If Tony had just slugged me it would all be over and he would have felt victorious. Now the whole school would be challenging him over why he let a co...ple of little girls beat him down, and he'd feel honor bound to beat the living crap out of me. I'd have to figure a way out of all of this.'End it NOW!' I mentally challenged Anh. 'Brooke, Shani, Allison, if you have anything to say on my fight this morning, I want you to stop now. I'm trying to bury this nonsense, so I don't need anyone digging. " I sighed."Don't you dare!" she retorted, "After today's fiasco I refuse to use that thing again. If you help me to the bathroom I can go to the loo properly."Once again I found myself acting as a support as I took my mother to the bathroom and once again I was all too aware of her nudity under her flimsy covering. Parking her on the toilet I went outside and waited for her to finish; when she called I helped her back to bed. This time when I turned to leave my mother asked me to stay and talk. . Uh... I spent the night at Claude's. I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you all about this. Claude asked me to marry him. I said, yes."Karen and Patty both lit up like candles. Both of them jumped up and hugged mom. I just sat there and smiled."You don't look surprised, Ed," mom said."I'm not. I had a long talk with Martha just before she died. She told me she hoped the two of you would get together and asked me my opinion. Then a while back, Claude told me you guys were getting. "Beth looked worried. "No offense, but it's bad enough that I TOLD you! If they find out ... Everybody is scared to death some busybody from the religious right will smoke it out and get us all crucified..."Louise shook her head. "The things we all have to do to get a little sex ... Whatever happened to free love?"Beth shook her head. "HIV, among other things." Well, if an opportunity arises, I'm in!" Louise declared.Beth looked pensive. "How deep?" I want it ALL, Honey!" Louise replied. "Bring.