"How often do you see your parents, Nick?" she asked."Not as often as I should." How often should you see them?" Once a month." Is it a long drive?" N..., just over an hour. Why are you asking?" It's just that your mother said there's a cottage in their village to let indefinitely and suggested that I take it. She said I'd find cleaning jobs with no problem. The trouble is I'd be quite a way from Sally and wouldn't see her as often as I'd like." I'm sure we could find you somewhere nearer, Mum,". They didn't have to give us nothin'." I know that, Zack, an' they know that. But that's their way of sayin' 'Thank you.' Jus' accept the gifts an' go on 'bout your business. It would be best if you didn't go flashing them thin's around in public or any of us talkin' about 'em, because them amulets would attract thieves an' murders like flies to honey. Now, let's git back to work."Meanwhile, a different kind of meeting was taking place in San Francisco's Chinatown. A lavish, multicourse dinner. "I was curious and totally puzzled as to what she meant. I had to clear up one thing for her so I said, "Unless you're a mass murderer I can't think of a single thing that could change my opinion of you. You know most of my friends and they all love you. I'm not close to what's left of my family and their opinion is irrelevant."I looked at her, hoping that I had resolve her problem. I was still curious but in my mind it really didn't matter. I knew her and accepted her along with whatever. She assured me that, for the short term, everything was fine. She was in good spirits, had enough money to live for several months until she found a new job, and had all of her belongings in storage until she found a place to live. I was relieved that she was not sitting in my lobby because she was now destitute. I wasn't ready to sign on to anything that permanent yet. Once she explained all the financial things, I was able to relax and enjoy the evening. We returned to my apartment to.