“So what is it like?” I asked.

She took a bite of the breadstick and chewed it a moment. “It’s very restful. Peaceful. You’re safe and warm, kinda drowsy, and you know that most of the stuff people worry about can’t affect you. Weather, stress, your job—that’s all for someone else to worry about. You just rest there and break down food. It’s kind of like getting to lie in bed all day long.”

“Sounds idyllic,” I said. “Speaking as the someone else who has to worry about all that stuff.”

Cindy Lou chuckled. “Would you like to trade places? We could make you into a ‘tummy buddy,’ you know.”

“Uh…no.” I said. “I like my body firm and human, not squishy bacteria, thanks.”

She giggled and held out a hand. “Does this feel squishy to you?”

“Well, not at the moment, but—”

“All right, fair enough.” She smiled. “Pity, though. I wonder what it would be like having you in my tummy.”

“But what if I enjoyed it so much I wouldn’t want to let you back into mine again?”

“Well, I guess you’ve got a point there.”