'Maybe Delores will tell you how they get babies on Venus; I heard they just embrace and when they step apart, there is a child between them. Be sure you come by for that appointment,' finishes Diane Cassidy as she leaves her two friends.
'I don't think Ivan would like that method,' answers Helena Peterovka, as she makes tea and offers Delores Shosis one of the fresh buns her daughter-in-law left for them.
'What appointment?' demands Delores as she takes only a cup of tea and frowns at the sight of Helena eating the second bun.
'I was still in bed this morning when Diane came,' explains Helena. 'She must have thought I was ill.'
'Well, we need to be sure we agree on our decisions about the borough before the meeting tonight,' insists Delores. 'Go get dressed while I clear the table, and quit eating so much; you're getting pudgy.'
Worried that her friend might be ill, Delores calls Diane on her telly. She gives a fleeting thought to the lack of need on Venus for this means of communication, but is thankful that it is available on Earth in the twenty-fourth century. Just by giving a voice message, she can speak to anyone on Earth and even contact the main computer on a few of the nearer planets.
Delores is younger than her two friends and was on Venus when much happened. She missed the double wedding of Mary Strong and Joe Radnor and Helena and Ivan. She left for Venus the day Diane Radnor married Robert Cassidy; the day Ivan was shocked back to his senses when he recognized Robert as his son; the day she publicly acknowledged her love for Pete Shosis.