“It isn’t true. It’s superstitious nonsense,” Seven said quickly and emphatically.

“How do you know so much?” Josef asked. “I keep forgetting who you are.”

“I’m your soul,” Seven cried, exasperated. “And that’s some job, let me tell you.” Seven sighed and turned into the image of an old man, because it was always easier for him to handle Josef that way.

“Oh, it’s the old man I see in my dreams. Thank God,” Josef said with obvious relief. “Did you hear what I was saying?”

“I did,” Seven said, kindly and wisely. He had a white beard, white hair, and the saintliest blue eyes imaginable.

Josef started all over again. “My wife’s going to have a baby. Just earlier today, I felt wonderful thinking about it. But now I’m filled with doubts. Besides that, I’m scared and feel like a coward. I should be feeling paternal, and acting like a tower of strength or something like that.”

“You can feel any way you want to,” Seven said.

“I can?” Josef said, with surprise.

“It’s quite natural to be upset and have mixed feelings. Here, I have someone who might make you feel better,” Seven said, and mentally he called for Lydia. She materialized in an instant—very cleverly, Seven thought, as a lovely young woman several years younger than Josef.

“Oh, it’s you,” she said. “You’re getting cold feet, are you? Never mind. So am I! How odd it really is. Imagine me being a baby? And calling you Daddy? Or Dadda? Or what shall I call you?”

“Oh, God,” Josef said, sputtering and laughing all at once. “I remember the whole thing now.”

“This is how I’ll look when I’m grown up. Won’t I make a great model for you?”

“Model?” Josef said, making a grab for her and grinning.

“Let’s not let things get out of hand,” Seven said. “Josef, do you feel better now?”

Josef kept grinning and nodding.

“Well, you both have to get out of here then,” Seven said. “You’re sure it’s all settled?”

Josef and Lydia shook hands almost formally. “I feel much better,” Josef said. Then he exclaimed “Oh,” and disappeared.

“What happened?” Lydia asked.

“He must have awakened, or something startled his body,” Seven answered. “But technically, you shouldn’t be here either. I’m rehearsing the, uh, inner mechanics involved in the birth. I did want you to reassure Josef, though. Now have you any more questions?”

“No. Right now I feel fine. How I’ll feel when I actually take up residence in a baby’s body may be something else again, though.” She grinned jauntily and said with a laugh, “It can’t be any more confusing than being old and senile, and I got through that all right. But when do I actually become Tweety?”