The light of the muted television flickered around the room, bathing me in a bluish glow. The ice in my drink clinked as I drained the glass of it's l...st drops of whiskey & coke.They were all sleeping, my wife and those energetic kids. Instead of going to bed I had decided to watch the game, which went into overtime, and have a few drinks to unwind. After it ended, I was not quite ready for sleep. I didn't feel like reading, so I had decided to just relax and let my mind wander. Eventually that. "Whoa! Jeez! Hey! Warn uh guy!" I don't mind." Barb winks at me.He comes out again, wrapped in a towel and grabbed a shirt and pants then dashes back into the bathroom. Beth laughs and taps on the door, "Since when you shy?" Shut up, Beth!" came an irritated reply.Barb sashays over to me and fixes my collar. "Do you mind if I invite myself to dinner?" Not even slightly." I catch her hands and kiss her fingertips."You are something else, you know that?" Mother has implied that," I turn around. The stranger’s keen eye noticed it, as she brought the bourbon. She placed the bottle down and the stranger grasped her hand, slowly bringing it to his lips. Daphne was quick to snatch her hand back at the last moment, intending to deliver a well-earned slap. She was fast, but experience had left the stranger faster. Catching her arm before she could make contact, he gave it a firm twist. She turned to relieve the stress on her arm. Then the stranger pulled her face down over his lap,. She wore her glasses on a chain around her neck, and toyed with them constantly. She listened with interest as Nollie outlined her plan to become a nurse, and agreed it was a good choice. After she left, we learned we had appointments to see her on the following Monday. Emily assured us it was never too early in life to have a good Doctor handy, so we agreed to go.I shoveled the snow from our driveway on Saturday; we'd had another three inches overnight, and Monday afternoon about one o'clock.