When the meal arrived Jamie set it out nicely and poured Miss Gentleman a glass of red wine.After two hours of playful flirting and banter they sat on...the sofa legs touching again.'So tell me a bit about Harry. I don't really know him.''Well maybe it's for the best Jamie. He's not to everyone's liking. Plus he's so busy with work at the moment we haven't spent much time together recently.' Jamie knew what she meant. He had overheard her talking to the French teachers about how useless Harry was. Her body didn't age well; her decrepit skin stretched tightly around fragile bones -- some of which were made of plastic or steel. She was nine years the senior of the man she married back in the early 60's, and lived to the ripe age of 81. With what should have brought my family together, only strained ties henceforth. Some of my aunts and uncles ceased communication after her final breath, or they raged at one another over who was truly at fault for her "passing too soon."The person forgot in. When Kirstie's husband finally arrived, greetings were exchanged and the plan revealed. "We're going to play strip poker, but Steve has to ante enough clothes to match the entire pot wagered by us girls." It's not fair," I complained, "He's wearing a jacket and tie, and we're all in shorts and t-shirts." "But, if we each throw one item in the pot, he's got to match with three," Donna P. explained. "OK," I conceded and kicked one of my Converse onto the coffee table."Eew. Stink!" Kirstie teased.. Why did I look away? I used to be strong ... confident. What happened to me?I knew the answer and my eyes were drawn to the backs of the heads of the four girls sitting at the defendants' table -- former students of mine -- disruptive students. I unconsciously rubbed the two ribs they had broken.The wait seemed like an eternity. The jury was deliberating for a long time, allowing me to replay the painful events in my mind.On that fateful Sunday, I had a noon lunch appointment with my friend and.