But the Queen of Hell seemed to read her mind. “You might ask what this has to do with you. Shirley, you can’t control how people see you. All you can do is accept it, right?”

Really?

Miss Satomi had seemed wise. But accepting how others saw you—as nice as that sounded—was wrong. For example, Katrina’s family insisted that she was a boy …

And why should Shirley accept what her mother thought of her?

“But what if their views don’t match what you know is true?” Shirley said, disappointedly.

“Well, if you feel that strongly about your truth, then there is no reason to worry about your existence, is there?”

Shirley paused, processing what Miss Satomi had said.

“Shirley, I am telling you this because I don’t trust people. When you go back to the shop, your family may still see you as a program. In fact, I think they will, I’m sorry to say. So when they do, remember what you just said.”

“Thank you, Miss Satomi.”

“Of course,” Shizuka said. “By the way, how are the eggs?”

“Tell her about the worms, Shirley,” Katrina deadpanned, just as Shizuka took her first bite.

Not long after they finished, there was a green flash in the living room.

Today Lan looked less like a mother and more like a commander. Her hair, her appearance, was crisp, creased. Pressed.

Shizuka could not stop looking. Oh, she did clean up well, didn’t she?

“Shirley.”

Shirley saluted.

“Mother. I apologize for disobeying your orders.”

“No. I should have listened … more carefully to your grievance. In the end, I was brought to my senses.” She glanced at Shizuka. “So I am now rescinding my order.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

“So, shall we return to the donut shop?” Her shoulders slumped slightly. “Windee does not seem to know the difference between baking powder and powdered sugar. So, let’s go home before Aunty Floresta kills her.”

“Is that a joke?”

“It’s figure of speech they use here.”

“These people can be strange sometimes.”

“Strange is putting it mildly.”

Shizuka coughed.

Lan glanced at Shizuka, and remembered their conversation.

“And, Shirley, we all miss you. I miss you.”

“Then, Mother, I will meet you back home.”

Then she turned to Katrina. “See you later?”

“Yes,” Katrina said.

The projector flickered, and Shirley disappeared.

Lan turned to Shizuka and bowed. “I am sorry for the trouble that I have caused.”

Shizuka felt a little flutter—Lan really did look great in a uniform. She then saluted and disappeared in a green flash.

Shizuka and Katrina stood there in the living room.

“You’re blushing,” Katrina said.

“No I’m not,” Shizuka replied.

Lanny had ordered Windee off of the computers and into the donut shop. She wanted Windee to learn some patience. She suggested it might even be fun.

How was any of this fun?

“Aunty! Heeelp!” Windee was caked in donut mix.