“You still can't find your shirt.” “Where the hell is it?” Jeremy said, turning around in the chair he was sitting in. “Why did you take it ...ff?” I asked. I got a few death stares from the women in the room. Ginger pointed to a rolled-up wad under the couch; no doubt that was Jeremy's shirt. “Someone dared me to take it off,” Jeremy said he was slurring some of his words. “I said if you showed me yours, I would show you mine,” Sara laughed. “You did not,” I said as I looked at her. “Oh yes I. Are you still unable to raise him?’ The frantic quality to Karick’s voice was evident through the ether. ‘He’s there?’ ‘Affirmative.’ Karick picked up speed. Jack then suggested that the two guard grab Alan and get him away from the house. Karick relayed the message. Patrice grumbled at these new instructions, ones contrary to the protocols he had been briefed with when he started this job. As Alan got out of the car they did the same. * * * She was about fifteen meters from him, advancing. We get all types in here. Probably half of the girls are just like us. Kids and husband at home, we’re out for a little thrill, they’ll never know…” “Tom will appreciate me more…” We laughed. She nodded and said, “How right you are!” I waggled a finger for a waiter. Shondra was sipping champagne. “Have you ever…?” I told the truth. “Not since college. You know how sororities are. You might not really want to, but you’ve been at a party and she’s there and you think, Why not? It might be fun.. .."Lightly stroking my cheek with her fingertips, Aunt Joan nodded and smiled,but her soft sigh sounded sad. "I think I understand." She pointed to asmall wicker basket with the edge of a trashcan liner peeking out fromunder the plastic lid. "When you change out of the jammies you're wearing,just toss them into the little hamper over there by the sink." Aunt Joan glanced at the tub, and then turned the knobs until the rumble offalling water wound down to a trickle, ending in a few muffled plops.