While Moe was out to the bank and realtor's office, Nichole and Karen were both at home. It was close to eleven when Nichole decided to go next door to apologize to Francine.
"I'm headed next door," Nichole called out. "I'll be back in time for our appointment with the school."
"Kay," Karen called out as Nichole was walking out.
Nichole walked next door and knocked on the door of the Brooks home. Daniel was out at work and Peter was at school. That meant Francine was the one who opened the door. When Francine opened the door, her eyes widened to see it was Nichole.
"Hi Fran," Nichole said as she watched the expression on her friend's face. "Can we...um...talk?"
"Of course!" Francine replied enthusiastically as she embraced Nichole before moving to let Nichole in. The two went to the living room so that they could talk. "Where's Karen?"
"Oh, she's at home. We'll be going to the school later this afternoon to talk to the counselor. I think it's about the classes that she'll be taking. How's Peter?"
"He's doing great," Francine replied, "Doing well in school and all that." There was a bit of a pause as Francine studied Nichole. "There's something bothering you, isn't it?"
Nichole sighed and said, "Yeah, I owe you an apology for how I acted the other night. I, uh, sorta went off the handle, if you know what I mean."
Francine smiled at Nichole, "It's quite alright. I guess since you've moved here, it's all been a shock. I should have remembered how I felt when I first moved here."
Nichole looked at Francine, thought for a moment, and asked, "What happened when you guys first moved here?"
Francine sighed as she thought back to those first few days when they first moved here. "I think it was about ten years ago when Dan got the job at the local Moon Lake police department. You remember Samantha Twist? The one who told you about the whole mandatory were law and all that?" Nichole nodded her head. "Well, about a day or two after we moved in, she came and visited us. It was then that she told us about the law too."
"How did you and Dan take it?" Nichole asked.
"Well, at first, for me personally, not very well. I remember feeling a bit angry at the town. 'How dare they take away our humanity and our rights?' I asked Dan. But Dan, ever the good cop that he is, said that the law is the law, and that there had to be a good reason behind it."
"Yeah," Nichole said with a small giggle, "that does sound like him."
"Well, anyway, the more Dan looked into it, the more sense the law made to him. It was for this town's protection, given the rather unique people in it."
"So, why dogs?" Nichole asked.
"Well, most of the police force consisted of weredogs. There are also werewolves, weretigers, and even a werebear, but mostly weredogs. So, he decided to join most of the police force and become a weredog. Me, I had no problem with that, but I wasn't exactly partial towards any were group. So, one night, Dan went out as a normal guy, and came home a weredog. The next night, I let him turn me and joined him." Francine blushed a little as she remembered that night.
There was a pause in the air before Nichole asked, "What's it like? Being a weredog and all?"
"Honestly?" Francine replied as she thought. "The best thing that's happened to us and me. We've never looked better. And not just our looks, though, but we're also stronger, faster, and healthier too. We've never gotten sick, and it's like we're perpetually 25."
Nichole's eyes widened as she replied, "Wow..."
"And just between you and me, but the sex life of Dan and me...has never been better. Honestly, this has been the best thing that's happened to us in our marriage."
"It sounds like a really great deal," Nichole said.
Francine smiled as she nodded her head. "Well, there is one thing that you gotta know. One of the downsides of being a were is that we get pregnant really easily. I gotta take these were birth control pills every day unless we want another bundle of joy if you know what I mean."
"I...I see. So if Karen or I were to become a were..."
"Yup, you need to take these pills unless you wanna get preggo." Francine studied Nichole a bit and continued, "But they're cheap at the hospital, and I hear the town subsidizes them for students at the high school."
"Okay," Nichole said as she thought about what Francine said. After a moment, she asked, "What types of weres are there?"
Francine whistled as she thought about her answer, "Well, you see, there are all sorts of weres out there. You already know about weredogs, werewolves, and others. There's also wererabbits, weredeer, werebears, werefoxes, and even werecats. The thing is that all of these weres have certain...peculiarities with them. Far too many for me to list. Did Samantha leave any reading material with you when she visited you?"
Nichole nodded her head as she replied, "I think Karen was looking at that."
"Good, that's a good start, and I also suggest talking to someone of that were group. One thing that you all need to know is that once you become a were, it's permanent. No do overs."
"I'll take that advice." Nichole said as she got up. She noticed the clock and it was past noon. "I need to go and make sure that Karen is ready for us to go to the school."
"I understand," Francine replied. "Just don't be a stranger, yeah? If you got any questions, just ask." She paused for a moment. "And thanks for coming to visit. We haven't had one of these since the good old days."
"You got that right." Nichole answered with a smile. "I'll see you later," she said as she hugged Francine. She then left to go home and get ready for the appointment at the school.