"Itmight be a nice way for you two to bond."Rather than respond Paul merely nodded his head in the affirmative. Hisface was bright red from embarrassm...nt and his breathing had become a bitlaboured. Kate and I looked at each at that instant and we both knew hewas having a hormonal surge and, since it was a new experience for him,we knew that he was completely confused and virtually out of it. He had avacant look in his eyes."That sounds like great fun," Kate said. "Paul can bring his cot in. I liked Thomas. He seemed to like me. After all, I had taken courses at Maryland University. I read good books. I shared his love for classical music.I never told them about Laurel. Thomas might have become a successful rival. The others might have said something coarse.When I got into my room, I looked at the card Laurel had given me. It was a business card for the Episcopal Ministry to the Aging, which had an office in what had been the Bishop’s Mansion next to the Washington Cathedral.. I had 2 ½ years of courses left but I would be finished in 1 ½ years because I would be going year round. My grades had better be good, or the support I was receiving would end. There was no discussing the matter. My Dad had made the arrangements, and if I didn’t like it, I would be out of the house and on my own. New Years Day found me on a Greyhound headed to Vancouver. My Aunt Maddy would pick me up at the depot and take me to her place in Burnaby. I’d have two days to get settled and find a. “We used alcohol to clean off the sap, but then that left me with dirty smears of green. I wanted to take a hot shower, so Steve taped up my ankle and supported me while I limped to the bathroom. Once there, I had him close his eyes while he helped me remove my panties. He was quite the gentleman.”Em looked at me with an unbelieving smirk and I said, "Yeah, okay. You got me. I did peek a little bit.”“Nice,” Kate said with a sad laugh. “So I’m in the shower and realize I can’t support my weight.