I saw the next couple and they were crying. They, and the rest of the dancers, didn’t want to spoil our Finale.The announcer came back on:“I under...tand that the rest of the dancers, in honor of Charles & Claire, will not be performing today. Apparently nobody wants to be remembered, for coming in Second.”A number of people chuckled at that ad-lib, including Claire and I.“Princess, you ready? The whole dance in face hold, can you do that for me, every eight measures we’ll change?”“Damn right, I. "Like what?" What are we going to do?" Go to college, find a job and get married." In that order?" Pretty much. Can't afford to get married and go to school. And after school I'll need a job to support us." That's a long time to wait." Only four years." But you do see us married?" Of course."She slid closer, kissed me and said, "I needed to know that."It was in the middle of our sophomore year that things changed. I had managed to save some money from my part-time job at Grease Monkey and I. Her face rocked sideways and her hands flew to the side of her face. There was a gasp from all of her students. “Shut up bitch.” I then grabbed hold of her ponytail and yanked her to her feet. Tears were welling up in her eyes and a lovely red mark had appeared on her cheek. I pulled hard on her ponytail and she squealed in pain. She was trying to prise my hands off her head so that I didn’t pull out all of her hairs, but I held firm. “Put your hands in the bag and pull out a plastic bag. She. My face turned appropriately red. Amazingly Pam just grinned and looked away. I was about to make some sort of dumb alibi when we rounded a turn and discovered a yellow canoe beached at the back of another small island."Hey, that's a canoe from Camp," said Pam. "Someone must be checking out that island. I wonder who?" It couldn't be any of the little kids. Our Moms wouldn't let them out in a canoe by themselves. It must be some grownup." Funny, but the canoe is sort of hidden too," reckoned.