She kept in stride with me, all the while holding my hand like a child.Well into the trees now, we were able to hear the waves breaking, but no longer...see them. From time to time Dad stopped to look around. I took those opportunities to glance at Maria, but her expression was always the same. I once tried to scratch my nose, but she gripped my hand and wouldn't let go so I used my other hand.After a while, the ocean could no longer be heard. The sand became dirt and the vegetation got thicker.. The notesaid that she and Janice had gone to an early morning power breakfastfor a Women's group that she belonged to. Luckily she had made somecoffee so I got a cup and headed to the bathroom.As my shower was heating up, I looked into the mirror thinking that Iwas so glad that I hadn't really started growing a beard yet. Whatgrowth I had was very fine and only had to be shaved once a week or so.But Saturday, as part of my make over at Sarah's, she had convinced meto let her wax my beard. ” She looked thoughtful, “You really do have voices in your head. Aren’t you going to introduce me?”“Introduce you? I don’t know you.” I said ... exasperated, “How can I introduce you to things you can’t see?”“Preachers do it all the time,” as if that made a difference. “Hello, I’m Wendy ... Wendy Austin, Attorney at Law.” That wasn’t her introducing herself to me ... she was talking to my voices ... and I’ll be damned if they didn’t talk back.And they shook her hand. I will admit it looked odd. Mein gayi bath mein aur body bath liya jaldi jaldi…. Aur mein baher ayi to ali ne bed aur room theek ker diya hua tha aur coffee was almost ready …bus kuch he waqt mein hum coffee ka cup hath mein liye building se nikal ker neechay lawn mein aa gaye. Tayyaba baji aur baki aunties abhi bhi apnay personal corner walay benches par bethi theen aur hansi aur baton ki awaz aa rahi thi aur lawn k other side pe kids ball se khel rahay thay. Hum bhi ek bench pe beth gaye aur ali ne kaha “haan kya yaaar.