I’d never doubted how much they loved me and supported me, but my first year in college had left me in such a deep depression that there were times ... couldn’t force myself to pick up the phone to call them. I got so caught up in feeling like I had to be independent and that calling home was a sign of my failure. With Melody and Lissa’s help, I realized that part of my depression was feeling cut off from the incredible support I’d always had from my family. I loved them like crazy and I was sure. "When your father told that you would be doing this for asubstantial amount of time he did not say how long, but I will tell you thateven though I managed to get him to cut the time, it will be long enough fora permanent to grow out, so you might as well get used to being a girl for along while!" But... I don't wan... I don't know anything about being a girl! And theguys! They'll kill me!" Oh, I doubt that, not after we're done at the salon today, and you'll learnhow to be a well mannered young. I'm hoping that we can bring in Key and her oboe, but Key's been awfully Hutch-centric of late.Going out the door on the way home, I received instructions to stop by the Chinese place near the apartment to collect dinner. When I got home I was carrying my laptop and a bag full of odiferous cartons. With both hands full, I elbowed the doorbell, got let in by Kara and kissed by Jo and we laid the spread out on the table.Amid the slurping and soft clicking of chopsticks we talked about things."You. I prefer quantity to quality these days." She gave it right back. She was always the quick-witted one and kept us in stitches most of the time. She was what I needed these days."Where's Jennifer? Is she coming with us?" She's meeting us at the club. I left word at the door that she was my guest and to seat her as soon as she arrived. She will be hitting the sauce by now, so we had best get there as soon as we can. I have a car waiting outside." With that she pulled me out the door.Breakfast was.