“How about something to eat?” I offered. She gazed into my eyes as she contemplated whether or not she wanted to be poisoned by a lonely bachelor....��Chef Boy-Ar-Dee?”“ she inquired.“Sorry, all out of that pre-digested shit. Beer-battered cod, and there’s some home fries left.” as I tried to calm her fears. “ I think” I added. “Yeah, that sounds good. You make it yourself, or have you been talking to Captain Highliner?” she asked, referring to another one of those frozen fish outfits that managed. "You got him!" Mrs. Henson shouted, dropping the hoe and grabbing herson. Immediately the rest of us left the porch and ran toward them too.When I got there, I thought I would see a dead snake. Instead, I sawthis, I don't know, serpent, and he was huge. And he wasn't dead. Thisthing that was as big around as my arm was twisting and thrashing andflopping this way and that. I wanted to run back to the house, buteveryone was cheering and talking and patting Mark on the back like itwas all. No I’m not in trouble but am with a young returned soldier who has a problem. I thought you could be still in on Saturday working, unlike everyone else. You really do need to get a life…oh sorry. I want to make an appointment before this jerk…Afghanistan…airlifted to Egypt I understand…knee…has given up on it, limps…not yet thirty…what now? Are you sure, it’s late Saturday afternoon? Right away…yes sure. Magnificent. Thank you Mr Slater.’ Carla turned to Mr Grumpy. ‘One of the foremost. Oh, your gift bags each have an extra iPad for your two friends and there’s another bag for you to take back to your friend from the party who didn’t come along. Tell those girls if we ever meet again, I expect them to be EARNED,’ and with a wink, Helena led Troy to the dance floor. Once they were gone, another well-dressed man approached Julie. She smiled, gulped down the last of her drink, said ‘Fuck it, yeah,’ and took his hand. * * * ‘People are looking at us to start dancing, Helen,’ Troy.