.. let’s hope so. You know the way grandma can be.”Both agreed and laughed. Alice felt happy that moment.“So...” Gary looked around, “Where ...re my gifts?”Alice laughed again. “Oh ... over there by my dresser,” she pointed.Gary looked over at the chair near the dresser. He went over to look at his gifts. His grandmother had gotten him a few crisp white and blue Brooks Brother’s button up shirts which Gary knew he’d never wear. His uncle Alan got him Monster Beats headphones which he was psyched. “You want to sleep here tonight?” Emily thought as her hand patted the mattress she was sitting on. “Not for sex, here in Jada’s bed I mean, just for companionship. I’m afraid, and it’ll help me sleep.”Mark thought back, “Yes, I’d like that very much. I’m sure Jada won’t mind. Thank you for wanting me.”Emily smiled and coughed, breaking the eye contact. She suddenly blushed and looked embarrassed. “Hell, what did I just say? Mark, I wasn’t being too forward, was I?” The experience had felt so. "Close and bar the door! We'll have to hold here and hope we have help on the way."The doors were shut, the bolts shot true and chairs wedged under the handles to provide extra support just as a great many fists and pommels began hammering on them. The bodyguards began forming up in ranks facing the door which had begun to show signs of weakening under the furious onslaught."Your Grace, release me. I can help," Antal said holding up his shackled wrists."You can use a sword, smuggler?" the. I love Lilly's smile. It makes even the most depressing places brighter and bearable.During our long absence there had been new elections, so the meeting was conducted by people we didn't know, but they ran things pretty much the way I had. There was a sense of despondency filling the room that started to irritate me, and was made even worse when Billy-Bob got to his feet after the role call had been taken."Before we start I think we should all join in prayer." he said loudly."Why?" I asked."To.