“It’s okay, mom, it’s okay, we can fix this.”Mom sat up while wiping the tears from her cheeks. “How can we fix this? Men just don’t like ...e.”“I don’t think that’s true. Can I ask you some personal questions?”“Of course, you can. You know you can ask me anything.”“Did you have a boyfriend in high school?”Still wiping tears from her eyes, she answered, “No, you know I skipped three grades, so they all made fun of me because I was so much younger and always got A’s.”“How about in college?”“No, I. Mother said she that LaToya is a good girl, andseemed to be a good friend. Ellie said she was. Afterdinner Ellie cleaned up. While cleaning, she thought aboutwhat to do with the picture. Bingo. She had an idea.When Ellie finished, she went back up to her room. Shedecided that she would put a copy of the picture inLaticia's locker with a note saying that copy of thepicture would be put up in the girl's locker room if shedidn't get her other cheerleader uniform by 4PM of thatday. Blackmail yes,. My slippers too had been replaced.I was feeling better, the fear had left me with the establishment of a routine. I woke, ate, washed. Mary would come and build up the fire for the day and then my thoughts were my own until lunch.Currently I was combing my fingers thinking I may ask for a tub to bathe tonight, my hair was overdue for a washing.I heard the scrap of the doors bar and turned to greet Mary. My smile faded quickly when I saw the stranger. He was tall. Dark. He wore a robe sashed at. When they eventually pulled their tongues from his throat, Ted politely enquired whether there was any chance that they might do this again.“You bet,” Sue assured him.“You can count on it,” Melanie confirmed.“And it won't be too long,” Sue added. “Maybe Christmas.”“That would be a great Christmas present,” Ted observed hopefully. “I will look forward to it.”Both girls swarmed all over him again briefly then Sue pushed him out the door. In spite of the cold Fall night air both women stood at the.