“I think we should give you a rest now.  You’ve been practicing for over six hours, and you’re starting to look tired.  Eat something then go lay down and go to bed.  You’ll need your energy for tomorrow,” said Captain Cattitude. “Yes, I am tired.  Thank you,” said Shadow as she left his bedroom to head into the kitchen to see what she could grab to eat.  The kitchen was pristine.  All the dishes were washed, and food had been put away if there was any left-over food to eat.  Shadow walked to the refrigerator. It was a big industrial refrigerator with one door.  Shadow opened the door and peeked inside.  Luckily there were leftovers inside.  There were fruit cups left-over from breakfast and sandwiches left-over from lunch.  She grabbed one of each and walked to the dining room table to sit and eat the food.  She was so hungry and tired she gulped the meal down. She cleaned her dishes and headed to bed 

Phoebe was just getting ready for bed when Shadow walked in.  “Hi, Phoebe, how was your day?” said shadow as she walked into the bedroom. “Fine,” mumbled Phoebe to Shadow.  “That good, huh?” said shadow back.  “I’m really tired can we just go to bed.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” said Phoebe as she lay down in her bed.  “Okay, sure,” said Shadow with a harshness to her reply as she felt she was being judged by something she did.  “Goodnight, Phoebe,” said Shadow as she lay down in bed feeling she did something wrong…

“I’ll show you first what this new power can do, just watch and observe,” said Captain Cattitude.  Captain Cattitude got a very serious look on his face and began to wiggle his ears and swish his tail back and forth, then he began to wiggle his nose.  Shadow watched intently but did not see what happened. He moved Shadow from the chair to his bed.  It was done so quickly she didn’t even realize it occurred.  Captain Cattitude stopped all his actions and clapped his paws together.  Shadow came out of the stop time event and only then, did she realize she had been moved.  She looked at Captain Cattitude asked,” How did you do that?”

“I showed you,” he replied.  “But I didn’t even feel you move me nor see you do that,” Shadow said complexed.  “I did it by stopping time.  You don’t remember it nor feel it because your time was frozen while I could still move about in time,” said Captain Cattitude.  “However, like the other powers, your mind needs to concentrate on the action while you perform the movements, which will prove difficult to do at first. For today, I just want you to perform the actions – you must perform them in the right order, or it won’t work.  Now I want you to stand up and try the movements.  First wiggle your ears, then swish your tail back and forth and then wiggle your nose.  The timing must be right, “concluded Captain Cattitude.  

Shadow stood up as instructed and began to wiggle her ears, then swish her tail back and forth, then wiggle her nose.  She discovered it was hard to keep all three movements in sync.  “No, no, you need to have all three in sync.  You look like a drunk right now.  You even almost lost your balance” said Captain Cattitude holding back laughter. “Now, try again,” he said.

While Shadow tried to perform the power again, Phoebe had been listening with her ear pressed to the door.  She was scared of what she heard. “What is happening to my BFF,” she thought. “He’s making her into some kind of superweapon,” she scorned as she walked away from the door to go think about what she heard…

Shadow followed Captain Cattitude to his bedroom where her training takes place. Captain Cattitude seemed serious today, more so than the other days of training.  He was standing in the middle of his bedroom when he asked Shadow to take a seat.  “Good morning Shadow,” said Captain Cattitude.  ‘Good morning Captain Cattitude,” replied Shadow.  Please take a seat.  We have a lot of important things to discuss regarding this new power you will be exposed to today,” said Captain Cattitude motioning at the chair in his bedroom.  “First off we will not talk about this power with other members in the safe house.  They are already afraid of you, and I suppose, afraid of me. This power can be very dangerous in the wrong hands.  Let’s start with the backstory.  When we visited Earth back in the days when the Egyptians were being pyramids, they never would have accomplished the feat if they didn’t use our mathematical skills. They also would never have been built as quickly as they were if we didn’t stop time. Yes, the new power I will train you in is to stop time.  Now, you see why we shouldn’t discuss this with anyone?.  It will terrify them.  It’s gravely important you only use this power when necessary which you may have to use on the government to save people’s lives if they locate us,” he concluded.

“Now, then let’s begin,” he said.

FBI agent Baudelaire woke up in anxiety.  “I must keep Captain Cattitude, Shadow, and Phoebe safe,” he said aloud as he jumped out of his bed and made his way to the shower.  “I know the girls are in danger.  I must be vigilant in keeping them safe,” he talked aloud as the water from the shower began to cascade on him. 

This is just what I needed, a nice hot shower to calm my nerves, he thought to himself as the water pummeled his fur.  Shadow is scaring me how she is growing and changing and learning these new powers, who is an egomaniac, could be dangerous.  I just hope she can’t read my mind, that will be troublesome for someone who is supposed to keep her safe, he thought as he dried himself off, got dressed and made his way to the dining room hall for breakfast.

“Hello agent Baudelaire,” said Shadow as he sat across the table from her.  She and the others were already done with breakfast and Captain Cattitude was telling Shadow to come along and let’s get to work on your new power. You could feel the tension around the table as others feared what this might be…

The artificial light coming through the fake windows cast an eerie glow in Phoebe’s and Shadow’s bedroom. It shown directly in Shadow’s eyes.  It woke her up.  Damn, she thought, I’m never going to be able to sleep in thanks to this fake light.  ‘Phoebe are you up? asked Shadow to a still sleeping Phoebe.  “I am now.  What’s up? said Phoebe.  “I’m nervous about today.  I’m scared this new power will prove to be too powerful, and it will take me over, that I will become evil.  “What is this new power?” asked Phoebe. “Captain Cattitude hasn’t told me yet.  He just said it involves time., something to do with controlling it.  It just sounds powerful and intoxicating,” said Shadow as she got up from bed to go take a shower. “Yes, it does.  Be careful don’t get caught up in the way it may make you feel Remember you are my BFF, and I know my BFF wouldn’t let it consume her.  I have faith in you,” said Phoebe as she too got up out of bed…

“Are we safe, Shadow,” asked a concerned Phoebe about the COVID 19 virus. “I think we are safe for now since we have had no contact with anyone for a month.  Suzie and Peter are the new people to our group, but they too have not had contact with the outside world. “I think we are safe, “concluded Shadow.  “Let’s go to bed.  I have another big day ahead of me.  I’m learning a new skill tomorrow that is supposed to be the hardest to learn and the most dangerous one if put in the wrong hands according to Captain Cattitude,” said Shadow.  “You’re so lucky to be taught all these skills by Captain Cattitude.  You’re very special.  I can sense that some people in our group are getting scared of you.  I don’t envy you in that way,” said Phoebe as she changed into her pajamas. “Yes, I know they are getting afraid of me.  I have been hearing their thoughts in my head,” said Shadow as she got under to the covers to go to sleep. “And you have these powers because you are descendent of Captain Cattitude’s species?” said Phoebe as she too got under the covers in her bed.  Yes, according to Captain Cattitude, said Shadow as she began to yawn. “Goodnight, Phoebe,” said Shadow.  Goodnight, my BFF, “said Phoebe as she closed her eyes…

After lunch, there was a special meeting held by Suzie and Peter regarding the Coronavirus. Italy is now in lockdown; the hospitals are filled to capacity.  The Coronavirus is now called COVID 19 and it is spreading throughout the world.  The United States was particularly unprepared for a Pandemic, and the numbers of those infected are rising significantly. “We must stay In place for several more months.  We can’t go outside. The situation is dire,” said Suzie. The good news is none of us are infected.  We want to keep it that way,” said Peter.  “We must stay in place.  Luckily since none of us are infected, we don’t need to wear face masks,” concluded Peter.  “What about our owners?  Are they safe?  Will you be able to update us on them?” said Phoebe close to tears.  “We will try to find out how your family is doing and let them know you are safe, but we have to be very careful.  We don’t want the government to know where we are,” said Suzie.  “There are still hunting for you four,” said Suzie. “As far as food goes, we still have enough for two months; after that, we will have to have food delivered. At that point, we will be at risk for exposure to COVID 19. We will then have to take steps to protect us for exposure to the virus,” said Peter. “Now I suggest we go about our days and do our work to keep this place and us safe,” concluded Peter.

Phoebe woke up in a terror.  She dreamt her owner had disowned her because she has been gone or a month.  And because communication out of the house to the outside world is forbidden, she has no way of easing her fears.  Shadow woke up to Phoebe crying. Shadow told Phoebe that Nick her owner loved her too much that he would never do that.  She told Phoebe that Nick is sad she is gone but has not disowned, will take her back with open arms once it’s safe to return back to normal. That quieted Phoebe down enough that they were able to discuss their situation and how it was going without being able to communicate with their loved ones. They discovered they both were scared and missed their owners.

“Come on let’s have breakfast.  I hear Suzie is in charge of food today.  She always makes good meals,” said Shadow. They were not disappointed.  Suzie had made French toast, eggs, fruit cups, coffee, and juice.  “Thank you for breakfast, Suzie,” said Shadow happy she was using what she learned yesterday and did not hear other people’s thoughts.  “Why thank you, Shadow.  You are welcome.  How are you feeling today?” said Suzie. “I feel great.  I’m starting to learn how to control the mind-reading.  I’m very happy,” said Shadow.  Pete just looked at Shadow as if she was a freak.  He was still scared by her.  Captain Cattitude came into breakfast late.  He was happy to see Shadow was freaking out this morning.  Good morning everyone.  Shadow are you read to learn you other power? “said Captain Cattitude. “Yes sir,” said Shadow a bit scared now what she was learning next.  “Great, we begin after breakfast,” said Captain Cattitude. “But can we first discuss if there is any way we can see how our owners are doing?  Phoebe is scared she is losing her owner and since we can’t communicate to them, it’s not helping to ease her fear,”  “I’ll see what we can do said Suzie understanding how the girls were feeling about missing loved ones.”…

Shadow awoke and it was now morning.  Phoebe did not wake her up as she requested.  She was still in a slight gaze when she got up from the bed – stumbled to stand up.  She had to grasp onto her dresser to keep herself from falling down. She noticed Phoebe was not in the room. ”What time is it?” she asked allowed  She looked over at the clock on her computer table it read 11:00 AM  “Great, I missed breakfast.  Oh well, lunch is less than an hour away, she said as she changed her clothes and headed toward the kitchen.

Upon reaching the kitchen, voices started to be heard in her head.  It seemed like six or eight people were talking to her at once.  ‘Damn, I don’t like this mind-reading power,” she thought to herself.  Captain Cattitude was in the kitchen along with Peter, Suzie, Baudelaire, and Phoebe.  They were all helping to make lunch.  Captain Cattitude looked at Shadow and knew something was wrong.  Suzie thought to herself she scares me which Shadow picked up in her mind.  Peter thought she might as well be an alien with all these weird powers as he looked at Shadow.  Baudelaire thought look at her she looks different, kind of scary looking. She has this look that she doesn’t know where she is.  Captain Cattitude asked if he could speak to Shadow in private They left the kitchen to go to the family room. “It’s happening again, huh, Shadow?” said Captain Cattitude. “Yes, they all hate me.  They think I am a freak show.  I can’t shut it off,” said a tearful Shadow.  “Remember focus on the person you want to hear.  If you don’t want to hear anybody’s thoughts, then focus on nothing,” he said. “I can’t.  It’s like a switch went on and now I can’t shut it off,” said Shadow sobbing. I’m going to add something to your training.  When you want to read someone’s mind, wiggle your nose.  Concentrate on the wriggling and what you want to accomplish with it,” said Captain Cattitude.  “Now, focus on my mind only, wiggle your nose and focus on my mind and heart.  Let me know when you hear only me, ok?” said Captain Cattitude. 

Shadow and Captain Cattitude stayed in the family room for hours.  Time and time again Shadow tried to master the power.  The third hour into practicing, she only heard Captain Cattitude’s voice. “I only hear your voice, she said.  “Perfect, now focus on Suzie’s mind and only hear her mind.  Shadow sat in her chair and wriggled her nose, she only heard Suzie’s mind. “I only hear Suzie, she said.  “Great now try not to hear anyone’s thoughts. Shadow did nothing but focus on the silence tuning out the voices she started to hear.  Eventually, she heard only her voice.  “I only hear my voice, said an excited Shadow.  Great, why don’t you lay down.  This process is exhausting for most….

Shadow emerged from Captain Cattitude’s room feeling like she could control the world.  After hours of training, she started to be able to shut out other people’s minds from hers.  She was able to focus on just the voice she wanted to hear and tune out the others.

 In training, it worked marvelously, but how would it work in the real world, she wondered.  Dinner was less than an hour away.  She would soon find out.  For now, she was going to lay down and catch a quick nap.

When she got to her room Phoebe was playing around with Photoshop looking a bit harried and unsure of herself.  “Are you alright Phoebe,” said Shadow as she entered the bedroom.  “Yes, I can’t quite figure out how to add text to a video and have it animate using Photoshop.  It’s driving me bonkers,” replied Phoebe still tweaking with the app settings trying to get it to work. “You’ll figure it out.  You always do.  So, I’m going to take a nap.  Can you wake me up at dinner time?” said Shadow as she lay herself down on the pillow to sleep. Before Phoebe could say yes, Shadow was out as quickly as if someone had just blown out a candlelight. “Wow, you must be tired,” said Phoebe talking to herself since Shadow couldn’t’ hear her…