Carol, for all her years, was not a skillful lover. But what she lacked in skill, she made up for in enthusiasm.I awoke the following morning with her...nestled in my arms. I tried to slip quietly out of bed, but she was already awake. She sighed contentedly and pulled me closer to her."Don't go," she said huskily as she pulled my head down to hers.I started to get antsy about eleven that morning, because sitting around doing nothing was against my nature. Right after lunch, Sarah and Carol had. Susan watched in horror as Jack missed his first swipe at the guy with the knife. She saw that blow land against the shoulder of the other guy and watched him crash against the fence in pain and surprise. Susan then heard the ‘wump’ of Jack’s stick hitting the stomach of the first guy and watched without any sympathy as he fell to his knees clutching at his midriff.Susan had already decided she was going to quickly move between those two wounded yobbos when Jack grabbed her and pushed her. But you'll have to supply your own kleenex," she teased."Mu-um!"I spoke to Nao on the phone later that night. She'd gotten the third degree from Sarah about Friday night, just like I had from Derek. And she had been non-committal with Sarah, just like I'd brushed Derek off (or pushed him off – into the pool). I told her that I wasn't ashamed of her, but I wasn't interested in being the subject of public speculation and commentary; I was interested in her for her, not for what it status it would. See ya, sweetie."Five pairs of eyes followed Jules' hairless butt as he crossed the cafeteria and deposited his tray. Then four pairs of eyes settled on Kate as she burst into tears.Friday MorningHank Mahoney showed up at Mr. Laffey's office just before classes started. Kate stayed home "with a bad cold."The two men knew each other fairly well. Hank had served two terms as a township commissioner. He was not on the school board, but much of the Montgomery Township School District business had.