.failed. Ihave a good feeling about you, though, Malcolm. You seem more..compliant.So the first question..will you do as I ask you?" Of course," Malco...m answered. "If you employ me I will of course do asyou ask."The woman continued to smile. "Good. Sign here."Amber handed Malcolm a contract of employment. The terms were simple. Heagreed to wear an appropriate uniform, as well as be polite and addressAmber with 'the proper respect', though that was not detailed on the form.Malcolm quickly. Well, 14 year old girls and neat don’t often go together – and this was the case with me. So the first day I came home from school I faced an angry Aunt Clare who hollered at me about the mess in my room. Well, it was messy before she arrived so I assumed that it wasn’t part of “keeping things neat.” I told her that, but this seemed to just piss her off even more. She warned me that I had 24 hours to get my room in shape or I’d have to face the consequences. I had no idea what this. Iris turned to look at her father."Is that?" she asked a little nervously.Greg nodded his head. "Yes, that is probably our trespasser from last night ... why don't you brew a fresh pot of coffee and I will take him through to the living room?" he suggested.Iris nodded in agreement and a small amount of relief, for some reason she was suddenly feeling all shy and tongue tied about meeting this man!The door bell peeled and her father stood up and ambled out of the room with a muttered, "Yes, yes. He would bury Trey under the willow where he meditated. He’d sit on the grave of the only true enemy he’d ever had and breathe his way into moments of grace. It wouldn’t matter what color Echo dyed her hair. Hawke watched her cry in the truck. She was a living thing about to break into blossom, and she was rubbing off on him. For the first time since he could remember, a curiosity about love had settled down inside the meat of himself, and all he could do about it now was mourn. * Echo watched.