’ ‘You’re welcome,’ Sheila replied. ‘I…I liked it, too. I…I guess I ought to get going. Mrs. Tate said some of her friends are going to ...lean up, so I don’t really have to stick around. All I have to do is load some of my stuff in my car.’ ‘Is Ray expecting you?’ Eldon asked. He found himself not wanting her to leave. Sheila shook her head and her expression grew sad. ‘He…he’s not home,’ she said softly. ‘He…he went to the stock car races with some buddies of his.’ Eldon saw the sadness in her. They did their due diligence and once again, he got caught, this time by the academic institutions as they all rejected him.Then along came Penelope. Tall, blonde, good grades, comes from a well to do family, honor roll, multiple scholarships offers from nearly a dozen colleges. Dad was military, a Major in the Army. Mom was a top-flight surgical nurse who, on her days off, flew in the local hospital emergency helicopter. Mom and Dad met in college, finished one and two in their graduating. "Tabitha smiled and then rubbed her eyes. "You'll make me cry," she muttered. "Being soppy like that. It's the hormones." Sarah reached the small pond and sat down on the bench, looking at her partner. "Can we have the bread?"Sarah put it in Tabitha's lap, and then glanced around her; it was quiet, and she reached over and pulled Tabitha towards her. Tabitha squealed as she did but their mouths met and Sarah pushed her tongue into her partner.Tabitha's hands wandered over the pert body of Sarah. Mama's carwas there too because she had come over to let the deliverymen in.Mama came out because she had heard us drive up, and I ran to her assoon as Mommy had got me out of the car. We went straight to my room,and there it was.I guess I'd known what it would be like, but it still made me feel bad,and I went and leaned against its bars. Mama came up behind me and askedif I wanted to get inside it. I nodded slowly, and she lifted me up andplaced me in the crib. I sat there and brushed my hand.