======================================================================Bali, the second daughter of Shanti and Sunil, was born with a functionalpenis, ...agina, and an increased sex drive typical of the children ofthose who inherited hermaphroditism. Her early years were sheltered, aswas the tradition of Shanti's family. She and her sisters had privatetutors and only interacted with neighborhood children on an infrequentbasis.By her early teens, she was instructed in how to avoid making slaves. This time there was no humor in her voice. "Yes, we did some other stuff – coke, mostly." Mostly?" Brock asked. "God damn it. I thought I knew you better than this. Look at what that shit did to your sister. Your dad must be beside himself – if he knows." He knows," Meredith replied."What else?" Brock asked."X, some weed," Meredith admitted. "I was drinking Manhattans and Long Island Iced Teas since two o'clock in the afternoon. By nine or 10 p.m., it seemed like a good idea. Then Sunday. She turned and looked straight at Sophie. 'You've never been to Rosewood before, have you?' she asked 'No, I haven't' said Sophie. She had aimed for a casual indifference, and was shocked by the timidness that was present in her own voice. 'And either have you' said Betty, pointing at Louise. Louise shook her head, no. 'Good. Then that means you need to be initiated. All Rosewood virgins need to be hazed in, so we can all properly bond' She explained this. " Susan nodded at my request, but I could see she was unhappy. "Look I'm happy that you know; as long as you know the truth, I can put up with all the rest." I slumped back onto the stretcher; the evening was taking its toll. What was I going to do now that she was at college? Oh well perhaps this was the last time, ten was a nice even number after all, wasn't it?This was definitely no fun whatsoever.The blackness surrounded me almost like a welcome friend. The pain in my arm faded quickly. I.