"Hi ... Mr. MacKenzie?" she knew she had to say something lest he think she was a telemarketer and hang up. "It's me ... um, Bailey Crawford." Bai—O..., hi!" She could "hear" the smile in his voice and she let out a sigh of relief. "How are you? How was graduation?" Graduation was fine, Mr. Mac—" Don't start that with me, Bailey," he said, his voice becoming playfully stern. "Call me Gabe or I'm going to hang up on you." Okay, Gabe." The butterflies in her stomach calmed down a little. But not. .." I know..." Eliana shrugged and then tried to smile. "I think most people today have forgotten what sacrifices my ancestors made, what a horror they saved us from." I know what you mean. Life is so incredibly easy now. The horror before Abdul Hadi is almost unimaginable."A deep sigh from his companion. "So, Basel, what else would you like to know? I can start with another monologue, or I can answer questions about my life." Any questions?" Basel asked with a playful grin."Yeah, pretty much.". They made it through the night, and he hoped for better for the next night.He was disappointed the next night. She was even noisier. And every time she could tell it bothered him, she got the giggles. After about twenty minutes of that, he called down to Dylan. He had little fear that Dylan was asleep. “Dylan. Sorry about all the noise.”Dylan giggled some, then. “S’okay,” he said. Jeezus, thought Clipper. He goosed Girl, and she giggled even louder.Within a week, he wasn’t quite as up-tight. I waved at Margaret, and beckoned. She climbed out of car slowly, looking Mark up and down with wary eyes."Are you here alone?" I heard myself asking."Y ... yes..." Parents?" They've retired ... moved to Devon." You've not married then?" Not met the right girl."'I bet that's our fault ... Sarah's and mine, ' I thought.Mark, smiled ruefully, as if agreeing with my thoughts."Come on in! I'm afraid you've knocked me back a bit ... I never expected to see you again." Me neither, but I was on the.