My ass cheeks are hangingout. I?m barely in some slutty outfit and a biker hat with spikey heels Ican barely move in. This is so out of control." Is i...?" smiled Sherri. "You sure? Because I left you half-dressed and youdid a pretty good job finishing getting ready I?d say?" And what choice did I have?" said Ted, tossing up his hands."There?s always a choice, babe?" Sherri said, leaning in and kissing him."I guess," said Ted as they kissed."But not tonight, girl," said Sherri, sliding her knee. "Are you okay Sarah?" she asked, lifting my chin with her finger."Yes ma'am," I replied and strode off down the quiet hallway.A week later I came home early with stomach cramps. I was in my seniorgrade of High School, the youngest at sixteen, but still close to top ofmy class. Sloane had dropped out of junior grade promising Amanda shewould find an apprenticeship at a beauty parlour or hair dressing salon.Amanda was out and the house was quite. The smell of stale cigarettesmoke and alcohol. "Corvus clung to her in a fierce hug for a long time before letting go. He wanted to demand she stay, but knew he would only make a scene. Where Clover went wasn't her choice. "I'll talk to my father in the morning."She gave him an unreadable smile. "As you wish."Corvus did end up discussing the subject with his father the next day, but not in the morning. He woke with a low, throbbing pain in his temples that turned vicious and threatened to bring up the contents of his stomach when he moved. After what felt like an age I cleared my throat and remembered my manners (painfully learnt from my mother, Jamaican women of a certain era are absolute sticklers for manners). ‘Hi Alex,’ I managed, ‘you quite surprised me.’ ‘And who’s your friend?’ I should have known dad would butt in. ‘My name’s Florence, though you haven’t introduced yourself so I see no reason why I should volunteer any more information about myself until I have the name of the gentleman with whom I am conversing. Now, are.