” I put the phone back in my pocket and started to head towards the door.“Wait, I want to ride you…I mean with you..I mean, oh fuck. I’ll ride...with you, to see where she lives and to meet her mom.”Natasha leaned down and whispered, “Ooooh, she said a bad word.”“I know, lil one but duck your head, we’re going out the door.” Anastasia followed behind. For a girl from North Memphis, she was almost timid around me. I kind of dug the submissive energy. Most of my Memphis jump offs were loud and you. I’m guessing it’s the first one?” Yuming picked the sheet out of her daughter’s hands. “Damn, you’ve only got eight stools too.”“Plenty of room on my lap, Yuming.” Dashawn inched out.“Would that--” She stopped herself and lifted her daughter’s chin. “It’s going to embarrass you. I’m developing feelings for Dashawn. While we’re visiting, we’re going to have to risk embarrassment. It’s not like you have a leg to stand on right now.”“He’s your student, you’re his teacher!” Suzi breathed. She. “Not as expensive as Cillort’s revolt,” I riposted.“That’s true,” Amantil nodded thoughtfully. “I can certainly see the merit of it.”“Make it a day off, courtesy of the Empress, with essential workers getting a day off in lieu.”“I’d never get that past the High Court.”“So don’t put it to them. Just get the AIs to arrange it. Keep it at a local level, give the schools and other local services a chance to show off with contests and parades. Plus you, not the High Court, control the Forces. You. " It is real," she said, tersely. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?" What can we do about it?" he asked, helplessly."I don't know," she said, miserably."What are we going to tell Mom and Dad?" he asked.She thought. It was going to be impossible to keep this a secret from their parents. She didn't want to tell them, because she already knew what their response would be. They wouldn't believe it. But if they explained their theory of what had happened, then at least they could.