" ... I say knock the damn thing down and if the silly bitch gets killed it's her own damn fault..." a burly man in overalls and work boots was saying... "We're burning daylight here. To keep on schedule, were gonna have to ... Okay here's the law. Now we'll get something done." What's the problem?" Kent asked."Some goofy broad's up in that tree," said a tall thin man in faded jeans and a torn t-shirt. "She dropped some notes sayin' that it's her tree and we can't cut it down." We tried to reach. Man, that was next Tuesday, way after the weekend. How could I wait that long? Mom kept her eyes closed while I removed the blindfold and didn't stir a I made my way upstairs.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mom wasn't quite the same later that night. Before Dad came home she changed into an older style, high-waisted skirt and blouse and did something with her hair. She looked like, well, June Cleaver-ish. And, despite virtually acting no differently toward me on Tuesday night,. " Well, it is a business."We talked for a bit, and I let her know what the shooting schedule was. We had a three week break coming up, Christmas and New Year's, and I was taking two of them and flying home for the holidays. I loved where we were, it was warm year-round, and the sunshine had done nice things for my tan, but I was lonely."Liz will be home for Christmas," Mom added at the end.I felt a warm glow. This would be perfect.Part, or most of the reason I was lonely was because of Rick,. ”…"During senior year, Nicky and I were in so many of the same classes and the same friend circles that we hung out practically every day." I drank some more of my smoothie."But after graduation, I left for Teachers College on the East Coast," he explained, noshing on my cheese.“And we haven’t seen each other since our commencement ceremony, even though I stayed in the area.” I fed a chunk of chicken to Kevin, who was seated across from me, enthralled by our story.Quigley frowned and continued.