I just knew I had to help them.Of course, I was the low man, even with my degrees, I was still considered a kid. I lived with my folks, couldn't drink... and generally was excluded from the lab's social scene.So work and go home. No friends, just net time, game time, and sack time. Oh, and mandatory exercise, mandated by my folks. "Remember, being in bad shape ruins your sperm count!"Thanks mom and dad. What they didn't know, and I didn't tell them was that my sperm count was naturally low. I ran. So I told her I’d meet her at the grocery store across the street. That okay with you?”Both Elena and I were still looking at one another as we said at the same time, “Sure we’ll meet you at the house later.”After Maxine went back outside Ted said, “Wow you two are a perfect match. You finish each other’s sentences and everything.”To Ted Elena said, “Thank you.”To me Elena said, “Is this okay if I get a nude scan? He said it can be done as long as the person is over eighteen. And you and I both. These thoughts werebeginning to affect his performance at work and in relating to hisfamily.Ray had explored all the options. The internet was his retreat. He spentcountless hours exploring transgendered sites but he knew he could nottransition to be a woman even though it was his most fervent desire. Hewas six foot two. Slim but broad. He looked OK when dressed but there wasno mistaking him for anything but a man in a dress.Ray considered all his options and perhaps if he moved out from. If one additional day of sleeping in the leaves is the price of boredom, well, I’m in!”I thought for a moment, and put my thoughts up for consideration. “Emily, you are becoming a thoughtful, deliberate tactician. I don’t think that there is any sort of line of sight from the highway to our proposed crossing, but being in a hurry does not make it smart to push too far ahead of ourselves. I doubt, but cannot know, that there are any night patrols. I bet that, if things were that organized, even.