I don't know what Lois will say, but I love your description of Clark, and he moves fast in this story!

Oh, and I love this line:

Quote
Her return smile was too vapid to disperse the cloud of gloom that clung to her like dandruff on a black velvet coat.
Great start!

"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad."
"How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”

- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland