.. everybody was there. But personally, I do prefer more intimate parties... with just you and Sally and a few of our special friends..." her prettily...curved lips parted in a cat-like little smile."So do I, darling," Ray assured her, "but for the occasion, with, as you said, everyone there, we had to be careful not to shock some of our more... uh, sedate citizens. Not everybody in Quiggville swings, as I'm sure you've noticed." Thank God, some people do," Lauralee giggled wickedly, "and thank. I promise." Yes we will,' chimed Amber grasping her husband's hand and lookingdirectly at her children. 'We are always here for you." I know. We were afraid of how you would react to us if you found outwhat prank we pulled at the school and then changing so drastically likethey have. "We're sorry," said Steve."Oh my god, what's happening to you?!" asked Nancy, pointing her leftindex finger at her parent's hands.The other four people in the kitchen looked down at Brent and Amber'shands that. .." Dead is dead, Jed.Daddy won big time, he had placed a lot of little bets in Detroit, Chicago and Las Vegas. I got my 70 grand, and Daddy was a believer.He also won betting on the Indy. By the time we had won betting on the Derby and the Indy in 1953, '54 '55, Daddy decided playing the ponies wasn't any fun.Problem was, I knew who won the Series, the Cup and the Oscars. Daddy stopped betting entirely.We started working the Market. A select few stocks made us pretty wealthy. We survived the. Nothing will happen.' Just be careful for a while, OK? For me? And for Jill?" Sure, Mom." Honey?" Yeah?" Can you really do that? Can you really hear your father and me running around the living room, laughing?" Oh, yeah Mom. Just like the two of you are out there. I miss that. You deserve better than the life you've got. You deserve someone for you. I want to hear you laugh like you did back then." Oh, Jackie. I miss him so much."Somehow we weren't sat at the table any more. I was standing in.