" Turning to Helen, Arlene continued, "Mom needs you to help with Hope."Helen went inside and a moment later Diana came out, her eyes red, but a smile...on her face. "I'm sorry I troubled anyone. Hope is having some problems, and I let things get to me. She was crying, and I felt so sorry for her that I started crying, too." But what's wrong with her?" Nicki asked. "She seemed to be doing fine." She knew that Art was here and also knew that he was the undercover FBI agent who had saved her. I. Queenie had disappeared for a while and Jacqui had accepted several drinks and was now very happy and very self-confident. She was discussing the relative merits of a paddle and a ruler as an implement for spanking with a rather heavily built lady who seemed to know a lot about it, when Queenie came back and joined them."Mine," said Queenie to the paddle expert and the latter immediately stalked off in a huff. Jacqui couldn't understand why, so she asked Queenie what was the matter."Nothing,. "Okay, fine," he said. "Get your heels on and practice walking."I didn't need practice, I've been walking in heels for years."Okay, mom and dad should be home soon," he said. "Go wait in thelivingroom. You better figure out how to tell them how you've wanted tobe a girl your whole life. How you can't hold it in anymore and want toshow the world the real you. I'll be upstairs and I'll be listening, soyou better be convincing."---A little bit about my family.My dad doesn't pay much attention to. "Yes," he said, hissing through his teeth after waiting several seconds to answer."About his career?" she asked quietly."Anna, Paul's been having an affair, and I think he's going to leave you," Anna blurted out suddenly."Oh, my God!" Anna cried out as she jumped to her feet and covered her face with her hands."I'm sorry. Oh, God, I didn't mean to break it to you like this," Marv said clumsily as he watched Anna react to the news. "I wouldn't have told you, except that I feel an obligation to.