She had spent half the Saturday afternoon working off her penance weeding the vegetable garden near the cottage. The weakened sunlight streamed on her...back, barely warming her. She squatted for hours on the damp earth, still smelling of last night's rain shower and manure, while picking off dead or dying sprouting off of a row of radishes and onions, she had cursed the entire time. All this, because she'd been five minutes late for evening prayer last night.She figured at this point, she'd make. “You’re a funny girl.” She wiped her eyes. “Sorry.”All the heat went out of me. “Hey, I’m sorry too, I’m just upset, that’s all.”“Yeah, I know, I should have told you after we got to know each other and then Steve shows up. I was silly I guess.”“Well, a little. I’m sorry I kept banging on about me and Steve, well, banging every five minutes, but it’s the sort of thing you share with your bestie.”“Yes, it is, and I’m happy for you.”“Well, you could have fooled me,” I smiled. “And talking of. I gently released it, and cleared my throat."Sorry about that." I rubbed the back of my neck, more than a little bashful.Kevin scooted closer to me, and spoke in a hushed tone, "You know, I've always had a thing for you, Jim."I froze. What did he say? I couldn't look at him."One secret too many?"I looked up at him, and he looked strange. There was definitely fear in his eyes. But also a confidence. No, hopefulness."I..." What could I say? 'Fuck you Kevin, you queer?' That's not even what I. He was feeling guilty about whathe just had done but he told himself, "This is for their own good. Ifthis works it is going to be a long day tomorrow."The night went by fast; soon the sun came up. The first to wake up wasHermione, she said, "Aaaaah, I have a headache, what the, my voicesounds different, deeper some how."She looked at her arms they were muscular. She looked down she wassurprised to see that the top of her shirt was flat, and all her clotheswere tight.She pulled back her shirt.