**** "Marie, what's the matter," I said, as she ushered me inside. "The children okay?" "Huh? Oh, yes, Harlan, they're fine. They're in the back on ...he computer playing some game or other," she said. "Marie, come on, what gives? You look like someone who’s had some very bad news," I said. "It is bad news, Harlan. Very bad news." I looked at her and waited. "It's Mike Longstreet, Harlan. He's very ill. If he doesn't get a kidney transplant soon; he'll be gone," she said. "His own system is. Finally at about 5 o’clock in the morning we all collapsed in a heap and went to sleep, at 10 o’clock James got up and went to work. He would be working out of town that day and would be gone for the weekend. I gave my man a kiss and thanked him for the great night. I said, “Laura is really out of control isn’t she?” James looked at me, “Don’t judge her too harshly, she has had a rough life.” “She honestly doesn’t feel like she has much to offer anyone, which is why she is so. He saw this girl’s cute face with her bright blue eyes and perfect white teeth exactly as his Rylee had. The girl was standing in front of a mirror wearing short shorts and a lacy white blouse. He saw his Rylee in seeing this girl’s endlessly long bare legs, painted toenails, and little ankle bracelet around one foot. He remembered his view of his daughter’s naked young breasts, nipples visibly hard, and tight little panties curving with her rounded bottom.He felt himself building, his mind. "The balloon and note changed my mind."Getting up off the couch, I knelt down at his feet and wrapped him in a hug and he broke down. After he'd cried himself out, I got him some paper and a pen and told him about wanting to die myself and suggested that he try writing a note to Joyie."It helped me more than I can explain," I said.When he was finished, Doug tied his note with mine and let the balloon go. We hugged, again, and he thanked me for helping him. He said, "I'll talk with Mom and Dad.