“Don’t worry, just relax.”“I am not worried, Charles ... I am ‘in your arms.’”====“LADIES and GENTLEMEN. May I have your Attention, pl...ase?”“The first dancers of the Junior I competition, are a new couple to the NDCA, Claire McArthur and Charles Newman. They will be dancing to the song, “Sunrise, Sunset!”A smattering of polite applause permeated the hall. My mother started playing. We fell into ‘position’ and danced. I cannot adequately explain exactly what happened next.We glided ... glid .... "Trust, me... By tomorrow, everyone's going to know you sucked my dick. No one's going to lay a finger on you or say a word." What!? But... How?"I stop as we reach the bottom of the stairs and lift his chin up to me. "I'm going to make damn sure everyone knows you're mine. If anyone even so much as says a word to you, I'll kick their ass. Didn't I tell you I'd protect you?"He nods his head. "Now let's get you home. Tomorrow's your first day as my girlfriend." Girlfriend? What!?" His eyes go. She was still weak as a kitten, however. We decided we wouldn't make her hitchhike home.I refused the wheelchair and told them I would carry Amy out, and picked her up in my arms. She squealed in delight, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed me. She gave me a big kiss, not quite daughterly but not too scandalous, and asked me quietly if I was going to give her another shower. I had not told anybody about that. I told her I was feeling a little weak myself, especially in my arms; I hoped. A few people had told me she was a hard ass that demanded a lot in return for any assistance. I knew she also had a lot of pull in the academic community. Her research on SIDS was groundbreaking and certainly enough to give her as much credibility as anyone in the field. A good word from her went a long way. She also happened to graduate from Duke so I am sure she had some pull there as well. I was not in the mood to be involved in any kind of negotiation. It was almost summer and I already had.