oh my god,' he thought to himself. 'Here I am, a man, dressed as a woman, in a little girl's bedroom, and she's nearly naked.' Suddenly he realized what a dangerous position this was. After all, if anyone were to find out that he was a man, alone in a little girl's bedroom, helping her to undress... Just the thought of what might happen made Jordan's heart race. Jordan took the nightshirt from Isabella and slipped it over her head, helping to get her arms and head through their respective openings. "Thank you, Miss Jordan!" Bella said, giving Jordan a quick peck on the cheek. "Now I gotta go potty and brush my teeth." Bella ran out of the room and down the hall, while Jordan stayed behind, breathing hard. 'What have I done?' Jordan thought to himself, feeling wretched. Visions of him explaining to Angela that he was really a man flashed through his head. Simple betrayal of a friendship was one thing. Being a man alone in a bedroom with a 4-year-old girl on her birthday while she stripped down to panties was another situation entirely. Oh god! "Miss Jordan!!" Isabella shouted. "I need your help to brush my teeth!" "Oh, Okay!" Jordan shouted back. He wandered down the hall to where Isabella was standing on a stool in front of her sink. "You gotta watch to make sure I do it right," Isabella explained. Isabella brushed her teeth and then handed the toothbrush to Jordan. "Can you do in back?" she asked. "Sure," Jordan said, uncertainly. He took the child's toothbrush from Isabella and gently brushed her teeth in back on both sides. It was awkward, but he managed it. "Thank you!" Isabella said, rinsing her mouth out with water and drying her face on a towel. "Now I get to pick a story!" she said, running back to her bedroom. Jordan trailed slowly behind her back. He had just brushed the teeth of a four-year-old. That was the *last* thing he would have predicted he would do. It felt so... domestic. So... like being a mom. By the time he entered the bedroom, Isabella was already in bed sitting up. She pulled the covers over her legs. "Our picture!" Isabella pointed, proudly. Sure enough, the picture that Jordan and Isabella had drawn together while sharing dinner at the stadium restaurant was tacked up on the wall. "Who is that?" Jordan pointed to a framed picture of a friendly looking woman. It was black and white and done in an 'art-portrait' style. "That's Elsa. She's my Mom. She died when I was one. I don't remember her," Isabella said, in a such a frank way that it was heartbreaking. "But Daddy says that someday I'll have a new mommy." "I'm sure that you will," said Jordan, sitting on the bed next to Isabella. "Maybe you will be my mommy?" "Now Bella," Jordan said. "You know that today was just pretend, right?" "I know," Isabella said, sadly. "But don't you want to be my mommy? Aren't I a good girl?" "Of course, Isabella, you are the *best* little girl!" Jordan said, with as much feeling as he could. He tickled her tummy and she giggled. "Then why won't you be my Mommy?" she asked Suddenly, Jordan realized what he needed to say. "Because, Isabella," Jordan explained, "I would need to fall in love with your Daddy first." "Ohhhhh," Isabella said, with dawning realization. "So, when are you going to fall in love with Daddy?" "I don't know," Jordan said. "It might never happen. Falling in love - it's not something that anyone can make happen. It's... destiny. No one can control who they fall in love with." "But it's possible?" "Yes, Isabella, it's possible," said Jordan, not wanting to break the girl's heart on her birthday. 'You're such a chicken,' Jordan told himself. "Yaayy!!" Isabella said. "Okay, now you have to read me a book and then I will go to sleep." "What book would you like me to read?" Jordon looked over the books, afraid that Isabella would choose a book like 'Are you my Mommy?' "Dragon's Love Tacos!" said Isabella. "I love that book!" * * * Jordan and Angela were finally in the taxicab on their way home. Angela noticed Jordan seemed awfully quiet and disconnected. "You okay?" Angela asked. "Yeah," Jordan replied. "Just tired." It had been a very long day. The nanny had finally arrived around 8pm, five hours after the party had ended. Jordan was falling asleep on the sofa in the living room when she arrived. Jordan watched the Phoenix buildings scroll past. He reflected on how things had gotten out of hand. First, it was just a lark - go as a woman for Halloween! But things had gone way, WAY too far. It was no longer about protecting his job or Jason's job, anymore. Now he had involved Angela, her brother (an NFL quarterback!), and his four-year-old daughter. The longer this went on, the more people got involved and the harder it would be to back out. 'This has to end,' Jordan thought to himself. 'As soon as I get back to the apartment, I'm getting these breast forms off, I'm changing back into a man, and then I'm driving to Utah. Anna will help me figure out what to do. I know that people will be hurt, Isabelle will be hurt' - the thought made him horribly sad - 'but better now than later.' At least he had Anna on his side, Jordan reflected. She would still stand by him, no matter what. The two of them together - they would be able to figure it out. Together they would be able to devise a plan to get out of this. "Hey, look..." Angela said, pointing. Jordan sat up and saw flashing lights ahead. "Is that.." Jordan said, suddenly worried. "Is that...?" "Our block?" Angela looked at him, eyes wide with fright. The taxicab stopped, unable to go any further. Angela and Jordan jumped out of the cab and ran down the street. Jordan had to stop to take off his heels. He ran on the sidewalk in stocking feet. "Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!" Jordan screamed, as he ran up the street to where the emergency vehicles were all parked. "This can't be happening....No!!!" END Chapter 17