”“Summtin special ‘bout the boy, huh?”“Yeah.”“What are you? Child Services?”“No,” she answered immediately. “I’m a reporter. A...journalist. My name’s Tricia Sanchez.”He raised his eyebrows, impressed. “Ain’t got no plans for him?”Tricia shook her head. “Uh ... No. Not really.”“No house set up? No family?”“Uh ... no.” She was feeling dejected.He nodded. “You be takin’ him off the streets to yo’ house den? You be takin care o’ him?”“Well ... I guess so. I hadn’t really planned out much.”Gus nodded. On a map, they almost look close. Yeah, right. You don't know how fucking big the state of Pennsylvania is until you have to drive through half of it to get to your sweetie. And that's after going through Maryland.Last year, our freshman year, had been--well, OK. We got through it. And the summer, back together in our hometown, had been marvelous. But, this year--look, Georgetown is a ballbuster of a school, and Penn State isn't much better. Schoolwork swallowed our time. We hadn't seen each. ..it is just us.....make yourself comfortable girl! With that, my guests seemed to shout in unison. Take it off ×××, take it off xxx. I said ok...ok...ok then! I stood up. I unbuttoned my slacks and pulled my tucked in blouse out. I unbuttoned my blouse. With each button opening, my girls clapped, whistled and cheered. I took off my blouse. I followed by sliding off my slacks. I feel so very awkward. I am in my bra and thong in front of my dearest friends and two stipper strangers. I did not. I mean who else would lie on the bed masturbating in the midst of all this violence. Finally I looked across at Michael who had slumped to the floor in a state of shock by what had happened.I watched Anne walk over to her clothes before she suddenly stopped and turned to back to me. "You're bleeding! How come you're bleeding?"I looked down at my arm, saw that it was only a flesh wound and realised why my brother had stayed away. It was a reminder of just what could happen to me without his help.