He had become a surrogate grandfather to me, and eventually my sons as well, and we loved him with a fury.Born sometime in the late twenties, he was r...ised dirt poor on a depression era farm, served in the Army during the world war, and come home to bury a wife. He remarried and raised a family by scrapping out a living on that same farm, supplementing his income and larder by poaching deer, running a bit of shine now and then, and anything else that fell to his hand. Perhaps raising a little. Built there a shrine to a mere mother of a babe, to trick my people into worshiping her in my stead." Please, Lady Zywie." Adanya's voice was pleading. She stood tall beside her husband, hands on the shoulders of James and Zuza. "Please, help our children. I will do anything you ask to save them. Please." The cries of a Mother I have always heard." Zywie held out her right hand. "Come to me, my children."The two half Pole, half Kikker children slowly walked forward, holding hands. Felek had. I gave a quick nod, still unable to look up or speak, still caught in thegrip of my sourceless embarrassment. My face burned so hotly, the coffeefelt cool as it touched my painted lips. This sense of shame, thishumiliation was nothing new. Every morning I woke up and looked in themirror and as I shook off the dreary remains of last night's bad dreamsthe humiliation of being Cindy settled over me, a familiar, heavy woollenblanket draped across my narrow shoulders, smothering,. My friends tried to help and eventually persuaded me to come out for a curry on a Friday night. I didn’t feel like it, but it was easier to say yes than to put up with their attempts. We went out for a curry and despite my intentions, I started to have a good time. They were all making a huge effort to make me smile and eventually I cracked, grinned and couldn’t stop. There was a cheer from my friends and some disapproving glances from other tables but I was smiling for the first time in months.