Charley walked slowly back to his bedroom. It had been a year since he last cried and he had promised himself no more but he was close to tears now. I... was one thing to have your self-doubts and insecurities reinforced by the teasing and bullying of other kids, even on occasion your own sisters. It is a whole other level to hear your parents voice them also. Charley had thought he had made some progress. Seventh and eighth grade had been hell. The natural cruelty of kids was compounded by his. What tickled him was what a lightweight I turned out to be. Less than half a bottle and I was unconscious. Jake could have finished a bottle and found his own way to his stateroom instead of having to be poured into bed like a certain young man.Yeah, whatever. Jerk. Sir Jerk of the Pickled Liver.Did you know there are not one, but two Rivieras? Yeah, me neither. I mean, it was not something they taught in school, was it?There is the French Riviera of the Bond movies and other films. Then there. I had just sat remembering to pull my skirts out andforward. An act that was as alien as the coldness of theplastic chair on the back of my legs."Hi Julie!" Rose said as Chief Sanders pulled a chair out.She was in a two piece suit and while a bit more formalthan most of the women around us, she didn't stand out asanything but the rest of them. She was looking at meintensely. It was making me nervous."I called her." Rose said when I looked at her and added:"I'd promised to when the time was. “I am Mel. I am a whore of Babylon. And I expect to be treated as one.” Once again the room erupted, cheering and hollering. Mel’s eyes searched the crowd for me, she eventually found me, our eyes locked. She kept her gaze as if looking for approval. I smiled and nodded. The music kicked back into gear, it was loud and basey. Mel threw herself into the crowd and began dancing with everyone and anyone. The room was a mass with people we did, and didn’t know. All in costume, many groping hands.