Once inside the room they sat me at mysisters' dressing table and starting rummaging around in hermake up."NO WAY" I said and started to get up but Sh...rri grabbed my bythe ear and twisted as she hissed into it, "do you want yoursister to make the cheerleading team sissy? Huh? We email thephotos of you and there is no way we let her on... of coursethere's a chance you could really help her if you do exactlywhat we say... Well?"I nodded as a tear ran down my cheek. Was it the pain of havingmy ear. She was puckering her lips and pointing at her granddaughter. When he looked back, his eyes locked with Kia’s, and the last several days came back to him in a rush.“Yeah.” Then, he took the nymphs advice and kissed her.Xantina managed to catch her granddaughter’s eye, offered a wave, and crept back into the trees. She vanished a moment later.“Where’d she go?” Steve asked when the kiss ended and he noticed the nymph’s absence.“Home – I think. I guess I should, too.”He could see some of the fear. She told him that she was sore, but that the ice packs were helping tremendously. The conversation was most ironic, casual and friendly. He explained that the purpose of the ice packs was not only to relieve the pain, but also mostly to help avoid bruising. He explained that she would have marks, but if treated correctly, they would not be so bad,and would disappear quickly. He chided Susan, “If your lower legs have marks, you could either wear slacks, or a long dress, or even dark stockings to. Though one, on her softest lips had persisted quite a while. She is a divorcee and lives with two men in what we in England would call a “house of multiple occupancy,” sharing some aspects with, two others, both men and who again, to protect the innocent, I have nicknamed Bill, (the owner ) and Ben, (the other lodger.) Both men are single and straight, and both covet Kay`s body though only Ben has so far been successful, but its early days. In fact she sent me an account of it, by e mail.