But his smile held more meaning than anyone knew. Just like everyone else present, John would give the paternal twins presents everyone could oooh and...ah over, and then later, behind the givers back, say how they thought it was a really good gift or how the giver shouldn't have been so cheap. He looked over at Tabitha, the baby of their family, who had been born ten months after the twins, and his smile just broadened. Erica, the oldest girl in the family at 24, only five years younger than. The beat stuck in his head – de do de do do de do de do de do de do do de do de. It was a shit beat.“YOU TALKIN SLL THAT SHIT ABOUT SUCKAZ LICKIN ON YA. ALL DOWN YO BACK UP YO CRACK. YOU TALKIN TO A REAL PLAYA NOW GURL. REAL. I DON’T GO FIRST.” Dick soon realised the alien spoke not only completely in caps, but largely only in Too $hort lyrics. Suddenly it all made sense – Too $hort had to be an alien. Only someone who had observed earth culture from the outside, but never lived it, could have. Then it hit me, why don’t I sit her down in the morning, tell her what I know (but not know how I know) and see how she reacts. If she denies it, I can tell her a little more about how I know what she is doing. If the marriage is over, then its over. Nothing I can do. But if she asks me for forgiveness, then, well, maybe we can add some spice to our marriage. The next day, after breakfast. I asked if we can chat for a few minutes. She said sure, whats up. I said, I am fully aware of your. I found none. I was saved fromhaving to respond immediately by the wine waiter arrived at our tablewith the wine list. Taking my time, I pondered the implications ofNatalie's offer. As I did so I had a sudden moment of piercinginsight, one of those rare moments that comes maybe two or three timesin a lifetime and changes you forever. I saw my life for what it wasand realised what a fool I was being. There was only one thing to say."Of course, Natalie," I smiled. "We'd be delighted to be.