With a glance at the wrapped bundle she asked, “What’s that?”“It’s one of those surprises we talked about. Open it up and find out,” I res...onded.She handed me the blanket and tore into the butcher paper. The more she saw of the painting, the more excited she got. Of course, so did I. It was fabulous! I turned to Jorge. “You missed your calling. You should’ve been a painter!”Jorge grimaced. “No! Painters starve. Architects make a living.”We all laughed, agreeing with him. The painting was. She looks round and her face lights up again into a big smile. Mike turns to see Jessica and George standing there. Jasmine and Jessica hug each other and the excited chat starts again. While they all hug each other Amanda puts the kettle on for coffee. We enjoy the coffee, sat around the table. George and I sit together while the three girls chat away in Thai.George and Jessica have some things to do and wander off and after freshening up her make up Jasmine is ready. Amanda stays with me si. You can pick it up anytime now.”“Okay, thanks for calling,” mumbled Linda. The lady disconnected and Linda slumped back sleepily on her pillow. She yawned and decided to get up. Linda walked into her bathroom and went through her morning routine. Brush teeth, toilet, shower, dry hair. Today Linda added some makeup from the supplies she purchased the day before. Not much, don’t want to make things difficult for Ms. Mouse. Just enough so people didn’t run away screaming if they saw her. And he would be going back for more."Mom, whatever happened to that guy you were seeing?" Justin asked her one afternoon."Andrew?" Lauri asked. "Oh honey, he got so boring. It seems these older men are such fuddy duddy types. " Not to mention Andrew had been lousy in bed, not the red hot lover Mike was."Yeah, I guess most guys your age and up can't keep up with a babe like you," Justin teased his mother."Are you suggesting I find myself a young stud?" Lauri teased back."Why not? I already have.