“My book says you need to give your aunt a kiss.”We’d pecked hello and goodbye a thousand times, but this one was longer, on the mouth, her tong...e flitting against mine, even, her breasts reminding me of the car.My birthday present from her was “Journey to the Center of the Earth” which I planned to begin that evening. Before she left, though, she signaled me into the kitchen, grinning and hushing her voice. “A special present,” pulling a booklet from her bag.It was a flipbook, the kind that. Please, let me. I miss my children... and I miss you, too."I did not want to give her any hope at this point, false or otherwise, so I said to her, "I'm truly sorry that it had to come to this, Colleen, but that's not going to happen tonight, and maybe never. We have a lot of things to straighten out between us before I can accept you back, if I ever do." I've been crying my eyes out all afternoon. I cancelled my class and stayed in my room. There was no way I could go there and face the people. You okay bro? Greg asked. YYeah. Kinda. Here. Chill out bro. He hands me a cigarette. Once the car stopped at the red light, I looked at him in the back seat. Seriously? Chill man, its straight. No one gives a shit and your cars got no stickers on it. No one can tell youre in high school man, chill the fuck out. Okay man. He stuck a blue lighter in my cup holder, and when I parked in front of the apartment complex they needed to pick up in, I light it. After I exhaled, it felt pretty good,. I’ll leave earlier if you show you’re ready. You’ve made great strides this summer, Philip. I initially worried that you would need someone tough – like Hailey – to handle the shitty portions of the job. Your experience at Waterford, although not as I would have liked for you, toughened you up. I worried that it had jaded you and you’d go into a different field. I think having those young women around you helped bring your softer side back to the surface and I’m grateful to them. I’m also very.