Each spring, the people would journey here to this grove from all the surrounding villages for the sacred rituals of Aine. The highlight of the ritual... would be when the High Priest would symbolically mate with the goddess to insure the fertility of both the land and the people. The goddess, of course, was not physically present, so a surrogate would have to take her place. Each year, all of the young virgin maidens who had become women in the previous year would draw lots, and the winner would. " I responded immediately. "You are the funniest, coolest, most beautiful girl I know, Marissa. Jeffrey is a fool for letting you go. I can't believe he doesn't realize what a catch you are." I stared back into her eyes intently. I meant every word, and I needed her to now that. "Any guy would be more than lucky to have you. If you were mine, I'd never let you go."She was silent for a moment, and I was worried that I'd gone too far."I've always thought you were a really great guy, Ben"Then she. Which quickly endeared the guy to me, I'll admit.Not that I let myself think too much about it. Wonder Bread must havebeen invented in Lawnville ? this is the most white-bread suburb you canimagine. Though I'd always wondered about Gerth, even before the rumorsstarted that he was receiving shipments of Viagra. Jessie moved out soonafterwards, which must have left Gerth feeling even more like a fish ondry land. So I bided my time, waiting for the right moment."Here we are," said Gerth a half. Can’t miss choir practice.”“Well done, Grace! Weren’t they pleased?”“Very! I could almost see Mum bouncing up and down with excitement.”Terry laughed. “Great! Any chance of seeing you this weekend?”“You bet. Had you anything in mind?”“Well, I thought we might stay closer to home this time and go to Sandwell Valley Park tomorrow. The weather looks good and there’s plenty of walking and the RSPB have a place there as well. There’s also a restaurant so you won’t need to do a picnic.”“No! That’s an.