Neither Mare nor I had anything pressing to do for Spring Break. It wasn’t a holiday in the official sense, so there were no seasonal jobs available...at the spaceport. Monday, the 17th of March, was Saint Patrick’s Day. A lot of the Irish in our area of Colorado celebrated with parades and drinking. We both had a few drinks, but neither of us are Irish. We did enjoy some of the Irish dishes served in a number of the local restaurants. For the remainder of the week, we had our workouts in the gym. Logic said that there must be more mines, and it was up to me to find them. I had been lucky the first time; maybe I could stay that lucky.I sat around rocking and thinking for the rest of the morning, up until time for lunch. Up in the 23rd Century, I had developed a taste for Mexican food, so I figured that I owed it to myself to indulge in the authentic stuff while I had the chance. I asked the desk clerk for a recommendation, and I took a chance on his choice.I didn't speak Spanish very. .. in the kitchen on the table for the first time.”He sounded relieved and amused, “First time? I heard that you had done it with some other guy before. I mean uh your sister didn’t want me to be surprised or mad when I first slipped into you and found out you weren’t a virgin.”“She told you?” I was somewhat disappointed. I mean we could have explained my lack of a hymen in so many different ways than I had sex. At least she hadn’t told him who I had slept with.“Well I just meant first time. She would explain to her what she was going through, and ask her if she could stay with her until she could take care of herself. It was summer, and Kari had just graduated from high school. Her father kept emergency money in the bottom drawer of his desk and all she had to do was wait for him to go to work and then get the cash. There wasn't enough to fly to L.A., but there was enough to cover bus fare. On an impulse, Kari threw away most of the dull and colorless clothing her father brought.