"I can digest somebody else, can't I?"

"Oh yes, but he is so close and ready."

"Or maybe I go to the nurse for some of that medicine. Since I'd never vored, I never bothered, but then I could digest him and everybody's happy."

"I don't think that would really work. It doesn't follow the rules. Still, it might do, at least for now. Helen has been rather uptight about you getting exceptions to the rules and she probably won't let you get away with it forever, but a safe digestion will at least keep her off your case for a little while."

Both ideas sound a good deal better to you than the apparent alternative, and you encourage Lizzy to choose one. It's more than a little worrisome that she takes her time to think about it.

But..."OK, I'm going to..."