There was a loud knock on my door—it was Dad. Mom was probably in Christine's room right now, too."Christopher, your mother told me some interesting...news, I would like to hear directly from you. You've never lied to me, so don't start now?" Well, Dad —this all started when Mom caught me, thinking I was masturbating..."It took about 15 minutes for the complete and unfettered story to come out, with Dad occasionally interrupting with 'I see' every now and again."Dad, you have sisters, both older. “I’d like her to be your friend too.”Dolly huffed at me almost as though she understood. Jo crouched down and joined in petting the animal.“Ain’t much of a guard dog, is she!” said Mr Calhoun, arriving on the scene.“I think you might be surprised,” I replied. “She might be a real momma bear if anyone threatened her family.”“Yup, reckon you’re right.”I stood up and offered my hand. There was no reluctance to shake it.“I believe you’ve already met Joanna Kafkasian,” I said, “although you may not. I waved as I saw her run out of the school gates. Wow, I thought, she is really excited to get out today. But when I looked closer, I nearly was about to cry out in anger. Two higher grader boys were throwing rocks at my baby girl! If it wasnt a school zone, I probably would have got out of my truck and beat the living shit out of them. But I calmly got out of my truck, and started dashing towards her. Hey! Damn kids get away from her! I yelled as I kicked an incoming rock into one of their. They exchanged a look that had nothing to do with the connections. I was glad for it. We could still have something that was just us and still share in ways only certain others could understand. It was something normal in the bizarre play that had become my life. No, our lives.She wouldn't tell me what she was smiling about, that was okay. "Who called?" It was Jeri. She was curious if you and I wanted to get together tonight." Her smile shifted from whatever had made her actually happy a moment.