‘They’ve been talking almost every day. I thought you knew about it,’ Mary put in. Brian picked up his five year old son and set him on his knee... ‘Do you dial the number yourself or does grandma do it for you?’ ‘I do it,’ Phillip said, making sure his sister heard him. ‘He’s memorized the number,’ Mary said. ‘Okay, tell Tommy that he can go with us,’ Brian said. ‘What day?’ ‘Tuesday afternoon, about four. Find out where he lives. We’ll pick him up,’ Brian said. ‘His mom will want to come,’. "You... You look exquisite." he stammered."Thanks." I said, and I gave him a small peck on the cheek.He was like a deer in headlights as a result of my gesture."Earth to Dusty! Come in, Dusty!" I said snapping him outof it."Dude." he said with a bit of a flush on his cheeks."Shall, we?" I said."Oh... My pleasure." he managed as he put his arm out forme to take.***We arrived at the frat house in time to catch the bus tothe lodge where the formal was to be held. I could see halfof the guys jaws. Our history books tell us that they are a violent people." Remember what I told you about your leaders. That fact was probably because they had some motive for putting down Orientals."When it came time to order, he ordered for them, as he was sure that she would have no idea what she was ordering. She ate the dinner and seemed to enjoy it. After they had finished he ordered another cup of tea so that they could sit and talk for a while. Since no one was sitting near them, he did not have to. Sure, I wanted change. Wanted it more than anything. That’s why I was going to force it; tonight, by my own hand.Then, would you like to change the lives of those you hold dear?I hadn’t expected another message.The faces of the two women I lived with—my aunt and my younger sister—surfaced momentarily from the depths of my selfishness, but I closed my eyes to them.Aunt Riley was getting by just fine without my help, and Jessie—You’re running away from it.—was better off without a useless brother.