What is happening? She sounds older, too!" Erik?"The voice had taken on the softness of childhood once more and Erik silently sighed in relief."Yes, C...ristine?" Can you sing to me? I do not think I can go back to sleep unless you do. Everything hurts too much." Of course, mon ange, what would you like me to sing?"The small form scooted closer to him and snuggled against his chest."Please sing the first song you ever sang to me. Will you sing it for me, Erik?" I could never deny you anything, ma. " Very well. It all started a few months ago, early in 1941. There had beena worrying uptick in attacks on defense plants by saboteurs working fromwithin. At the beginning of June, I was asked by my friend Miles Benton,owner of Eastern Aviation, if I could hang around the plant in anunofficial capacity and keep an eye on things. The company had just beenawarded the biggest contract on the East Coast and he was naturallyconcerned about saboteurs. While I was in his office, Benton had toterminate. ‘So you going to pride this year?’ Trin looked at her flatly ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s good to take pride in your diversity.’ She replied. ‘One day of the year? I think not.’ Trin countered. ‘Pride should be held every day.’ ‘Then why don’t you?’ She said. ‘I have pride.’ Trin said. ‘In what.’ Nancy said. Her tongue sliced Trin like a knife. Trin sat there silently. Stupefied. The sweep second hand of the clock drug along. Fifteen seconds. Thirty. Forty-Five. A full minute passed. ‘Do you see a. You don't have to worry about that, not at all. If you are willing, this will be very nice for you; I'll see to that. Nobody will be more important to me than you. You really have nothing to worry about," she said.I was so hurt and shaken by her words that I couldn't breathe. I felt faint. Slowly, I began to feel—numb, puffy. I slid out my seat and lay down on the floor. I had fainted.I woke up, it had to be some minutes later, with Millie holding me in her arms and rocking me back and forth..