"They both made their way downstairs, Christina, still a bit unsteadyin high heels, took it very slowly. On the ground floor, Linda said,"Now are you ...eady for this? We will have to go out on to thepavement for a few seconds while I open up the shop." I suppose so. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."Linda opened the bottom landing door and they both stepped out on tothe pavement. The first thing that struck Christina wasvulnerability, that there she was a man dressed as a woman out on thestreet.What. He must’ve been spending a lot of time in the basement. He hadn’t shaved as yet. With his guitar in his hand, I thought, for a brief moment, that he looked rather sexy. I quickly dismissed that thought. He greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, as he sometimes does, and there was a faint smile on his face. Towering over me, he gestured an invitation. ‘Yeah. Sorry. She’s not back as yet. Come in. Make yourself at home.’ I sat on the couch and turned on the TV. ‘You want something to. The boys watched mesmerised as she sat facing them on the chair and worked through undoing her laced-up boots, before pulling them off. She wasn’t minding being watched, even though her skirt had ridden up right to the top of her legs.“Okay, if you want me to take off any more you’ll have to drink,” she grinned at them as she stood up. “What shall we say? A third of a can per item, but you both have to drink it. And take off something yourselves of course.”“Kidding!” whispered Paul.“B ... but,. “There is something appealing about you,” she said. “My mother used to say the same thing,” I said with a smile. “What’s your name?” she asked. “Peter.” “I am Nicole. I was named after a famous actress who died in 2068 at the age of 101.” “Cute name!” “Do you want to know what happened to me?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied hesitantly, wondering why she asked me this. “I want to tell you my story so that you can understand what I really am.” I remained silent, unable to find proper words..