Guys have been doing that since before I went to high school; it’s almost a tradition.”Rick didn’t comment on either possibility, but knew that ...oth had crossed his mind during his senior year. In fact, a few of the guys in his class did make one of those trips down to Willow’s Point and had invited him to come along. It was only at the last moment that he’d chickened out.“But like I said,” Cory Lee concluded, “it never really came to the point where she had to decide if she was really okay. But after studying Maddie’s face for a few seconds, Lia started talking with a slight shrug of a shoulder, slumping down onto the arm of a brown leather sofa that had clearly seen better days.“I do front desk work for them on weekends. Mostly night time as it pays better.” She was still staring at Maddie’s face intently and continued with a mischievous smile, “Some guests ask me to give them private tours of the city – if you know what I mean. They often take me on boat trips, shopping or. Alice was happyher daughter got the birthday she deserved, but thought that the pricewas too high. Luke should have just had to move his celebration. What shewanted for the negotiations was simple. Plus, Lori would not have feltleft out. Luke getting more was unfair. Birthdays were more important tothe youngest so theirs should be the most spectacular.Lori only agreed to the agreement because she knew the decision wasfinal. No objection would overturn the plans. Lori agreed with her momabout. Any way he could bescreamingly different, he would do so.Finally, the afternoon arrived. Morning classes were uneventful andboring. But now it was trip time! Jack thought. The underachiever tookthe time to find out a bit more about the McAfee zoo and thesurrounding area. Nothing really exciting about the zoo, he thought.But there was a mall just across the street from there that hadrecently opened. Jack knew then how he would fill the rest of his day.The bus ride to the zoo provided some form.