I started to go through it but I couldn’t. So many we knew are dead.’ ‘Patty Murphy? Charlie?’ ‘Both. Patty in a pub bombing. Charlie murder...d in an alley behind Lukey’s pub.’ ‘Others?’ ‘Yes. But I couldn’t read much more. I started to cry.’ Jenny reached out and picked up her glass from the table and took a long draught. The whiskey burned her throat but it was a welcome feeling. The burning quenched the tears that were beginning to well in her own eyes. Jenny looked up into Linny’s eyes. ‘And. We left the bar and headed to the party house, which is actually a private house that is used for parties on the weekends. On Fridays they allow odd combinations, 3some (2 guys and gal or 2 girls and guy), or single women, or groups of women.When we got there, he was already waiting for us. Sandi introduced us and we all went in. The place was packed, couples and groups had taken all but one of the tables in the main room. We settled into the empty table near the door. He and Sandi kissed hello. After the ‘bracket matches’ comes the real thing. The tourney’s split up into Skirmish, Semifinals, and Finals matches for each bracket. If you lose a match, you can petition to have a rematch. If the judges like you enough, they’ll grant that rematch. But you only get one rematch per stage (so three rematches in total).If you managed to win the Finals, you get a cash prize depending on your bracket (Heavyweight winners get the most, while Lightweight winners get the least).For a tourney about. I know, that steak place ... what's it called? – Yeah, Steak 'n Shake. Not too fancy, not too casual.OK, that's settled – get a haircut. I pulled into a Cost Cutters and told them I would like a clean up and take a wee bit off the top. A wee bit – I haven't used that expression in ages ... she's already rubbing off on me! The whole time I was getting the haircut, I was thinking about what to talk to her about.I hadn't been on a date in a while, but she makes me nervous and excited at the same.