(J) The bastard actually blamed me and my parents for Monica’s “condition.”(L) Yes, he passed Monica’s stupor off as her having taken a prescr...ption medication.(J) It’s called Vodka, quite a popular pharmaceutical ... Fucking liar said she was such a ‘teetotaler,’ because she was oh, so afraid to drink.(L) I guess she dealt with that fear by drinking.(J) Only to excess ... He said she was so distraught about hearing of our grandpa’s diagnosis, and what with my being off being a dyke in far away. Eric sensed that Shelly knew she may have gone over the top with last Christmas' gift and as the season grew near, she kept on asking him if he was upset with the Bunny outfit she got him. Eric just grinned his lop-sided grin and told her no, he wasn't upset and it was all in good fun. A Nor'easter had brought a heavy coat of snow to Maryland and practically shut down the state, including the airport. Shelly and her husband would be spending Christmas together alone this year. In some. If Matt and Mykenos take anything, then it’s on your head.’ ‘Deal.’ Lorna smiled happily. ‘Now that that’s sorted, let’s discuss operation Christmas ball.’ ‘Errr, not going, thank you’, Kainene quickly said, getting a can of Pepsi from the fridge. ‘What?’ Lorna shrieked and Kainene winced at the sound. ‘Are you joking? You must be. Of course you’re gonna be at the Ball. It’s like our first undergrad Ball. You are definitely going, mate. End of.’ Kainene laughed dryly at this, ‘You can’t force. From this point we were doing well, even saving money for a rainy day. On our birthdays and Christmas, we went home to spend the day with Mom and dad, with Dad either overtly or covertly handing me a check, usually for an obscene amount of money. He's such a softy!The next couple of years went by and in September of 1995, we got a call from Mom. We rushed home to see them taking Dad away in an ambulance. We saw them load him inside, but he was covered up completely.I embraced Mom and Joanie.