Across from me I saw what looked like a large brown furry blob breathing heavily. I immediately knew it was Natalie. I got up and walked closer to her...and gently shook what I guessed was her shoulder. A pair of large black bear eyes looked up at me. "Look at what has happened to me" she whispered. I was amazed she could still talk with her large mouth full of sharp teeth. " dont worry Nat, even as a grizzly you still look good to me" What I guessed was a smile appeared on her face. I pressed my. My Kitchen window had a goodview of the approaches to the cottage and the sound carried on the stillsummer air. I opened the window and called,"Jenny! Beatrice! Hurry up you've got a visitor."The four figures emerged from the long grass that grew on the steep banksof the lane and I smiled as I studied the picture. The four friendsreluctantly separated and my two ran to the door."Sandie's here, she wants to talk to you."They were well used to the social service visits and dumped their schoolbags. His moustache was tickling her nose. "MMMMMM," she buzzed again. It sounded like she was trying out for a soup commercial, to her anyway. She pulled at his chin again and his lips slid onto hers.Her eyes were open, because she wanted to see the look in his when she pushed her tongue into his mouth. Her peripheral vision told her something was moving toward her face, on both sides. His hands captured her head. Half his fingers were on the clean shaven parts of her scalp and the rest mussed her. ‘I’m sure that, if my suspicions are correct, I can talk her round,’ I said, lying through my teeth. I was absolutely certain that if my suspicions were correct there would be no way her mind could be changed about him. ‘I hope so,’ he said and we continued chatting over breakfast then he drove me to work. I’d got Maria’s phone number off Mike so later that morning I phoned her from work. ‘Hello Maria, it’s Caroline.’ She seemed not to remember. ‘Caroline?’ she said and after a moment, ‘oh,.