"No, it's OK. We like being with ourselves sometimes," Jon's two selves told Pete in unison, just for fun.
"Sometimes one of us stays home because of homework or something else we have to do," the nearer of Jon's selves explained further.
"And sometimes it's for safety, but I think we're past that," Jon's other self stated.
"How is being split safer?" Pete wondered.
"When we're split, we can choose to rejoin in either location," one of Jon explained.
"So if one stays home, the one who's away from home just vanishes?" Pete asked hesitantly.
"Or vice versa but no, we don't vanish, at least not in the sense of turning to nothing. We reunite," one of Jon's selves explained. The other smirked.
"It's Stephanie," Karyn called out holding her cell phone. "She had to stop at the drug store for a few things. She says we should go in and she'll call us when she gets here. Oh, and Jon, she wants to talk to one of you."
"OK," said Jon's closer self, who then took the phone from Karyn.
"Jon, is that you?" Stephanie began.
"Uh, fifty-fifty," Jon half stated.
"Well, you still have all those condoms from this afternoon, right?" Stephanie asked.
"Uh, actually, no," the self with the phone stated as both checked their purses. In his joined form, Jon hadn't thought to stuff his pockets with condoms.
"No problem, I'll just buy a few more boxes while I'm here. Do you like the ribbed or the smooth?"
Jon's two selves stared at each other for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe some of each," the self with the phone replied.
"OK. See you later," Stephanie agreed, then she disconnected.
"Maybe one of you can keep me company until Stephanie arrives," Eric suggested to Karyn.
"OK, but first let's go inside. That way we save the price of a ticket," said Karyn.
Jon's two selves fell smoothly in line behind Pete but made no move for their purses.
"Wait a minute! Do I have to buy three tickets?" Pete exclaimed.
"Unless you want us to rejoin for a moment," Jon's closer self explained. "Because then, Jon would have to buy his own ticket.
