" Oh come on you can us ol' buddy. Its your birthday cheer up." You're right it is my birthday. And so far it has been as bad." Oh remember that party...you had when you were 11. Yeah it was at thispool and we all went swimming and Lee some how lost his swim trunks inthe pool. It was funny."Dante and Karena started laughing. I slapped my hand on my forehead andthen slowly began to slide underneath the table. Here was Dantebroadcasting all my most embarrassing moments to Karena Rodriguez. Thegirl. A few months ago, where I dont know a soul, and for some reason, making friends here is difficult. The one exception is Randy, a chef who works for one of the large hotels. He always has a ready smile when I meet him outside the condo, but until a couple weeks ago wed never talked except in greeting. On evening I was carrying some book cartons in from the hallway as he passed. He just scooped up a couple and carried them inside, smiled, turned and walked out again. Wanting to thank him, I. I chuckled, “Wishing you had a Big Brother to do that with, Debbie?”“Well, no, but I see how your sister looks at you and acts around you,” she said quietly.Which gave me pause. Who else might see that? Obviously Melanie and Jennifer had, and Joyce might have. Now Debbie was saying something.“She and I are pretty close. We have been for years.”“You’re not doing anything with her, are you?”That was a question I could easily answer truthfully.“No, I am not. Did you think we were?”“I thought you. He must have followed me from there. While he had been intimidatingin that big group or when his heavy footsteps sounded in time with theclicking of my pointed heels, now, standing to face him, he didn't scareme at all. He was not especially strong or muscular, good looking in ablandly unmemorable way. In my five inch heels, I stood comfortably oversix foot and towered above him. He gave a sheepish smile."Maybe we're just walking the same way," he said."Maybe you end the night walking the same.