As we got in, we slammed the door behind us. Panting we kissed hard against the wall. Jes pushed herself hard against me then laughed at the state we...were in, her long black wet hair framing her pale face well as she beamed down at me. I looked up at her big pink lips and her big white teeth. We broke and she said she was going up for a shower. I went into the kitchen and made some tea while the water ran upstairs. I went up with a couple of mugs as she came out of the bathroom, wrapped up. " I'm sorry." Yeah ... I know. Me too." Can we still be friends?" Yeah ... sure. We can still be friends." I know I'd like it to be more than that, but..." Merilee ... you want to think about what happened and why. You want to know if it could happen again." I understand. Thank you for talking to me. I'll probably see you around. Take care," she said, still with a timid, quiet voice I didn't recognize.After I hung up, I thought about her. I thought about her a lot. If only she hadn't gone. " Cool. I always wanted a red car." Why's that?" I have no idea. It just seems decadent somehow. Maybe I'll just have to keep you instead..." Bold words from someone who isn't aware of all my vices." I like vices. So much more fun than virtues. You want to confess now, or get the coffee?" Coffee first. Guilt is good for the tastebuds."And they drove to the café, chatting about nothing all the while, picking up pieces of truth from each other the way people do when they first meet. By the. I explained this to Beth and she agreed. There wasn't much activity in the Dojo when we arrived, just a couple of people practicing and a small but fit looking oriental fellow at a desk.We went over to him, introduced ourselves, and explained that we might have more people interested in learning from him. When I asked when we might begin he looked at me and said in perfect unaccented English "perhaps in a week if I accept you. First I must know why you wish to learn."He seemed satisfied when I.