The Chinese workers squatted in the dust and ate their food with strange utensils and brought back memories of soldiers and civilians alike pausing to...catch a bite to eat in the midst of chaos. I respected that rite of survival and generally imitated the folks around me at such times knowing that eating and sleeping and other natural human needs had to be attended to in the cause of survival and the hope of winning final victory in any struggle.Kit and I sat in a makeshift restaurant tent. The three of them lay there for a moment as Gabi settled into a fitful sleep. Then she fell silent, seemingly comforted by her brother and sister's loving touch."Like father, like son," Melinda said with a smile. She kissed me gently, then led me back to our bed."Daddy, when will they come back?" Kaylee asked as Yesmine and Geoff's car backed out of our driveway. Everyone waved and Geoff honked the horn."I don't know sweetheart," I said. "Maybe we could go visit them sometime." That would be. "Whilst you are staying with us I know I will have tohave some contact with you at home but if you dare to even pretend to knowme at school I will make your life hell. You may think that as a 6thformer now you know it all but you certainly don't and I don't want youtrying to act all pally with me and my friends. I have no wish tosocialise with you and would be grateful if you would keep yourself andyour nerdy friends away from me and my girlfriends" and with a carefullycalculated toss of her. Finally, we found the perfect tree. We got the tree home and she pulled out some very old ornaments, salvaged from her parents. Chris pulled out a box out of a bag she had stashed in the corner. It was a new box and handed it to me. It was a Hallmark Ornament; "First Christmas together." "I bought this yesterday. I was thinking wonderful thought about you. I wanted you to put this on the tree," Chris said with a smile. As I placed the ornament on the tree she finished the event by.