Alyssa is in year five, in my sister's class." November last year, Shahia's parents went out for their first night out after Maria was born, and Shahi... stayed home to look after the others. Her mother called her on the way home — someone had abused them, called them Lebos, and was chasing them along the freeway. They never got home that night; they died in a big car crash on the Eastern Freeway."He was struggling to talk. Shahia was crying, and he stopped to give her hug. There was total. "Nope," Brenda answered. "He's been gone up the bush since last week." This wasn't unusual. Often men would spend weeks to months out in the bush working far North of town. The companies they worked for would put up mobile camps for them to stay at, providing room and board as they cleared an area. Temporary communities would spring up around them to provide supplementary services - liquor, cigarettes, female companionship - that sort of thing. Then they'd pack it all up, and move on to the. Danny still looked on in quiet amazement."I know you're from my school, but I don't know your name. Are you a junior?" asked Kim."Sophomores.........I'm Chris and that's Danny in back." Chris replied with a smile."Chris" murmured Kim, loving the taste of the name on her lips. She ignored Danny. Danny was fully aware that the girl was treating him like he wasn't there, but it didn't matter as he was just happy as all hell being this close to Kim. While Kim drove, he watched the rise and fall. I noted with approval that he somewhat resembled a favorite author of mine: Thomas Winston, a handsome man with untameable, dark hair, a strong jaw, and a smile that made me melt in my chair. I’ve lost track of how many times I had read his books. Handbook to the Singularity had changed my life. Liz had chosen well. Out of curiosity, I lifted up its waistband and peered down, but its crotch was completely featureless. There went my naked butler plan... An image inside the box invited me to scan.